The job search can be stressful for many individuals. Whether starting out right from college or looking to get back into the market after a layoff, many career seekers are left wondering what they can do to make themselves better candidates to employers. While tips from career counselors and resume tools can help, the decision may come down to a potential employee's credit history.

At least 16 states are trying to block employers from being able to run a background check on their potential employees, a common practice among many corporations, according to Inc.com. When a career hopeful enters an office for an interview, they may find themselves having to submit all of their information, allowing human resources to check everything - including credit history.

Some state representatives are trying to make sure that a ban takes place, as the practice prevents many qualified individuals from getting their dream job.

"I've had some employers tell me a credit report is a mark of a person's character. They say, 'if they have a good credit history, I know they are trustworthy,'" Wisconsin State Representative, Kim Hixton, told the news provider. "That's just not always going to be the case, so hiring based on it is discriminatory."

According to WKBT.com, Hawaii and Washington state already ban employee credit checks.