I gotta a question for HR specialists on this board:

[TheDebbieDee]

With the current state of today's economy and the job situation, how important is it for someone who has been unemployed for more than 4 months to be able to pass a credit check?

I have a friend who has been unemployed since the end of January '09. She is taking her car back to the finance company tomorrow and next week she must move out of the house she has been renting (hasn't been able to pay rent since February).

She's worried now that she may be disqualified for jobs simply because a credit check will raise flags. How worried should she be about passing a credit check? And wouldn't a credit check disqualify just about anybody who is single and has been out of work for more than 3 or 4 months?

Thanks, in advance for sharing your knowledge about this matter.

[donco6]

1. I've never requested one.

I think it's unnecessary.

[CherokeeDem]

2. Not Important Unless...

she wants to have a job where cash is handled, banks and company treasury depts., etc.; any position where a person could have access to monies. I have been in HR for a long time and at one time some companies did do credit checks but unless it is appropriate to the position it is really an invasion of privacy. In my current position with a health care company, we never do a credit check on any of our employees; only criminal background. Good luck to her...

[Sannum]

3. I never ran them.

I worked for a major company as an HR Coordinator and I never ran a credit check on a candidate. It is an extra expense that isn't necessary for most positions. We routinely did Criminal Background checks but not credit checks.