Will bankruptcy effect your ability to get a job?

Answer 1

Bankruptcy Discrimination is illegal and you are protected under federal law U.S.C 525

You just have to proved that you are being discriminated because of it.

While there are laws which prohibit discrimination for race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and political affiliation or belief; there are no laws which prohibit discrimination because an applicant (or employee) has filed bankruptcy. In fact, the absence of financial issues is a requirement for positions involving the handling of money, as well as those involving security concerns or professional licensing.

As a Recruiter, I was hiring Branch Managers who would be in charge of several thousands of dollars worth of equipment. Credit checks were performed and any candidate with a bankruptcy was immediately disqualified. Credit can be an issue when applying to join the police force, too. They are concerned that anyone with a lot of debt is more susceptible to bribery.

Here in Britain, having been bankrupt disqualifies you for police, military and civil service for four years and in that time you have to disclose your bankruptcy to any would-be employer. The effects that bankruptcy has on your job prospects is something you really need to consider before you declare yourself bankrupt. This is a long term effect which you should always consider.

If you went bankrupt trying to run your own business, then the experience would certainly still be a good selling point in an interview in the same field. A skilled interviewer would offer you the opportunity to say what you learned from the bankruptcy.

A bankruptcy will definitely hurt your chances if you are applying for a position that requires a military security clearance (I.E. - defense industry). A recent bankruptcy (less than 4 - 5 years) makes obtaining a security clearance very difficult, and if obtaining a clearance is requirement of employment, then your odds of winning the job is nearly nil (regardless if you're an expert in your career).

The first answer has it partially correct. Those hiring are concerned with an applicant that has a lot of debt. That is incompatible with the next statement that a bankruptcy disqualifies one, because if you've filed bankruptcy you have no debt. In the casinos here in Nevada, if there are two applicants and one owes $50,000 in credit cards, and therefore, being hounded daily to pay her bills, and the other applicant is completely debt free because of the bankruptcy, it is clear which one of those people with their hands on the money. The same goes for the potential for bribery. In all of these situations the ones doing the hiring would always ratherhire the debt free person. Alot of this stuff is Propaganda from the credit card companies.

Answer 2

Federal law prohibits employer's from using bankruptcy as a reason for not hiring someone. The law does not, however, keep the employer from using the person's bad credit history as a reason for not hiring them. Essentially it can cause a problem when seeking certain types of employment. well i filed bankruptcy because i was in credit card debt and my debt counselour and lawyer said it was the best thing for me to do. I could have decided not too but when you cant afford food or shelter what choice do you have. Now people wont hire me because of it and the wierd thing is i am debt free . And I am honest because when i was going thru financial struggles i could have embezzeled enough for my debt but i didnt. So this country and the people are screwed up /