I already accepted a job offer, and I'm at the stage of background check.<p>In the criminal background check I have a speeding ticket (driving at 41 MPH in a 30 MPH zone) which remains unpaid, and there may be a bench warrant.
I let my soon-to-be employer know about this situation, and they didn't mentioned a word about it.<p>Also, I have bad credit (in the 400 FICO) because I don't have enough money (that's why my speeding ticket remains unpaid), and the money I earn from my current employer is not enough (I make $12/hr as a Software Developer...), some times I make just enough money to pay rent and utilities.<p>I'm afraid that my soon-to-be employer might want to rescind the job offer, which will take me back to the start.
Yes a very good friend working in finance had an offer rescinded at this stage. They won't tell you why, although if the credit score is the reason they are legally supposed to send you an letter. Seriously, though, 400 FICO is appalling, I've never heard of a score that low in real life. You don't have bad credit because you don't have enough money, it is because you are living beyond your means. Stop making excuses. You are making $23K, which is enough for a single guy to live on in South Texas (I survived on a similar amount out of school). You need to get organized and take care of your business, including the speeding ticket. If you are a developer you should freelance to earn extra income-- that can actually lead to a better full-time job. You also need to downside your apartment-- live at home if that's an option, or get roommates. Also get rid of cable TV. The good news is that FICO scores can rebound pretty quickly.
If they know about the issues, and are proceeding with the background check, then they won't freak out upon encountering this in the background check.<p>In the meantime you might want to try sites like elance to see if you can pick up some side work to help pay the bills.
Just a side note on the ticket. Go get that fixed. Go into the court, tell them you don't have the money and let them decide what to do. One of three things will happen:<p>1) You will be required to provide community service<p>2) Your future wages will be garnished until you've paid the fine.<p>3) Your fine will be reduced to something you can pay.<p>There is absolutely nothing so poorly planned as having an outstanding warrant for your arrest. The next time you get pulled over, you will go right to jail. You can't predict the timing of that, but you can "fix" this problem on your own schedule if you just go in and deal with it.
My wife had a solid job offer rescinded a few years ago. She got the whole "welcome aboard" speech and everything. However, when attempting to check an old reference, the person she listed as her reference wasn't available and so another guy who'd she had never met decided to give it instead. He gave an entirely fictional and terrible reference for no apparent reason. They had never worked together, had no history or anything yet this guy decided he would just mess someones life up.
Anyway, even after explaining that to the potential employer they still didn't care and rescinded the offer.
Life is weird sometimes.
I wouldn't worry too much about a unpaid speeding ticket and low credit score. At least not in terms of the pending job offer. It is natural to feel nervous at this stage. The fact is, you really want the job and you see it as a big break. Hang in there and update this thread when you find out either way.
I have but not because of the background check. I went to a job interview once where the guy I was interviewing with offered me a job on the spot, and he would send the formal offer the next day. The next day I got an email saying that he had changed his mind.
Your employer doesn't need to know anything except what they ask for. I have never had a background check or a credit check for a job.<p>Furthermore, if you became a freelancer / self-employed contractor, then they become your customer - definitely no background check needed.<p>My advice: Find some temporary work, but start investing in your long term career. Make a web portfolio. Start blogging. Post youtube videos when you learn new stuff. Opportunities will start coming. Get your income up, pay off your debts/tickets and don't ever talk about that stuff ever again.<p>I did have an offer rescinded for other reasons (I'm good at talking my way out of opportunities). Don't do the same :)
Never lie on applications, and companies do background checks because of PCI reasons. For instance, if you said you had a college degree and you didn't, you'd most likely not be hired. However, if they know you didn't have a degree and you didn't say you had a degree up front then most likely you're fine. Regarding PCI, if you're a felon they can't hire you. As far as I know, most companies don't look at credit score.
Main concerns of background checks:<p>a) will you get detained?<p>b) are you a danger to any employee in/out of the office<p>c) is your morality "flexible" where they need to worry with trusting you with information / anything.<p>d) are you on drugs right now, or high risk of getting on them
It's unlikely that you'll have a rescinded offer over this, unless you're applying for a bottom-rung job. Having bad finances isn't on the same level as a felony conviction for dealing drugs.<p>If it happens, and you have an offer in writing, the words you want are <i>promissory estoppel</i>. A good lawyer will get you 3-4 months in severance, should it happen. Rescinding an offer makes a company look very bad. Have an attorney handle that negotiation, should it get to that (and it probably won't).