Applying for Jobs - is this weird?

CurlyQ284

I just relocated to DC and am applying for jobs. A LOT of places are asking for information for a background check and a credit check. Is this normal or just the DC area? I never had to do this before but about 60% of the applications are making me fill out my address for the last 10 years and do all this crazy stuff. Why is it anyone's business what my credit score looks like? I really dont' want my employer knowing I have a victoria's secret cc. GROSS.

atobias1

This is normal. My mom works in HR. I live in KS but it's normal practice here.

danieliza1127

How are you finding the jobs that ask for this (what website) and what type of jobs are they?  I would be inclined to think those are scams simply because most employers won't do a background check on you before they even interview you.

HDutko

It's actually very common for an employer to preform a background check as well as a credit check. They will base what kind of employee they think you will be based on your credit check, like if you don't make payments on time they might think you wont show up on time, or that you dont make enough money which can mean you are more likely to steal from the company.

atobias1

dani makes a good point. You should be able to make a note that you will be willing to give this info after interview.

Soon-to-be Mrs. Vogt

We do all of our background checks before we'll call. We also like to have the releases in order at the time of the application, just so you're not having to come in and fill out extra paperwork. If you're applying for jobs where you're handling or dealing with any kind of money, that's why they're checking you're credit. If not, you're reading about the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which is a law that governs background checks. Be sure to read the releases to see what they're actually checking for. We never check credit, but we still are mandated to tell you about the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

scoetto

I live in the suburbs of DC (Fairfax County) and it's normal.

ac_in_dc

It's probably because a lot of the positions you're applying for receive $$ from the federal government (or are part of the federal govt) so they have more stringent requirements. Financial insititutions & educational jobs always want your criminal background too. I'm sure you could ask HR for more information if you get called in to an interview.

LesPaul

It has become common everywhere.

ac_in_dc

Oh, and btw I haven't heard of the credit check thing before, only the background check. The only person I've known who got a credit check was applying to work for the CIA. But I get forms all the time for former employees from the federal government asking all kinds of personal questions about the character, drinking habits, etc. of my old employees.

kikibaby

I've worked at 3 banks, and they all checked my credit to make sure I wasn't broke (and therefore likely to steal money).

CurlyQ284

2 of them were recruiting companies, so I get that they want to make sure you're not BSC before sending you to a client. But I applied for a few other jobs, they may be federal contractors I don't know. They don't say anything about contracting to the govt but it's not outside the realm of possibilities. Should I close out the VC account? I never use it, it's just there because I got it in college and have a good payment history on it from years ago and I thought you weren't supposed to close accounts when you pay them off...

CurlyQ284

*VS account

ac_in_dc

I don't think it matters if you have a VS account.

Soon-to-be Mrs. Vogt

Jobs assume you wear underwear, it's not a big deal And closing it won't remove it from your credit report anyway.Seriously, don't worry about it. If they care about your credit score (that's a big if), that's all they're looking for. Maybe some delinquincies if you're an a billing or money handling position.No HR department has that kind of time to look over everyone's credit report to see everything they have on there.

CurlyQ284

I don't really care about the background check, I have literally done nothing questionable in my life, I'm very boring. It's the credit check I have a problem with. My credit's not horrible buuut we're in a recession, my FI and I both lost our jobs and we're current on everything but it's hard to pay everything on time when you're both unemployed and there's child support involved...

goheels05

It's normal, but usually after the interview.  Those background checks are incredibly expensive; a good company isn't going to waste money on every single person who applies.  In fact, I had to do them at my last 2 jobs, and they didn't even initiate the process until after they had extended me an offer.  I was already working on the job and was getting calls from the background check people with questions about my application. 

CurlyQ284

Jobs assume you wear underwear, it's not a big deal LOL! I didn't think of it that way.

Soon-to-be Mrs. Vogt

Also, what Heels said is right. They may just have you fill out the forms all at once and hang on to them for later.We do run our checks before the interview, even though it's costly, because we absolutely can't have any kind of criminal records in our building. We won't waste our time on an interview without that information.

goheels05

I think you are over-reacting about the credit check.  The worst part about it is that inquiries about your credit report can affect your credit report.  You aren't going to be turned down for a job because your husband is divorced and pays child support, or whatever the situation is.  They are probably just checking to make sure you're not a complete scum-bag.  If you aren't, then you have nothing to worry about.  Make a stink to HR about it if you want, but that's what's going to cause you to not get a job, not what's on your CR. 

CurlyQ284

No I'm saying our credit is suffering because a bulk of unemployment goes to CS. So we've got some late payments and things in the last 3 months. I'm not going to make a stink about it, I get that it'll turn off an employer, I just thought it was strange. I just moved back here from Memphis and when in Memphis I never had to deal with any of this so I thought it was pretty odd and kind of invasive.

Soon-to-be Mrs. Vogt

The way our vendor does credit checks for employment is in such a way that your credit report doesn't take a hit for being checked. I don't know how he does it (since we don't use that feature), but hopefully other vendors are the same (since this is becoming a norm).

SarahPLiz

As PPs said, government contractors are under certain requirements of rbackground check. If you work wih money, or even in procurement, they will want to do a credit check and probably don't want to waste your time with an interview if you won't pass either or both of these checks. Just make sure they are legit companies before you provide the info. FYI- credit information is a key indicator of fraud risk. It is, in fact, one of the BEST indicators of fraud risk that you can do prior to hiring.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

The only time I needed a credit check was when I was a cash handler, but I think it is becoming more common.I don't know if they see your cards, specifically. They might just see how much overall debt you have, if you've ever defaulted on a loan, and if you've declared bankruptcy.