Bankruptcy - Job Application (Wachovia Bank)

[gak555]

Hello Everyone,
My chapter 7 bankruptcy was finalized on October 26, 2007. I relied on this forum for both strategic and moral support and I appreciate all the input I received from the many contributors.
I am interested in applying for a financial specialist position with Wachovia bank. They e-mailed me the preliminary paperwork to fill out prior to going in for an interview. The form does ask if "you have filed bankruptcy in the last 10 years."
From experience does anyone know if I am wasting my time applying at a bank or insurance company due to a recent bankruptcy ?

[JollyGG]

My husband got a job with a credit card company shortly after our chapter 7 discharge. They initially declined his application after doing the credit check. The rejection letter did give a number to call. My husband call, they asked a couple of questions about the bankruptcy and ultimately they decided to consider his application. He now has the job. You can follow what happened here http://www.bkforum.com/showthread.php?t=13060

$$only4ever just got a promotion at the financial institution she works at and is in an active chapter 13. You can follow that is this thread http://www.bkforum.com/showthread.php?t=20478

grandmasusan lost a job with a bank and got another job with a different bank while in an active bk13. You can follow that thread here http://www.bkforum.com/showthread.php?t=17373

So really there are people who have gotten jobs at banks post and during bk. If your application will be considered or not kinda depends on the company, how strong a canidate you are without the bk, the rest of the canidate pool, and other things. But it never hurts to apply.

The Bankruptcy Code says:

11 USC 525(b) No private employer may terminate the employment of, or discriminate with respect to employment against, an individual who is or has been a debtor under this title, . . . solely because such debtor (1) is or has been a debtor under this title . . . (2) has been in solvent before the commencement of a case under this title or during the case but before the grant or denial of a discharge; or (3) has not paid a debt that is dischargeable in a case under this title . . .”

A bankruptcy case out of the Southern District of New York (Leary v. Warnaco SDNY 2000, 251 B.R. 656 (Bankruptcy 2363.1) held this applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring.

However, it is awfully easy to come up with some other reason why someone didn't get a job. All they would have to say is that another canidate was more qualified. But as you can see we have three people here that have gotten jobs at banks within the last year with a bankruptcy.

Good luck on your job search.

[NASCAR20FAN]

Hello Everyone,
My chapter 7 bankruptcy was finalized on October 26, 2007. I relied on this forum for both strategic and moral support and I appreciate all the input I received from the many contributors.
I am interested in applying for a financial specialist position with Wachovia bank. They e-mailed me the preliminary paperwork to fill out prior to going in for an interview. The form does ask if "you have filed bankruptcy in the last 10 years."
From experience does anyone know if I am wasting my time applying at a bank or insurance company due to a recent bankruptcy ?

No, I would still apply.

[FreshLikeADaisy]

I would definitely apply, and be as open about it as possible on the app and during the interview process. Especially be open about the causative factors -- it helps if it was brought on by something catastrophic, but that's not necessary -- and stress that the problem is taken care of and how you have taken steps to ensure your continued financial health. I think you may be surprised at how marketable you still are in the banking world. If all bks were forever ineligible to work in banking and finance, there'd be a helluva lot of empty offices... including Donald Trump's. So don't worry too much about it. You never know, maybe the person reading your app had a bk themselves.

[$$only4ever]

Go ahead and apply. Just to clarify with everyone, I have a new job with a different financial institution. I am leaving the bank that I currently work for.

Jolly GG posted my thread. I never dreamed that I had a chance but I got the job.