[T&D2005]

I passed round 1 of interviews today and my next step is a polygraph

I'm not a bad person by any means but for some reason I'm freaked out into what they can ask. I had my moments in college where I was less than perfect and experimenting with stuff (not that I'm proud of it but I'm past that). I'm more worried over getting a polygraph than the interview itself.. it just freaks me out!

Anyway, has anyone had one? Aside from basic name, address info, did they go into your background details?

 

[*MamaJen*]

Wow, no, I've never had a polygraph, but I'm certainly fascinated. What are you applying for, the Secret Service?
No help here. Just gawking.

 

[ShwarmaQueen]

Whoa, that's pretty cool! I've never had to either but am intrigued as well! The worst I've had to suffer for a job was a 'panel interview' with 4 attorneys on one side of the table and me on the other!

 

[Nautical]

Wow. I've never had one, but I'm pretty sure I would be nervous too, even with nothing to hide. I can't even imagine what kind of job would require one. My husband has Top Secret clearance for the gov't, and he's never even had to do something like that. They do however send private investigators to interview your friends and references.

 

[covertlycrunchy]

I had to take *many* polys before I passed mine (3). And I think it depends on where you are applying to in regards to what questions they ask. The main thing is to be totally upfront and honest about *everything* in your life. If something you did bothers you in the least and you try to hide it (even if they don't care/don't ask) it may come back to bite you in the butt and cause you to fail. So don't be afraid to go over everything with the person giving you the test, they've heard it all before and more besides.

Having said that: Polys suck. Good luck.

 

[T&D2005]

It's for a nursing position (Federal) You would think it would be a private nurse for the president or something but it's not. After I pass that, I need to have a psyc eval and a physical. I can only wonder what questions a psychiatrist will ask~ I feel sane right now but maybe my DS will make me insane that day? haha. I already had a board interview with 5 people in the room asking questions.. now THAT was nerve wracking...

 

[*MamaJen*]

I'm sure the experimenting with a few drugs in college thing is something they've heard plenty of times before. Try not to worry about it. Go in as zen as you can.
I'm sort of jealous. I want a polygraph now.

 

[ShwarmaQueen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by *MamaJen* Go in as zen as you can.

Load up on Valerian root the night before and morning of and you'll be fine....

 

[Caneel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by *MamaJen* I'm sure the experimenting with a few drugs in college thing is something they've heard plenty of times before. Try not to worry about it. Go in as zen as you can. I'm sort of jealous. I want a polygraph now.

Straight out of college, I interviewed for a Fed job and was told by many people just to be totally honest as I could not have possibly done anything they (the Feds) hadn't heard many, many times before.

Some of the stories I heard for other Fed employees about their admitted pasts made my jaw drop. And to think I was worried about minor experimention!

One of my very close friend did lose a Fed job (with a rather high clearance level) offer because she couldn't pass several tests. She wasn't totally honest the first time, which she regretted later on.

 

[gexema]

I passed round 1 of interviews today and my next step is a polygraph

I'm not a bad person by any means but for some reason I'm freaked out into what they can ask. I had my moments in college where I was less than perfect and experimenting with stuff (not that I'm proud of it but I'm past that). I'm more worried over getting a polygraph than the interview itself.. it just freaks me out!

Anyway, has anyone had one? Aside from basic name, address info, did they go into your background details?

Whats going on everyone! Hope you’re all having a good day. I’m new to the forum and wanted an honest review of my polygraph exam experience. I’m in the process with a SO down here in Texas and was scheduled for my Polygraph on October 18th at 1030am. I arrived 30 minutes early, ate a small meal prior and showed up in a suit and tie(the only one dressed up). The examiner had me sit down in the famous chair and gave me the run down of the polygraph instrument and his background experience. A veteran homicide detective whom had over 10+ years of experience doing polygraphs. He stated that he appreciated me dressing up and taking the polygraph seriously. I followed with “thank you sir, I take this process very seriously and intend to disclose everything about my background with you, as I have with my PHS and background investigator”. We talked for approximately 30 minutes about my past drug, arrest and work experience. I’ve experimented with marijuana 2x in 2008, I was arrested 2x but released to my parents both times(vandalism-2006, petty theft-2008) and was terminated 1x in 2014 from my past employer. I laid everything down on the table for my examiner and he stated before the exam that he was confident I was going to pass and be 100% honest when answering the questions. He hooked me up to the devices and put the blood pressure cuff onto my right calf which I thought was strange... After taking the exam, the examiner asked if I was being honest with him. I stated “YES, I WAS EXTREMELY HONEST FROM THE BEGINNING AND HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE”. I was told I failed the drug portion of the exam and was inconclusive in the “harms to persons” section. I mentioned that I was an armed security officer before and have seen/dealt with narcotics before but never used or touched them. Also that my grandfather grows marijuana(legally) for medicinal use but he doesn’t anymore since he’s in a nursing home. The examiner than says “I still believe you’re telling me the truth” , “I really hope they give you a retest” , ”Don’t take this as a loss, and to not give up in the process”, etc... basically trying to butter me up. He then says I think there might me something in that small closet in your head that you haven’t discussed with me about, basically attempting to get me to confess to things I haven’t done. I stuck to my answers and said “I don’t know what it can be”(because I honestly don’t know what it could be). I was nervous throughout the exam of course since it was my first one. I told my examiner that I’ve been experiencing some twitching due to my caffeine intake from my preworkout the day before and he said that could have made an impact on my test. its been 6 days and I haven’t heard from my background investigator or recruitment team about a DQ. I reached out to my buddy who is a corporal with the recruitment team and he said that I did fail the polygraph and that it was being passed over to the review board and that I should hear back next week with either a DQ letter or retest. any input about my experience and advice for the next time I do a polygraph would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!