What effect will a five year old bankruptcy have on getting a job that requires a background check?

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Federal Law prohibits employers discriminating against job applicants because of their personal financial situation. However, there are ways "around" anything.

• Ahem. Banks can easily not hire you if you have bad credit. They just don't often tell you that's why they are doing it.

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Probably not much. If it had been five years, an employer would have significant reason to believe someone's financial situation had improved.

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It shouldn't affect anyone at all, even if the bankruptcy occurred a year ago. It's illegal to discriminate against someone who files for bankruptcy.

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It is my understanding your BK may be relevant, depending upon its significance to the position for which you applied. For example, you might be knocked out of the running if you applied to be a finance manager, CFO or a business manager. Again, remember, the job goes to the most qualified candidate. You may not be "qualified" if you do not demonstrate an aptitude for handling finances and it is a qualification for the job. On the bright side, in general, a background check is usually not performed until the employer has offered you a job. You might ask at the interview what is covered in the standard background check to understand what criteria might apply.

• Add to this that a credit check is seldom even part of a background check. Most are criminal only. Some include education or employment, but it's rare unless you're going into a financial type of job to even have to allow for a credit check. You're allowed to ask the prospective employer if that's part of the background.

First answer by ID0000000000. Last edit by Leiohana. Contributor trust: 98 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 212 [recommend question]