Another area where employers can run into trouble is with credit checks. If an employer requests a credit check of an employee who will not have any fiduciary responsibilities, it could be difficult for them to show that it was truly warranted. As an example, if ABC Company institues a policy to require credit checks on all their job candidates before hiring and a year later it turns out that a disproprotionate number of people they rejected were minorities, one of minority candidates would probably be successful in suing company for damages if they could show that credit worthiness is not a good predictor of job performance for type of position they applied for.

To address question about your specific situation: company you applied for would probably be on solid ground to reject you on basis of a positive drug test provided that drug test is administered to all job applicants (and not just job applicants that would likely be in a protected class).

For information about reference checks on your prior employers, check out this article: http://www.jobsearchinfo.com/refs.htm

Professional and trade associations can almost always use more help. If you're willing to volunteer for association focused on your industry or profession, it could be a good way to meet some high-profile people who can open doors for you. If you're not sure which associations are relevant for you, check ASAE web site:

http://www.jobsearchinfo.com/asaefind.htm

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES RELEVANT TO SPECIFIC PROFESSIONS

If you don't think you would be right for a position on a non-profit board or in a role volunteering for your professional or trade association, there are other ways you can volunteer and still get networking benefits. In fact, there are some non-profit organizations you can volunteer with that may be a very good fit for your background and provide a high likelihood that you will meet someone who can open some doors for you. Here are some suggestions:

Real Estate and Construction Careers: Habitat for Humanity and other housing organizations

Sports and Entertainment: Make-A-Wish Foundation

Media, Government Agencies and Legal Professions: Political Campaigns. In today's era of highly litigious political campaigns, lawyers make up a big portion of a political campaign's volunteer staff. This also provides a good opportunity for legal assistants and paralegals to spend time with successful attorneys. Media and advertising are also a big part of political campaigns.

Legal Professions: Legal Assistance centers - such as those for non-English speaking people

Human Resources: Job training and career resource centers

Media/Communications: Media organizations such as those that focus on bringing awareness to certain issues

The Idealist.org web site provides an extensive directory of non-profit organizations and also lists specific volunteering opportunities.