Will filing chap 7 effect my career future?

[hboyd4]

I am going to file chapter 7. I am currently in the medical transcription program at my local community college and will be finishing in about a year and a half. I will be typing out personal documents for patient's records. I have heard that certain types of companies are allowed to not hire you because of filing for bankruptcy. I'm filing because I don't have a job so I can't imagine this effecting what I have been going to school for for 3 years. Anyone have any stories about not being hired because of bankruptcy and what field were you applying in? Thanks for any comments.

[magyar123]

Generally it is only banks - and/or finance related positions in other businesses that discriminate against bankruptcy filers.

[hboyd4]

I am worried because I will be working with very personal documents. I have heard places look at it as you are irresponsible...

[endisnear]

I'm sure if you are upfront and honest with them, it shouldn't be a problem. Pretty much EVERYONE is in a bad situation one way or another right now. But as Maygar said, i think it's really a possible problem in banking fields.

[wkmom2]

I have been a medical transcriptionist for 7 years. I have worked for 2 companies and oddly enough neither company did even a background check. The first company I worked for was a large national company even. I'm sure it won't be a problem especially if you try to get a job with smaller independent companies. Good luck!

[Flamingo]

There have been numerous discussions in this forum concerning your questions. Do a search for "employment and bankruptcy" or something along those lines and you should get a lot of information. You must know that most employers today do background checks, drug testing and credit checks on prospective employees so be prepared for that. They are just trying to protect their business and glean as much information as possible on prospective employees also by now checking all references. No one is immune unless the employer personally knows the person. The only time bankruptcy should be any sort of issue is if the employer is in the financial field and you would be handling or have access to cash, checks, account numbers, credit card accounts, etc. The reason they worry is that they feel someone who has filed bankruptcy or has bad credit may try to embezzle funds, open fraudulent accounts, work as an "in" for outside sources as to identity theft, etc., etc. You can't blame them - employers get ripped off all the time by people who have never filed bankruptcy but everyone suffers as a consequence. You should not have any problem in your field unless you are specifically asked on an employment application whether or not you have ever filed bankruptcy - be sure to answer "yes" cause they can easily find out. Best of luck to you.

[hboyd4]

wkmom2... That's a relief to know that you are in the field that I want to go in. I just feel like school is taking me FOREVER and to throw away all that I have done would be devastating! Thanks for your reply :-)

[hboyd4]

Flamingo... I am starting to feel better about all of this because I keep hearing that it is mostly people in fields dealing money/accts/checks, etc. It totally makes sense. You can't blame them one bit.