Should I preemptively tell a new employer about a recent bankruptcy?

I encourage you to let go of the guilt and shame over filing for bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is a responsible thing to do when debt outpaces income, especially when it is due to circumstances beyond your control. From the http://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/bankruptcy/bankruptcy-basics/chapter-7-bankruptcy-basics:One of the primary purposes of bankruptcy is to discharge certain debts to give an honest individual debtor a "fresh start." As a former legal aid attorney, it's one of my pet peeves to hear people talk about bankruptcy like it's a sin, instead of the benefit for the overall economy that it actually is. I'm a fan of https://ask.metafilter.com/218668/Bankrupt#3158436 on this issue, and I encourage you to review it for additional moral support.

If the employer already has rules in place regarding what happens in this situation, there's nothing you'll be able to do to alter it, so I think right now you should do nothing. You do not know that your perspective new manager would be given results of the background check (at my employer, they are not, and I'm so glad because I do NOT want to know anything of that nature), so I would strongly urge you not to disclose anything to that person. If you really have to talk to someone, call the HR person and talk to them instead.

Some employers don't actually perform a credit check as part of their background investigation. We don't. I do know that they have to have your specific permission to pull a credit report, although public records like bankruptcies don't require it. FWIW, at my shop we wouldn't pay any attention to a bankruptcy and I'd never mention it to an employee. We're primarily focused on criminal stuff and verifying the reported information on your resume. I know that we've had people obtain security clearances with recent bankruptcies. If I were in your situation, I'd sit back and wait. Have an answer prepared in case they ask you about it, but its likely to be either something they don't care about or something they have an absolute rule about. Nothing you can say in advance will change either of those.

I would very seriously doubt the hiring manager will see any detail about the background check. There is no reason for the manager to have any detail - a fail is not something the manager can negotiate. As a a manager when a candidate fails background all I get is an email that says "XYZ did not pass the candidate screening." No other details or options to appeal. I would ride it out - it may come out in background, but not be an issue. It may not come out in background at all.

Agreed, there's a good chance that they are simply looking for any criminal past you may have. And, as you've mentioned, even if they are looking for bankruptcies, if there's a blanket rule against them, there's a good chance little could be done anyhow (so it would be ideal if they didn't find it somehow and you didn't go out of your way to tell them). The only thing I could see being an issue is if they asked if you had declared bankruptcy at all, you lied and said no, then they said they were going to look anyhow. Then I'd say you were probably screwed, but should fess up. But that's not what's happening here. I'd say nothing, and cross your fingers. Best of luck and congratulations!

I asked my company what they look for in a background check, and it turns out that for a major retail company, for a position that handles money while alone, has alarm codes, and holds keys to the building, they only ask the background check contracting company to look for crimes that relate to theft, and open warrants for arrest. The company only tells the background check people what they care about, and the background check people only give a "yes" or a "no" but not any details about what caused the "no" if that's the case. I was kind of surprised, because I thought it was a bigger deal, but apparently it's not. Now the threshold for your particular company may be different than mine was, but in general, a criminal background check will only advise a company of criminal matters. A DUI might be a big deal, and so might a drug conviction, or it might not. A bankruptcy is not a crime, and while it is a court matter, it's still not criminal. In most states, a background check and a credit check are not the same thing. If they are also credit checking you, they should have given you a specific credit check authorization along with the background check authorization. In some (most?) states, you are entitled to a copy of your background check if one has been run, and seeing it may put your mind at ease or at least give you information on how to proceed. It's also kind of cool to get that kind of information about yourself, and there's a very small chance that you could actually discover and correct any confusion on their part, particularly if you have a very common name. Generally speaking, if you didn't rob a bank or kill anyone, and you're definitely legal to work in the US, the background check is a formality. They do it to cover their butts in case you turn out to be secretly an international terrorist. (Also, good luck with the bankruptcy. My stepdad did one and it turned his life around, so seriously, good job taking steps to sort out your financials. That's very responsible.)

It depends on the background check. Basic ones only give you criminal records. Thorough ones show issues like bankruptcy as well. If you're not handling money, then they may only be looking at criminal records. Did they say if they would include a credit check?

There is no benefit to you for telling them. If it doesn't come up, then it doesn't come up. If it does come up, they'll understand why you didn't volunteer it.

Don't sweat too much. My big bureaucratic company checks for criminal history, against a list of globally known terrorists/terrorist organizations, and that you are a citizen of the country you say you are. Drug testing happens. Credit check? I don't think it happens as often.