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Information about all aspects of finances affected by a serious health condition. Includes income sources such as work, investments, and private and government disability programs, and expenses such as medical bills, and how to deal with financial problems.
Information about all aspects of health care from choosing a doctor and treatment, staying safe in a hospital, to end of life care. Includes how to obtain, choose and maximize health insurance policies.
Answers to your practical questions such as how to travel safely despite your health condition, how to avoid getting infected by a pet, and what to say or not say to an insurance company.

Summary

These days, employers not only check an applicant's references, they also check credit rating and background.

Carefully consider who to list as a reference. Then speak with the people you choose to ask them if it is okay to use them as references. If your references know about your health condition, tell them it is not relevant to the conversation. Ask them not to bring it up -- unless they are asked. Even then, they should confine what they say to general statements which relate to your ability to do the job in question rather than the details of your diagnosis or symptoms.

Ask your references to contact you if any prospective employer contacts them so you'll know what your prospective employer knows.

Also do homework about your credit and background. Find out what a prospective employer will learn. If it's negative, consider bringing it up yourself with a positive spin. Sound planning will pay off.

References

References: Identify current references to provide to a prospective employer. The more respectable the people are, the better. Preferably include at least one person to whom you reported in a previous job.

Check with each reference before using their name to be sure they are agreeable to acting as reference for you, and that they will give you a good reference. If you detect the slightest hesitation, whether about your health condition or for any other reason - thank them, but don't use them as a reference.

Let each person you do use as a reference know:

  • If you would like a particular part of your work experience or qualifications emphasized.
  • If they know about your health history, and you're not going to disclose it to a prospective employer before a job offer is made, be sure to tell them to keep the information confidential. If you have disclosed your health history, your reference should tell the truth. It would help if they would emphasize that in spite of your health condition, you were able to do your job.
  • To let you know if they were contacted, and what was said.

Neighbors and Work Colleagues: Even if you do not use them as references, it is advisable to tell neighbors and work colleagues, past and present, that they might be asked to provide information about you because you are looking for a new job. This kind of heads-up helps avoid suspicion. It also alerts you to possible problems.

Former Employers: Check with your most recent employer to find out what kind of information will be provided in response to requests about former employees.

  • Are personnel records released or does the employer just give basic information such as the period of time you worked there and possibly your last salary?
  • If personnel records are provided, ask for a copy. You may even be entitled to one under the law of your state.

If you fear that an employer may give you a less than glowing reference, consider sending the employer a letter indicating that you do not want any information provided other than your dates of employment and your salary.

Thank people who act as references. When you get the job, call them and thank them again. It's good manners. And you never know when you may need them again.

Credit Checks

More and more employers are doing credit checks. You can obtain your credit report for free.

If your credit's not great, see what you can do to improve it.

Do Your Own Background Search

Since a lot of employers do background checks, do one yourself to find out what they'll learn.

Look at one of the web sites with background information such as www.knowx.com offsite link or www.choicetrust.com offsite link. Both charge small fees.

Don't assume that a former employer won't want to be sued for slander so they won't say anything negative. According to at least one expert in the field, 80% of the time former employers will "spill their guts."

Consider hiring a company that specializes in such reports to conduct one for you. That way, you can discover if the data bases of the information vendors contain erroneous or misleading information. You can also find out what previous employers say about you. Look in your yellow pages under "investigators." To locate a company, on your favorite search engine, type in words such as "reference check." Be sure to check their references before using an unknown search company.

If some of the items that show up in a report appear to be negative, bring them up yourself when applying for a job, and put a positive spin on the facts. If you need help figuring out how to explain part of your past, contact a career coach. Personal coaches act as a combination of job advisors and lifestyle therapists. Be cautious in selecting one. No degree or license or professional certification is required. One place to start your search is to obtain referrals from the International Coach Federation, www.coachfederation.org offsite link or call 888.236.9262.