A 1998 study showed that 39 percent of college freshmen have credit card accounts. College students who handle their credit cards responsibly won't have any negative marks on their credit record. Yet, more and more students are facing financial difficulties due to credit, Fitzsimmons said. Along with the easy accessibility of credit cards comes the attitude among college students that debt is part of the American dream, Fitzsimmons said. Debt and poor financial habits established during college do not impress employers, however.
Employers increasingly check the credit records of potential hires to learn how they manage money.
Employers of the security industry are wary of potential employees with debt problems, high credit card debt, or other financial problems. Such individuals can be more easily bribed than others, and they pose a security risk. In a 1998 study from Virginia Tech, researchers found that workers who experienced more financially stressful events in the past year were absent from work more often than others. Also, workers with larger monthly installment payments were absent more than workers with smaller payments. Absenteeism is likely due to employees trying to handle their finances or they are more likely to be ill from stress-induced financial worries, Fitzsimmons said.