have a number of debts and what I suspect a terrible credit rating.
a high level of debt may not necessarily mean you have gained a poor credit rating.
Melissa do you know what your credit rating is? If not, might be worth checking to see what the reality is?
If you are servicing a high level of debt then you are likely to be deemed a profitable client (you're an ongoing revenue stream) and might even have a better credit rating than someone who has paid all their loans off up front.
Whilst portsharbourflyer makes a valid point about how some companies operate I think the majority of the answers given above are trying to say that you should not be put off your job search because of your level of debt.
