Job applications requiring SSN and credit reporting

I am concerned about application packaged software that requests your SSN, permission to pull credit reports (hitting my credit history), driver's license, residences etc. Most hiring companies never even review my application, (as I am a new grad), yet wants my personal information up front. They could at least wait until they open my resume, an interview is offered, or a position is extended, before asking for this information.

A local company here in PHX got bombarded by complaints when they installed an application that requested that information up front and deleted that module from the application process. I am kind of desperate for a job, but not so desperate that I want to deplete my credit score with their automated credit checks and scatter my personal information around to companies that have no intention of even opening my resume and could get hacked.