Credit checks when applying for a job

[camellia0]

I applied for a job where the employer is doing a credit check. I would not be handling money. Why would employers care about our credit worthiness if we have a job that consists of filing and data entry? I think they want to be nosy.

[sdenimandlace1]

They do it to see if you have any money issue in your background.

[countrygirl12]

I applied for a job where the employer is doing a credit check. I would not be handling money. Why would employers care about our credit worthiness if we have a job that consists of filing and data entry? I think they want to be nosy.

Because it is a way of finding out more about how responsible you are.  If you have horrible credit it pretty much tells them you do not pay your bills. Doing background checks including credit and drug testing is not being nosy.  If I am hiring for a person to work in my company I have a right to know what kind of person they are.  And not the lies they tell or the charm they turn on for 15 minutes during an interview.

There are people who have bad credit and it is because of something other than just being irresponsible.  And I do not think it is fair to deny a job to someone just because they have a low credit score.  How can you pay off debt if you cannot get a job?  I know people who have had to use a credit card to survive when they lost their job or could only find something that paid $7.25 (the federal min wage) and only got to work about 15 hours a week.  They were trying.  And now they are trying to pay off the credit card.

It may not seem fair to you but you can also bet the employer to be will google your name and look for social media accounts as well.  I also don't think that is really fair.  It goes beyond looking to see if you are a stripper. lol.  If they do not agree with things you "like" or "share" that reveal who you support politically or what religion you are they can use that against you and not hire you.  They say someone else was more qualified.  It is what it is.

But wanting to know about the person they are hiring is not being nosy.