Many unemployed debtors are filing bankruptcy because they simply can’t pay their bills, are facing lawsuits and asset seizures. Generally speaking these unemployed debtors have had decent credit and paid their debts faithfully and on-time while employed; but because of unemployment or persistent underemployed they have become delinquent and need to file bankruptcy. Unfortunately, some uninformed or misinformed employers may misunderstand a job candidate’s bankruptcy filing and misinterpret their bankruptcy filing as a moral and character failing. This type of thinking, especially during this economy is a sign that many employers need a dose of reeducation regarding personal bankruptcy. But until we can reeducate these businesses on a mass scale, post-bankruptcy debtors need to be careful to present their bankruptcy in the proper light.
Things every debtor must do if they are looking for employment:
- Don’t hide your bankruptcy. If an employer says that he/she is going to run a credit check then you need to make them aware of your bankruptcy filing.
- Understand that those employers who misjudge bankruptcy filers are not necessarily against bankruptcy; but they are usually against many of the misconceptions about why people file bankruptcy. For example, some misinformed employers believe that bankruptcy filers are irresponsible, have poor impulse control or refuse to take responsibility for their actions. While there are certainly bankruptcy debtors who fall into those categories, most bankruptcy debtors are individuals who have fallen upon hard times and need a helping hand. It is the post-bankruptcy debtor’s job to assure the employer that they belong to the category of responsible debtors who have fallen upon hard times and used bankruptcy to get a second chance.