What is on the report
- Open and closed credit accounts with balances and payment history.
- Accounts in collection.
- Bankruptcies, generally reportable for up to ten years.
- Employment information previously reported to the bureaus.
What is not
- The credit score itself.
- Account numbers in full.
- Any information used as a soft or hard inquiry against the candidate's own score — employment pulls do not affect it.
State restrictions
States including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, plus several cities, limit employment credit checks to roles with fiduciary, financial, or executive responsibility. Written justification for the role is often required.
Frequently asked
Does an employment credit check hurt my credit?
No. It is recorded as a soft inquiry and does not affect the score.
Can I be denied a job over credit?
Only where lawful for the role, and only after the full pre-adverse and adverse action process.