Ask the Recruiter

Q. I am afraid my credit is not perfect. Some unpaid emergency room bills, student loans and so forth.

Tell me, do newspapers check? And if so, how much weight will they put on it?

Thanks,

Curious

A. Tell the newspapers that you will work for them only if their credit rating is better than yours. Scratch that. It might be hard to find one.

While newspaper companies that heaped on the debt at just the wrong time might sympathize with your situation, they probably won't even check. It is normal to check references, academic credentials, your criminal background and have you pee in a cup, but they are unlikely to check your credit history. That's because most journalists are not in the position to handle money and because each check costs the employer more money.

So, worry more about the newspaper's finances than about your own.

Coming Tuesday: He sort of fell into this job at a weekly and really likes it, but he is not getting feedback, and he aspires to get better. Is it too soon to leave?