Job Hunting? Be Prepared For A Credit Check

Job Hunting? Be Prepared For A Credit Check

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Story Published: Sep 3, 2004 at 1:45 AM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 1:33 AM PDT

By Herb Weisbaum

SEATTLE - Apply for a job and you expect to have an interview, but are you prepared for a credit check?

Employers say it's a quick and easy way to judge the character of a candidate.

Some would disagree, but the reality is that for a growing number of employers pre-employment credit checks are a fact of life, and not just for jobs that involve handling money.

Knowing this, you need to make sure the info in your credit report is up to date and accurate. You need to order a copy of your credit report from each of the big 3 credit bureaus. Starting in December you can get a free credit report once a year, but right now it still costs $9 a report.

Look for any mistakes. If you spot any, for instance an account that isn't yours, or an inaccurate record of delinquent payments, you need to dispute those errors.

By the way, in general, a credit report will only provide information that is not more than 7 years old. But, if you're applying for a position that pays $75,000 a year or more, that credit check can go back indefinitely.

For More Information:

www.nj.com/business

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