Employment qualifications becoming an "invasion of privacy"

[Anonymous]

Sunday, I left for training on a new insurance position which was offered to me last Friday, however, when I arrived at the training center Monday morning within two hours I was dismissed.  The head trainer informed me that I could not attain a replacement insurance license since I was without the release forms for a bankruptcy I was forced to take five years ago along with a list of the creditors.  Why on earth would they need to know who the creditors were?  

Needless to say, I was shocked, dismayed, angry and outraged that after being honest with the recruiter regarding my financial status she allowed the employment process to continue without confirming further requirements before I left town.  But, there was a price on my head in regard to the person that recruited me.  She negligently pushed the process through in order to make last week's commission for hiring me.      

Within the last 10 years I have held all four major insurance licenses in life, health, property and casualty.  Never once did I have to answer questions regarding personal financial status in order to obtain them.  My last license expired in 2003.  Not only that, but I was required to disclose personal information to this company that I have never seen on previous employment applications.  Then I found out that beginning yesterday, as of July 1, 2008, all insurance agents must be fingerprinted.  WTF!  Fingerprinting is for criminals not for ordinary citizens with no criminal background.

America used to be the one place in the world for second chances, where a person who had previously not been very fortunate could make a fresh start and rebuild their life.  No more!  Past mistakes, misfortunes, situations sometimes beyond one's control are now coming back to haunt Americans attempting to start over regardless of whether or not they have any criminal past.  

I'm not exactly sure that what I experienced wasn't illegal in some respect.  I am investigating the situation with other insurance professionals as I write.  

Frankly, this company can kiss my ass!  I don't want to work for anyone who engages in this type of recruitment process.  And I sure as hell will not submit to being fingerprinted.

Welcome to the "new" job market in America.

[joeblow]

I know that this probably sounds unpatriotic (like America still exists!), but have you looked into the possibility of working abroad? Canada, Mexico, UK among others? Someone with real work expierence will come across some opportunity.

[Anonymous]

No I haven't.  With the way the country is becoming I'm afraid if I left they might not let me back in.  Plus I'm not sure whether or not I might be on someone's list with all the anti-American messages I've posted on the net in the past three years.  Not only that, I am about to become a grandmother and I have one parent still living and I want to remain here for my family.  If I had no family the situation would be different, but as it is, I will probably be in America, forever.

[sullivan]

I know that this probably sounds unpatriotic (like America still exists!), but have you looked into the possibility of working abroad? Canada, Mexico, UK among others? Someone with real work expierence will come across some opportunity.

UK? The place where Orwell's 1984 nightmare is finally coming true? Wouldn't that be 'out of the frying pan, into the fire'?