Should credit reports be used for hiring decisions
By teamrose
@teamrose (1492)
United States
February 24, 2010 12:17pm CST
A growing number of companies are using credit reports as part of the hiring process. What do you make of this development?
Personally I don't think it should be the only factor, but it's a dead giveaway as to this person's character and how responsible he is for his obligations. However read it like a story, for example:
If I see a person who spent piles of money in credit cards and filed BK, bad news...
If I see a person who apparently fell on hard times and wound up making current on his obligations eventually, I'm hiring him in a heartbeat...
1 person likes this
7 responses
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
24 Feb 10
Unfortunately, companies have been doing this for years. While I don't like anyone (especially "stranger") knowing my financial status, from a hiring company's perspective, it does shed some light on the candidate's trustworthiness, dependability, etc. Even your electric company, gas company, etc. are checking credit reports before setting up an account. Again, I don't like it, but it's the world we live in...
@mslena75 (561)
• United States
25 Feb 10
I could see it (kind of) if you work for a financial institution and you are in the position where you would have access to large sums of money. Otherwise, I don't like it's anyone's business.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
25 Feb 10
I also do not think it should be the only factor but I do this it should be taken into consideration and should be be used as a deciding factor if there were other candidates who had the same qualifications and there was a choice to be made.
@Jennlk84 (4205)
• United States
24 Feb 10
I don't understand why they would use credit reports to help them make a decision on hiring someone. I myself wouldn't care because I have good credit but there are others out there that may have had something happen and don't have the best of credit and they don't deserve to have that held against them.
@PamelaL (252)
• United States
24 Feb 10
I don't care what they do anymore. It's all a big numbers game. I guess I'm out of luck if I'm successful in getting my credit rating to "0" (per Dave Ramsey). I'm just opting out of the whole thing. I better hurry and get my part time self employed income up!
@sender621 (14893)
• United States
25 Feb 10
Credit reports should not be a necessary tool when it comes to hiring decisions. Only if the job involved sole responsibility in financial concerns should this even be considered. Your credit should have nothing to do with your job performance or skills.
@namiya (1718)
• Philippines
24 Feb 10
It could be a factor but not completely. You're right, this may give the employer some insight of his performance particularly if the job being offered requires access to cash keeping or handling. But, I believe factors like his intellectual and physical capacity in doing the assigned job should also be considered as these are essential if the employer wants a quality performance.
@sassy28 (834)
• United States
24 Feb 10
I don't really care for it. You do not know a person's situation as to why their credit may be in bad shape. Medical bills are one of the biggest reasons for bad credit. Currently with the unemployment the way it is, many people are falling behind on their bills. Then if they can not get a job because of this credit, they will continue to get farther behind.
