newbie to forum / job quesiton.

[troublmaker_98]

first i would like to say that i have been in the shadows looking in on this forum for the past couple months.. i have indirectly received encouragement and support just from reading what everyone has posted (literally i think i have read every post on the site). there are great people and excellent conversation & questions on this site. i am happy to say i now have more confidence with my bk situation and would like to start posting on the site. THANK YOU to all.

this history of my bk filing is this: i'm in michigan, single with no kids. i made $68k per yr, was laid off in Jan 07 and now collecting unemployment ($362wk). i lived the good life as a single 32yr old making decent money. i work in the automotive industry as a program manager and this state is just about dead.

immediately the bills started piling and knowing the automotive market is not the best to be seeking employment now, i consulted an attorney for bk options. it was advised of course that i continue seeking work and wait a few more weeks to see if i could find gainful employment. if employed, we could seek ch 13 options, if not ch 7. to date i have not been able to find work and the passing time has allowed my 6 month avg income to come down allowing me to file ch 7 (filed 5/3/07).

now my issue: i have been seeking work since january, with no luck. my 341 is set for june 20. all my bills have not been paid since february. now i am getting a few calls for interviews, but no offers have been made. my credit is now trashed, was 700+ pre filing and i am going for no asset ch 7 (dumping everything). unemployment is running out in july so a job is needed asap. what if i get a job prior to my 341meeting, will that hinder my ability to file for ch 7? at this point i would hate to "turn down" a job, but with the amount of debt i have included in the BK, it may come to that. when am i safe to have a job and not affect my ch 7?

my attorney wasn't clear and i haven't pressed the issue cause i have not had any solid job offers.. but i got the idea, that after my 341 meeting, usually there are no more questions.

I'm filing:
Primary home $230k balance, value $190 = -$40k
Rental property $125,000, value $120k = -$5k
Boat loan $16k, value $12k = -$4k
Am Express. -$18,700
BoA -$8,857
Discover -$8,203
Personal loan -$7,437

sorry note is so long, but thanks for letting me share my circumstance. i have more creditor stories and history to share, maybe in the next note

thanks to everyone in advance
TM

[wrinkleigh]

Getting a job before the 341 may not trash your case, since the previous 6 months is averaged out -- however -- you may be asked if you "expect" and increase in income. If you do -- red flag.

I would wait until your 341 is complete.

There have been several on here with this same situation -- maybe they will chime in.

Good luck to you, glad you found us! Welcome aboard.

[SinkingFast]

I wouldn't really worry about a job offer until one actually comes along.

Go on the interviews. It may take 2-3, maybe even 4-6 months before a job actually comes thru.

Hubby was interviewed in November. The job offer came mid January and he started to work early February. The company didn't wanna make a move until after they got thru the Holiday season.

You're interviewing in the summer. The hiring manager may interview candidates and then go off on vacation for a couple of weeks or a month prior to making calls for offers.

[JollyGG]

I completely agree with SinkingFast.

My hubby had made it to the second interview right around the time we filed. He ended up not getting that job. But did get a job shortly after our discharge.
We asked our lawyer what would happen if Hubby got a new job before the 341. He said that until you have a job offer in hand and have accepted in writting any new job is simply a possibility and therefore would not need to be mentioned if the trustee asked about changes in income. A lot can happen even during salary and benifit negotiations. So no job is for sure until you have that final offer letter in hand.

[CindyLou]

I would say that until you walk into the door of a new job and punch the clock for the first time, then it is still a posibility! Job offers are ALWAYS contingent upon drug screens, reference checks, background checks, etc. So even if you have accepted then it doesn't techinically mean you will start.

[frankies_mom]

I was actually wondering the same thing. I have a husband and a baby and am filing on my own. My attorney's office should be calling any day now. They told me we were going to file sometime this week. But now I have been called for a job interview this. If I were to get this job it would be so much better for our situation. The hours are way more flexible so I could be home with our daughter more while my husband is at work and vice versa, which is what we have been hoping for. The only thing is I am not so sure how this would affect income. I want to say the job doesn't pay anymore than what I am making now, maybe even less. It's hard to say because it would be commission-based so I may start off making less anyway the first couple months. This job would be a blessing but at the same time I do not want to jeopardize my filing at this point - I am doing a Chapter 7. Any advice? If I were to get offered the job and didn't start until after my 341 would that make a difference? Thanks for any input.