If your résumé looks good, the interview went well, you’re qualifications are exceptional, and your work history unblemished, you may still not get that job offer based simply on a poor credit record. Many people think things like not paying an old cell phone bill or a never paid hospital bill won’t affect their credit report. They’re wrong.

The number of negative credit accounts or no credit accounts balanced against the positive accounts formulates how you achieve a credit score. A poor payment history, delinquent or defaulted accounts will greatly impact your personal credit. How does this affect a job offer? Credit reports are historical records companies like EXPERIAN or EQUIFAX use to track your personal payment history. A few old doctor bills, and a couple of late car payments and your personal credit score is impacted. Many prospective employers are permitted to request your credit report. Many feel a credit history may impact how you perform on your job. Some companies feel your credit character is significant to the position.

So, here are a few tips to check your credit history:

• pull your latest credit report
• go online to experian.com or equifax.com, there are some free services out there also
• call and apply for your report over the phone or
• send in that credit application for your report

Are you currently unemployed? You may still be able to clear some of that bad credit, or get that bill cut in half according to your income. Can you ask the prospective employer if they pulled your report, yes! It that was the reason you were not hired, ask them to tell you what the problem was. You weren’t hired anyway so prepare for the next time.

If you are attempting to access employment that always depends on credit scores, and you are aware that yours is unacceptable then you may need to find a new career direction until that credit score is high again.