With recent signs that hiring is picking up, more people are likely to enter the job market -- many with credit problems. Foreclosures, liens and other credit faults are common in South Florida after four years of high unemployment.

Those financial problems can be revealed when an employer gets permission — usually through the job application — to look at the applicant's credit report.

What credit blemishes are most likely to get noticed? One survey of employers found 64 percent said a court judgment, or lawsuit by a creditor, would affect their decision whether to make a job offer.

The 2010 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management found 49 percent of employers would be influenced by accounts in debt collection; 25 percent by bankruptcy, 18 percent by a high debt-to-income ratio and just 11 percent by foreclosure.

Other items, such as tax liens, education-related debt, and medical debt are less likely to affect a potential employer's decision.

Some Florida lawmakers don't think employers should be considering credit reports in their hiring decisions, at least for most jobs.

Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, is sponsoring a bill that would prohibit Florida employers from using a job applicant's credit history in hiring, with the exception of financial positions. But "for those who are digging a ditch or painting, [credit] shouldn't have an impact on their employment status," he said.

Nearly half of employers run credit checks for those with financial responsibilities, according to the 2010 survey. And 13 percent say they do credit checks on all job candidates.

In looking at a candidate's credit problems, hiring managers consider whether the job seeker had control over the situation, said Mark Schmit, vice president of research for the HR group.

Lori Brown, head of human resources at Garda World Security Corp.'s U.S. headquarters in Boca Raton, said the company conducts credit checks on all job applicants. But "for people who have challenged credit scores based on conditions most people have had to weather, we're not going to disqualify them," she said.

What can the job hunter do to mitigate financial issues?

Check for errors on reports from all three credit bureaus, said Jackie Kohn, owner of background check-firm Graymark Security Group in Plantation. But don't worry so much about your score. Kohn said the credit score is not included on reports she pulls for employers.

Employers look for patterns, such as no effort to pay debts, Kohn said. "If you moved here from New York and didn't pay the utility bills, they're going to look at that."

Jessica Cecere, regional president for credit counseling firm CredAbility, said if you come to an agreement with a creditor, request reports show the debt is satisfied.

Some experts recommend job seekers be proactive if credit history could be an issue, while others say only disclose when asked.

Cecere suggests job seekers go to the credit bureaus online to address a financial situation directly on reports. Then they can explain how they're going to handle their finances once they have income.

mpounds@tribune.com or 561-243-6650