About a week ago I was checking news reports on the internet.  One article on The Wall Street Journal’s website caught my eye. The article was written by Charles Whelan and dealt with graduation speeches, aka commencement addresses.

It was almost 4 years ago when my daughter graduated high school.  It was a very stressful time in my life.  I had just survived a company layoff, only to discover that a complete facility closing was on the horizon. How were my wife and I going to pay tuition on only one income?  How were we going to pay our other bills and keep a roof over our heads?

In addition, my daughter did not know which college she wanted to attend.  We sent out several applications, and although she was accepted to almost every school she applied to, the big decision as to which college she would attend was yet to be made.

So it was quite ironic that Mr. Whelan’s Wall Street Journal article about graduation speeches was so pessimistic.  For those who are interested, the article can be found here.

I thought about my state of mind 4 years ago, when it seemed like my world was about to come crashing down.  I lost my job and collected unemployment for the first time in nearly three decades.  I might have agreed with Mr. Whelan’s pessimistic outlook at that time, however now I see things differently.  Like so many victims of the Great Recession, I was able to, with a lot of hard work, support from my wife and family, and a little luck, find a more optimistic future.  I found a new job, and my wife and I were able to pay the tuition on time (although a generous scholarship was very helpful).  I am hopeful that a brighter future for my daughter is on the horizon…

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Did you know that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) says it’s unlawful for employers to reject job candidates because of poor credit? So many jobseekers, caught in the web of long-term unemployment in these times, worry about losing good employment opportunities because they have fallen into debt and have amassed poor credit ratings.

Business is not supposed to inquire as to your bankruptcy, divorce or other financial issues, for the purpose of deciding whom to hire. So you don’t have to answer any prying questions. 

It violates Civil Rights Act of 1964. There are laws but we all know employers break them all the time and try to get away with it. It’s hard to prove in court.

While there are laws in place that try to protect people’s rights, sadly, there is little protection against human nature, so be informed, and know what tools you have that can put you in a better light, such as the capability of being bonded. Don’t let a poor credit history erode your confidence and hope that you will once again become financially solvent. 

Bonding, no-cost insurance provided by the government on the employer’s behalf as assurance against theft, has been associated with ex offenders who have criminal records but very few people know that it is also provided as assurance against theft in cases of bad credit.

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