Each company will have their own guidelines for what they consider bad or poor credit score. Here is a general guideline: Excellent credit score: 700 – 850. Good credit score: 680-699.
Banks and other financial institutions use credit scores to determine if you meet their criteria for a loan or a credit card. However, a credit score is used for more than financial matters; it may also be used to determine if you qualify for a job. It is possible to be denied a job because of bad credit.
There is no minimum credit score requirement to get a job in finance or with the government. Instead, it's important to make sure you develop and practice good credit habits. If you're behind on payments with one or more accounts, get current as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, people with no credit history are not immune from problems related to the job application process. Having no credit history doesn't necessarily indicate that you'll be a potential liability, but it doesn't help your application either.
Employers who run credit checks cannot see your credit score. The report they receive includes information that contributes to your score, like payment history, and frequent late payments could be a cause for concern. But the three-digit credit number is not included.
Again, a credit check likely won't affect your chances of getting a job unless you're pursuing a financial or management position or may be privy to sensitive information. If you plan to work with a company's finances, the hiring managers want to make sure you handle money responsibly.
If you are looking for new job opportunities and an employer conducts a credit check and notice that you are under debt review, you need not panic or lose heart as this should not affect you from getting your dream job. It is the employer's choice on deciding what requirements are when hiring for certain positions.
FICO considers a credit score to be poor if it falls below 580. According to FICO, a person with a FICO score in that range is viewed as a credit risk. Why? Their research shows that about 61% of those with poor credit scores end up delinquent on their loans.
Though prospective employers don't see your credit score in a credit check, they do see your open lines of credit (such as mortgages), outstanding balances, auto or student loans, foreclosures, late or missed payments, any bankruptcies and collection accounts.
Can You Fail a Soft Credit Check? You don't necessarily fail a soft credit check. However, the information obtained during that process might cause a company not to reach out to you.
In most cases, individuals tried in federal criminal courts are disqualified from government jobs. Crimes, such as fraud, embezzlement, and tax evasion, and similar white-collar offenses, are highly frowned upon.
Employment Inquiries Do Not Affect Your Credit Scores
When your credit report is requested for employment purposes, it generates what is called a soft inquiry. Soft inquiries do not affect your credit scores.
The average credit score in the United States is 698, based on VantageScore® data from February 2021. It's a myth that you only have one credit score. In fact, you have many credit scores. It's a good idea to check your credit scores regularly.
In a Nutshell
In the majority of states, employers can deny you employment if you have bad credit. Some states and cities have passed laws that prohibit the practice, though there are some exceptions, such as for jobs in the financial sector.
A CareerBuilder survey found that 72 percent of employers conduct background checks on all the employees they hire and, of those, 29 percent check credit reports.
Unfortunately, while federal laws prevent discrimination in the workplace regarding race and gender, no such laws exist to prevent being denied a job due to poor credit history.
Option 1: Pay off the highest-interest debt first
Best for: Minimizing the amount of interest you pay. There's a good reason to pay off your highest interest debt first — it's the debt that's charging you the most interest.
Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.
Credit check: A credit check may also take 24 to 48 hours to complete. It involves a search of credit bureau records and is designed to provide an overview of the candidate's credit history.
Your score falls within the range of scores, from 300 to 579, considered Very Poor. A 550 FICO® Score is significantly below the average credit score. Many lenders choose not to do business with borrowers whose scores fall in the Very Poor range, on grounds they have unfavorable credit.
Whether your attempts to pay for delete are successful can depend on whether you're dealing with the original creditor or a debt collection agency. “As to the debt collector, you can ask them to pay for delete,” says McClelland. “This is completely legal under the FCRA.
Age well for best results
While six months is the minimum age before you're fully scorable, that's the bottom of the range -- way at the bottom. Most lenders (and scoring models) consider anything less than two years of credit history to be little more than a decent start.
A FICO® Score of 677 falls within a span of scores, from 670 to 739, that are categorized as Good. The average U.S. FICO® Score, 711, falls within the Good range.
Your score falls within the range of scores, from 580 to 669, considered Fair. A 638 FICO® Score is below the average credit score. Some lenders see consumers with scores in the Fair range as having unfavorable credit, and may decline their credit applications.