Why credit history matters for background checks?

If you’re applying for a job or a volunteer position, a background check could help open the door or potentially block your entry. A background screening like this may include a credit check and sometimes that includes your credit report too. If you anticipate a background check, you likely have questions about what that means and how it can affect your credit. Not sure what your credit score is? You can check it for free with Chase Credit Journey^®.

Let’s investigate the potential impact a background check may have on your credit score, as well as what elements of your financial history are examined during the process.

Do background checks include credit history and credit score?

A background check that looks at your credit usually includes your credit score and report. Your credit report is a compiled record of your credit history, or your past credit behavior that includes your payments, the ages and types of accounts you have, and the total amount of credit you have. Your credit score is based on aspects of this credit history. Credit scores range from 300–850 and can be categorized from poor to excellent. Your credit score represents your creditworthiness within the credit-lending industry. That’s why your credit score may play a role in the information surveyed during a background check. After all, a background check can work as a vetting tool for your overall credibility.

Preparing for a background check

If you foresee a background check, that’s a great opportunity to find out more about your current credit standing. You can survey Experian™ credit report and a free credit score with Chase Credit Journey^® without harming it. This can help you get an idea of the impression your background check might make to potential employers before it happens.

Reasons for looking at credit in a background check

The common purpose behind investigating your credit in a background check is to investigate a prospective candidate for a position of responsibility, such as for employment, tenancy, government service or perhaps a voluntary project. This check may be run to look for indicators that you have handled responsibility well in the past. When it comes to credit, they may look at whether you made account payments on time, filed for bankruptcy or have a collections account.

Pre-employment background checks can help an employer gauge your ability to handle money responsibly. This may be used as a litmus test for how reliable you tend to be overall. In some regulated financial and government roles, credit checks may be legally required prior to being hired.

Even when not required by law, job candidates often get background checks if they are applying for management jobs with large financial responsibility or a job that handles large sums, such as a cashier and bank teller. If your credit history shows that you may be overwhelmed with debt, this might give employers hesitation about hiring you for financially sensitive jobs.

Does a background check affect your credit score?

No. A credit background check won’t affect your credit score. That’s because these types of checks are soft inquiries as opposed to hard checks, which can impact your credit. Soft inquiries, for example, might include an inquiry for account management, a background check or when you look at your own credit report.

In summary

When you apply for a position with responsibility, it’s a given that you’ll be assessed based on previous experience. That may include how you managed your money if the vetting process includes a background check. If this is your situation, why not get ahead of the game and check it yourself first? Chase Credit Journey^® can help make it easy for you with a look into your credit report and score. You can even get insights into the reasons behind the score to help you interpret where you stand.