Even though it’s controversial the use of credit checks in employment makes sense when you consider it from the employers standpoint.
Your credit score is a general reflection of your ability to manage your finances. Yes, there will be the oddballs who pay cash and don’t use credit and thus have a low credit score that doesn’t reflect their financial acumen but seriously, what percentage of people fall into that category? I’d estimate well under 1%.
In general, according to statistics I’ve seen from people in HR, people who poorly manage their finances and are having money problems are more likely to miss work, show up late and steal from the company.
I have a friend who is two months behind on rent and is begging for money on facebook (posting his paypal account link for ‘donations’). He’s solidly middle class and educated but makes one bad decision after another. What kind of credit score do you think he has?