Brittany Greene’s career trajectory in 2017 was on an upward swing. Having earned a master’s degree in project management and actively shadowing a team, she was poised for a promotion from her assistant role to a business analyst position. However, the advancement didn’t materialise, and Greene attributes this setback, in part, to her less-than-stellar credit history. She recounts being informed via email that her credit was the reason she didn’t secure the promotion. A subsequent virtual meeting with a team member reportedly confirmed that her credit history had indeed influenced the employer’s decision. While this account cannot be independently verified, Greene’s experience highlights a growing reality: a good credit history is becoming a critical factor in more than just securing loans or renting a place to live.
Cynthia Chen, co-founder and CEO of Kikoff, a fintech company dedicated to helping individuals build and repair their credit, notes that the impact of one’s credit score and report extends far beyond financial services or housing opportunities. “It can actually impact your eligibility to be hired, to be promoted, and in some cases, if you want to work in a regulated industry, your ability to get licensed,” Chen explains. This sentiment is echoed by a 2021 survey from the Professional Background Screening Association, which found that approximately half of employers in the U.S. incorporate credit reports into their employee background checks. Such checks are particularly prevalent in sectors like financial services, including brokerage firms, and in healthcare services.
Why Employers Scrutinise Your Credit History
At the time of her missed promotion, Greene’s credit score hovered in the 400s. For context, FICO credit scores, the most commonly used by lenders, range from 300 to 850. According to Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus, any score below 580 is considered poor. Chen advises that scores below 550 often prompt employers to delve deeper into a report, seeking specific issues that might cause hesitation in extending a job offer.
It’s important to note, as Courtney Alev, a consumer financial advocate at Intuit Credit Karma, points out, that employers may not always see your actual three-digit credit score. Instead, they typically receive a modified version of your credit report. “They usually receive a modified version of your credit report rather than the three-digit score itself,” Alev states. Understanding this distinction is crucial, as Alev elaborates, “It’s important to understand the difference, because a credit report contains information about your account history and payment behavior, while a credit score is a separate calculation based on that information.”
Greene attributes her low score to financial decisions made before she possessed a strong understanding of financial literacy. Her credit journey began with a seemingly innocuous sign-up for a credit card in college, motivated by a free pizza offer. This was followed by struggles to manage payments after accumulating a significant balance. Ironically, her desire for the promotion was partly driven by the need for increased income to stabilise her finances and improve her credit. “It was very frustrating, very gut-wrenching, because you do all of this hard work, you go to the lengths of getting your degrees, taking the interview prep, making sure your resume is on point,” she reflects.
It’s also pertinent to acknowledge that the Fair Credit Reporting Act mandates that employers obtain consent before accessing credit reports for prospective or current employees and using this information for career decisions, including hiring and promotions. Furthermore, the landscape of credit checks in employment is evolving. As of April 18, 2026, New York will join ten other states and several jurisdictions, such as Philadelphia and Chicago, in prohibiting the use of credit checks in employment decisions, albeit with certain exceptions.
Charting a Course to Credit Improvement
Nearly a decade later, Brittany Greene has transformed her experience into a career. She now serves as the head of community at Self Financial, a fintech company focused on empowering individuals to build and repair their credit. Greene acknowledges that achieving good credit is rarely a straightforward, linear process. She offers three key strategies for those looking to mend or establish their credit history from the ground up.
1. Understand Your Starting Point
The foundational step in building or enhancing your credit history, according to Greene, is to gain a clear understanding of your current financial standing. “I think that’s the scariest part,” she admits. “A lot of people will take a step back and not look at it or avoid it as much as possible. But a good 50% of you wanting to improve your [score] is knowing where you are…taking that fear out of it.”
Accessing your credit report is more accessible than ever. You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – once a week, via annualcreditreport.com. Many credit card companies and banks also provide complimentary credit score checks. While your credit report won’t contain your credit score, it’s an invaluable tool for identifying inaccuracies or fraudulent activity. Chen advises that if you encounter an unfamiliar account or discrepancies regarding your payment history, you should promptly contact the credit bureau to initiate a dispute.
2. Acknowledge and Celebrate Small Victories
As you embark on the journey of building or rebuilding credit, it’s essential to recognise and celebrate your progress, no matter how modest. Greene, who also holds a Ph.D. in human behavior, emphasises the psychological aspect of this process. “You have to align yourself with the [credit] score that you say that you want,” she explains. “You have to connect yourself to that score that you want, or the habits of the person who would have that score.”
Each small achievement, such as paying a bill on time or clearing a minor debt, represents a “mental shift,” Greene notes. Conversely, she cautions against self-recrimination for missed payments or difficult financial decisions.
3. Leverage Tools Tailored to Your Needs
A diverse array of tools and resources are available to assist in building and improving credit. Greene stresses the importance of finding “resources and tools that meet them where they are.”
For individuals seeking to establish credit without the stringent eligibility requirements of traditional unsecured credit cards, secured credit cards can be a viable option. These cards require a security deposit, which then serves as your credit limit. Chen explains that secured cards, typically with lower limits, can help users gradually acclimate to using credit and cultivate consistent payment habits over time.
Additionally, companies like Self, Kikoff, and Boom offer rent reporting services. These platforms allow renters to leverage their monthly rent payments to build or enhance their credit history. Chen highlights this as a particularly effective strategy for individuals who are “credit invisible,” meaning they currently lack a credit history altogether.
