Incriminating Background Check for Marketing Director

Dear Deb,

Q. I have been interviewing and have been preliminarily offered a role, but have been asked to provide authorization for a full background check including credit report and criminal history.  I have a few blemishes on my credit and was arrested for DUI in 1994.  How do you think I should handle this situation? I don’t really feel that my credit history and my past indiscretion with driving under the influence are relevant to my role as senior marketing director, but if I refuse to cooperate, I will not be offered the job.   - JD, Connecticut

A. You may want to ask yourself whether or not this firm is an ideal fit for you. If you feel strongly that this is too much of an invasion of your privacy, perhaps their philosophy is not in line with yours. That said, if you really want the position, I recommend you tell them in advance of the results about any surprises. Let them know about your DUI and tell them that your credit is less than perfect.  Most likely they will not hold it against you, particularly if you come clean before the results are in.  It is much better to put your cards on the table rather than having the investigation come back with derogatory information that you neglected to disclose.