Amusing Question in Job Application Form

[Kelpie]

Hi all,

 

A friend of mine went for a job interview and as usual have to fill-in the Job Application Form. He was puzzled about a question: "Are you debt-free?". He was amused by the relevance of such question. Bascially, very high percentage of Singapore are not debt-free. Majority of them have to shoulder housing loan, car loan, credit cards bill and what have you.

 

Have you ever came across other irrelevant question in a Job Application Form?

 

Regards,

 

[Twnll]

Question not irrelevant.

 

If you are an employer, would you hire someone who have more debt to service than the income he/she is receiving?

 

Perhaps the question should be rephrased.

[Skunk]

having debt is normal. Debt is a way of "leveraging"...so that more can be achieved, provided it's done within safe limits.

 

In fact, the only totally debt free person i know is this beggar i had a chat with in Thailand. He owns nothing more than the clothes on his back. Interestingly, he owes nobody any money LOL

[Nolicense]

i think its irrelevant.

The pertinant question should be "are you an undischarged bankrupt", NOT "are you debt free".

 

NOBODY is debt free if you service a home loan, car loan, study loan, huge hospital bill, or whatever.

[Kelpie]

Question not irrelevant.

 

If you are an employer, would you hire someone who have more debt to service than the income he/she is receiving?

 

Perhaps the question should be rephrased.

 

Does a company has the right in wanting an employee to declare his/her debit details in the 1st place?

 

Regards,

[Kelpie]

i think its irrelevant.

The pertinant question should be "are you an undischarged bankrupt", NOT "are you debt free".

 

NOBODY is debt free if you service a home loan, car loan, study loan, huge hospital bill, or whatever.

 

Talking about it, he told me that after the "Are you debt-free?" question, it was followed by "Are you a bankfrupt? ".

 

Regards,

 

 

[Freestylers09]

if not wrong, the debt is refer to Collateral Loan and not normal personal loan or housing loan or car loan

 

just that banks secure some stuffs like House ,stocks etc from the person who loan and in case the person cant pay up, they will secure from these stuffs

[Skunk]

yeap, not even the richest person i know is debt free.

 

The moment u have a handphone with a fixed line, use utilities like electricity and water, u incur debt simply because u use first then pay at the end of the month.

[Kelpie]

if not wrong, the debt is refer to Collateral Loan and not normal personal loan or housing loan or car loan

 

just that banks secure some stuffs like House ,stocks etc from the person who loan and in case the person cant pay up, they will secure from these stuffs

 

What has the question have to do with the job that he is applying was his 1st question he asked himself. The HR person should have done his/her homework instead of making applicants doubting their professionalism.

 

Regards,

[Jacf]

mayb your friend should clarify with the HR what is meant by debt-free? if referring to car loan, housing loan,then all these are very common debt to banks... strange qn though, never come across this qn.. only the one asking if undischarged bankrupt - this one very common qn.. even gov jobs got ask..

[Kelpie]

mayb your friend should clarify with the HR what is meant by debt-free? if referring to car loan, housing loan,then all these are very common debt to banks... strange qn though, never come across this qn.. only the one asking if undischarged bankrupt - this one very common qn.. even gov jobs got ask..

 

He did ask the interviewer and they asked him to just leave it blank if uncertain . This is a public listed company and yet asked such "funny" question.

 

Regards,

[Freestylers09]

if a person no paid up,bank will call the company etc..lead to indebtness embrassment (if i remember correctly)

..if he end up no housing etc ..a problem when bank will chase to the company as in calling to the company to find him etc

 

usually apply to public listed company and government sector

 

during my army time,i heard a sergent was charged as he did not declare his loan (forget what type)

 

infact every year my company will ask us to update these forms,shares we held outside or any directorship in non listed companies..very troublesome one ..

Edited August 5, 2009 by Freestylers09

[Sosaria]

if a person no paid up,bank will call the company etc..lead to indebtness embrassment (if i remember correctly)

..if he end up no housing etc ..a problem when bank will chase to the company as in calling to the company to find him etc

 

usually apply to public listed company and government sector

 

during my army time,i heard a sergent was charged as he did not declare his loan (forget what type)

 

infact every year my company will ask us to update these forms,shares we held outside or any directorship in non listed companies..very troublesome one ..

 

How about HDB loan then... ? No need? What if HDB start calling your workplace to chase after loan?

 

But landed property loan must declare? How many shares before you have to declare?

 

[Albeniz]

Care to share the position your friend is applying?

[Jman888]

Talking about it, he told me that after the "Are you debt-free?" question, it was followed by "Are you a bankfrupt? ".

 

Regards,

 

2nd question is more relevant as they want the candidate to be upfront if he is a bankrupt?

[Enduro25]

those like installement for tv is not considered as debt..owning $ from credit company then considered as in debt

[Rexxxer]

definitely a relevant question..it referring to secure or insecure loan..In the coy stand point, they hv the right to know ur financial capablility. Jus answer no, nothing big deal

[Hub_n_mona]

relevant question, if he is applying for a position that deals with the company's purse strings