I can understand companies doing credit checks depending on the position, especially if you are dealing with finances.

For my summer/second job, I am working for a company in the finance department and they told me when they hired me that all employees would have a credit/background check. We handle hundreds of thousands daily, so it's to be expected.

I can understand and appreciate credit checks for certain types of positions.

I was denied a summer job as a file clerk because of previous poor financial decisions which did effect my credit. Sure, I was a little bitter because I didn't see what my credit score had to do with filing.

This year Mr. Pi Phi and I bought a house. When we decided we were ready to start looking at homes, I went into my bank to talk to my financial planner to see how I could improve my credit because I knew it was less then stellar.

I thought we were going to have problems being pre-approved for a decent mortgage because of my credit, but because I had shown the bank that I was committed to improving my credit rating, and all my previous debts were paid off in full, we had no problem being approved for a mortgage (and at a reasonable interest rate too!).

If credit is affecting your ability to find good jobs, get a mortgage, or whatever, than it's up to you to improve it.

You can always ask the interview their reasons for checking credit and you can always refuse a credit check.

Talked with a HR Dir the other day. Her co. does criminal and credit background checks.