Now all of a sudden employers seem to be placing greater emphasis on references and are following up on the contacts I provide. References can mean the difference between landing the job or not these days. References are used to verify work history, skills, habits and motivation. Employers are no longer simply taking your word for it that you can do everything your resume says you can do. Many companies now consider the cost of retaining a professional recruiting firm a good investment as it saves them the time and expense of researching potential candidates themselves.
Credibility is the key.
An honest actice and there are actually a few good reasons for credit checks. If the position you are applying for involves handling money or items of value, an employer would be very interested in how badly in debt you might be. Bad credit can generally put people in a delicate moral decision situation where temptation might get the better of them. Another reason could be that if you are unable to handle your personal finances, then you may be at risk of making a mess of your work with them. Keep in mind that companies can t go snooping through bank and credit card statements as Federal law requires your written permission to do so.