Oh the irony

[shipo]

As some of you have learned from my recent posts, my debt crisis which led to a Chapter 13 filing was in large part brought on by the failure of a niche business started by my former business partner. My first real clue to the enormity of the debt he ran up in my name was when in 2011(ish) I started getting collection calls from one of the largest financial institution in the country, if not the world; but one which I had no memory of ever applying for either a loan or a credit card. At the time I reasoned maybe one of the two credit cards in my name dating back to the early 1980s which my business partner and I had used for business expenses had been bought out by this financial institution. To this day I do not really know if that is the case. Regardless, it turned out he had possession of at least four cards or lines of credit in my name, three of which were through the aforementioned company. I've asked to see the originating documentation from him; said documentation was never turned over, however, I did ask one of the collection callers for proof the line of credit he was calling about was actually signed by me. The image of the original documentation had all of my information on it, but no signature, so at least I was cleared of that one. I never got proof one way or another regarding the other two, and included them in my Chapter 13 filing in 2015.

Fast forward to 2020 and my life situation has changed considerably. In the years prior to my bankruptcy filing I had made my living as an consulting engineer, typically brought in after a project had gone bad, with the auto industry being the most common place for me to ply my trade. Three years ago I was given the opportunity to hop over into the new and emerging field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically Conversational AI, where I teach systems to converse in natural language with people. In a way, think of the ways in which the crews of the various Star Trek vessels interacted with their computers, or how you interact with your Home Automation systems; it should come as no surprise to anyone, such conversational systems will find their ways into the cars of the future.

Now for the irony; over the last couple of years I have been fortunate enough to not only wrap my brain around a very new way of thinking, but to help the company I went to work for as a full-time employee (my first time as an FTE since 1982) in 2013 to become a leader in the Conversational AI space. This last Friday I received a call exploring my interest in using my Conversational AI skills in the financial industry; specifically with the financial institution which my former business partner ran up so much debt in my name. The current status of my Chapter 13 is now paid, but not yet discharged, and I find myself wondering what, if any, impact my bankruptcy in general, and my (now) former debt to this institution, may play in my being able to get a high paying job there.

I rather doubt any of y'all can offer much advice regarding this situation, regardless, I will keep y'all posted if/when I hear from them again.

[justbroke]

A successful Chapter 13 should not be an impediment to obtaining just about any job or security clearance.

[shipo]

A successful Chapter 13 should not be an impediment to obtaining just about any job or security clearance.

Thanks, justbroke I'll keep you posted.

[sophieanne]

shipo - good luck; if it's the opportunity you would like. I've changed jobs a few times since filing my 13 and it's never effected being hired.

[shipo]

A quick update, the whole COVID-19 falderal thing took hold here in the U.S. shortly after I started this thread back in March, and I figured that would be the end of the conversation vis-à-vis employment with my former creditor. Well, over the last week I had two very high-level (as in exploratory) conversations with the individual who originally reached out to me; apparently the purse strings are starting to loosen up and recruiting is getting back on track.

Now for the question; given my Chapter 13 has now not only been discharged but closed as well, and assuming talks progress to the point where I'm interviewing with associates of the financial institution in question, do I disclose my former debt to them, or do I keep mum and let them figure it out for themselves?

[sophieanne]

That is such a hard question ..I’ve heard of people handling it both ways..telling and not telling. I don’t really know if there’s a right answer to this; I’m sure others will offer their experience. All I can say is good luck..this sounds like an incredible opportunity for you..and I hope it works out. Sorry I couldn’t offer an answer.

[shipo]

My how time flies; my last post in this thread was made over four and a half years ago; in the meantime I've taken a new job (May 2021) with a small boutique consulting firm specializing in Contact Center efficiencies, and then endured that firm being bought out a huge international conglomerate based in India, and then subsequently eviscerated (both from a management perspective as well as from a benefits and morale perspective), so yeah, at 68 years old (in a few weeks), I'm back on the market.

Ten weeks ago a recruiter reached out to me and asked if I'd be interested in working for a small boutique Contact Center consulting firm about the same size as the one I joined four years ago, and oddly enough, the same firm my (now former) boss worked for. I immediately said I'd be interested, and the interviews began. In the end they declined to offer me a position as they felt I'd be better suited to a position they will be creating later in the year.

Not two days later an individual from Google whom I've partnered with on a few projects over the last three years asked me for my personal email address; twelve hours later an email showed up from Google HR asking me if I'd be interested in applying for a job. As some of y'all might know, getting into Google is a lengthy and arduous process of AI screenings, HR screenings (with a human), and then, if one gets past the screenings, technical and personal interviews with various "Googlers", and finally, a review by the hiring committee. Here we are over six week later and I've apparently passed every evaluation save the final interview which is scheduled for next week; yeah, my head is spinning.

Honestly, ten years ago, the year I filed for bankruptcy, I had rather outdated skills, and was just hoping to work for my (then) company until I'd saved enough for a very modest retirement, so if you'd told me I'd have the prospect of a very sweet gig with Google, I probably would have suggested you were nuts.

[Carmella]

Congrats shipo whether you end up with Google or another small boutique firm that's great!

I wish I had this knowledge about 40 yrs ago and I would have gone into technology. I was interested and got bad advice and went into health care! It's been a rough road and I was unable to get out of clinical work which is super competitive and still health care related and isn't a great option. But I am plugging along. I will be starting a new job in June something decent came through and my income will go up so that's cool. I am 8 yrs younger than you and there's a trend to hire younger aka less expensive people in my line of work.

Both your story and mine and many of our other members show that there is life after BK and we can be better off after it's all said and done. Going through bankruptcy for me and others that I have read on this forum can be such a dark period of time. It can be a fresh start even though there's doom and gloom stats about BK failures, we are proof that there are better things ahead!


Congrats again!!

[shipo]

Thanks Carmella, yeah, in many ways life is definitely better than it was ten years ago; given we have a new (to us) home, new(ish) cars, a comfortable life style, and I have a stable job which isn't threatening to ship my work off-shore every few months, our financial life is certainly better.

The only real challenges are health; ten years ago I was running between 200 and 300 miles per month and not a health concern to be had; then 60, a broken leg, COVID, the (previously reported) dog mauling, then knee surgery, and finally my Stage IV Prostate Cancer diagnosis happened. I'm still shopping for a knee surgeon who will agree to give me a new "press-fit" knee (in lieu of a cement on), so I can do some light running again. Regarding the cancer; in October 2023 when I was given less than five years to live, and by September 2024 when my blood tests came back showing my cancer was no longer detectable; so much for the five years (I hope). Since then I've gone through 8-weeks if IMRT (radiation therapy for non-medical folks) and have completed my first of two years of oral medications designed to starve any remaining cancer cells into submission. By next March I'll be off the meds for good, and then starts the quarterly monitoring of my blood.

[justbroke]

shipo real impressive. Gives me hope!

[shipo]

shipo real impressive. Gives me hope!

Are you job hunting as well?

[justbroke]

Are you job hunting as well?

I'll PM you!