Looking for a job? Clean up your credit report.

Julie Lawrence interviewed for a job in March. Lawrence believed the company was going to make her an offer after a background check. She was unaware that included a credit check.

Lawrence did not get the job, apparently because of two delinquent credit card bills that totaled $8,000.

According to financial analysts, Lawrence is one of thousands each year passed over for jobs because of bad credit.

"To get disqualified for something that had nothing to do with my ability, to do with my job was devastating," said Lawrence.

A recent survey by Visa found that only 20 percent of Americans know that employers can legally refuse to hire applicants because of bad credit.