In 2017, Brittany Greene was scheduled to be promoted from an assistant to a business analyst position at her company, she says. She had a master’s degree in project management and worked with a team.
But Greene didn’t get the job, and says her poor credit history played a role. “In fact, I later learned that it was not through my own merit that I was able to get that position,” she says.
The company was informed of the decision via email. She then had a virtual meeting with a member of the team she planned to attend, who confirmed that her credit history influenced the decision, she says. CNBC Make It could not independently confirm whether Ms. Green’s credit history played a factor in her former employer’s decision not to promote her.
Green’s story is a reminder that for many Americans, having a good credit history is more important than just the interest rate on a loan or whether you qualify for an apartment, said Cynthia Chen, co-founder and CEO of Kikoff, a fintech company that helps individuals build and repair credit.
About half of employers include credit reports in background checks for U.S.-based employees, a 2021 survey from the Professional Background Checks Association found. Chen said credit checks are especially common for hiring in financial services, such as brokerage firms and medical services.
“The impact of personal credit scores and credit reports extends far beyond financial services and housing opportunities,” Chen said. “It can actually affect your eligibility for employment and promotion, and in some cases, your ability to obtain a license if you want to work in a regulated industry.”
Why employers check your credit history
At the time he lost the promotion, Green said his credit score was in the 400s. The FICO credit score range most widely used by lenders is 300 to 850. According to Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus, a score below 580 is considered bad.
“If there are items below 550, the employer will likely take a closer look at the report to see if there are any specific items that would make them hesitant to make an offer,” says Chen.
Keep in mind that even if your employer checks your credit history, they may not know your credit score, says Courtney Alleb, consumer finance advocate at Intuit Credit Karma. “They typically receive a revised version of their credit report rather than the three-digit score itself.”
“It’s important to understand the difference because while your credit report includes information about your account history and payment behavior, your credit score is calculated separately based on that information,” Alev added.
Green said her low score was due to decisions she made before she fully understood financial literacy. She said she initially signed up for the credit card while in college just to get free pizza, but then found it difficult to keep up with the payments as the balance accumulated. She says part of the reason she wanted the promotion was to get her finances back on track, including making more money and improving her credit.
“It was very frustrating and heartbreaking, because I was doing so much work, getting my degree, preparing for interviews, making sure my resume was on point,” she says.
It’s also worth noting that the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires employers to obtain consent before obtaining a prospective or current employee’s credit report and using that information to make career decisions, such as hiring or promotion.
As of April 18, 2026, New York will join 10 other states and several jurisdictions, including Philadelphia and Chicago, in banning the use of credit checks in employment decisions, with some exceptions.
How to start improving your credit
Now, nearly a decade later, Green is the head of community at Self Financial, a financial technology company focused on helping individuals build and repair their credit. Using credit to get to a good place isn’t necessarily a “linear journey,” she says.
Here are her three tips for people looking to repair their credit or build it from scratch.
1. Know your position
The first step to building or improving your credit history is knowing where you stand, Green says. If you don’t know where you start, you won’t know how to improve.
“I think that’s the scariest part,” she says. “A lot of people take a step back and try not to look at it or try to avoid it as much as possible. But a good 50% of people who want to improve[their scores]want to know where they are and get rid of that fear.”
You can get a free copy of your credit report once a week from all three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion via annualcreditreport.com. Your credit card company or bank may also offer a free credit score check.
Although your credit report doesn’t include your credit score, it’s a good idea to check for inaccurate or fraudulent accounts. If you notice an account you don’t recognize or information about whether the account’s payment status is up to date is incorrect, contact the credit bureau directly to dispute it, Chen says.
2. Celebrate small victories
When building or rebuilding credit, it’s important to celebrate your progress, even if it’s relatively small, says Green, who also holds a Ph.D. In human behavior.
From a psychology perspective, “you have to align yourself with the (credit) score you want,” she says. “You have to align yourself with the score you want, or the habits of someone with that score.”
When you win small victories, like paying a bill on time or paying off a small debt, “it automatically shifts your mental space,” Green says. On the other hand, she says, don’t beat yourself up if you miss a payment or “have to make a difficult decision.”
3. Use the tools that work for you
There are various tools you can use to build and improve your credit. Green says it’s important for individuals looking to build a good credit history to find “resources and tools that work for them where they are.”
For some people, secured cards — where consumers put down a deposit that functions similarly to a regular credit card limit — can be a convenient option for building a credit history without the same eligibility requirements as unsecured credit cards, Chen says.
“Secured cards typically have lower limits, making it easier for people to use credit and also helping them build consistent payment habits over time,” she says.
Companies like Self, Kikoff, and Boom offer rent reporting tools that renters can use to build or improve their credit with each monthly rent payment. Chen says this is especially effective for people who are “credit invisible” because they don’t have a credit history yet.
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