Believe it or not, it may be because of your credit history.
Yep, increasingly employers are checking credit reports before they hire. If there is more than one candidate that is equally qualified for the job, the credit report may just be the deciding factor. You might want to check your credit report before applying for any job.
Why is this? When it comes to jobs where the employee is handling cash, a credit report has almost always been a must. If the employee is handling money and they have financial problems at home, the temptation is just too great, and an employer will not take the chance, so they'll make sure the employee has the least amount of incentive to steal.
However, today, more and more employers are requesting credit reports for applicants for almost any job they're filling. The employer needs to explain to the applicant they are signing a form for their credit report to be furnished. Many times credit reports are being packaged and sold to employers when they're interveiwing a candidate. Typically, but not always, a person with a better credit rating will make a better employee.
For one, a credit rating can be lowered if the person moves a lot, and the credit report will show that. The rationale is that if someone moves a lot, they are not as stable as someone who stays put. Therefore, someone who moves a lot may quit easily.
Most important, someone with a higher credit score will be more responsible; if they're responsible with their money, they tend to be more responsible in general.
So, next time you apply for a job, you may want to check your credit file first. If there are any errors, as noted in the post "Credit Through the Ages," you need to dispute them and get them corrected.