GrimSkunk2,

From your description, with no post test interrogation, I think you might be ok. The screw up on the old card trick more than proves what a worthless process the polygraph really is. Your experience is similar to many others on this board. Don't let the anger get to you, its not worth letting a worthless device eat at you. You did the deed, now its waiting time, the chips will fall as they may. Be sure to have an alternative in place. Much success to you.

Regards ....

I took a police pre-employment polygraph yesterday.  It was a Relevant/Irrelevant testing proceedure. I have no idea how well I did- but I can tell you I am not happy with the way I was tested.

It started out with the tester asking me if I knew anything about polygraphy. I told him no (although by this time I had read some from this sight the day before the test).  He had me draw a card to "test the machine".  This kind of made me laugh, as it was exactly how this site said it would go.  I drew a card with a 15 (each card was actually different).  He read out numbers and had me say no to each one.  I did so.  At the end, he explained that I was a screamer and that, without a doubt, I had the number 6 (yes- that is not a typo- he actually guessed wrong!)  We flipped over the card and he was dumb struck.  It took him a good two seconds to recover and finally said: 

"I knew it was the 15- you see?  I had you relax with the 6 and as soon as I had you reveal the 15 you were all over the place! Now, it caught you on the card, what do you think will happen if you lie during  life long experiences?"

I was biting my lip to keep from laughing and just went with it.   

Finally he started the test.  As he asked the questions, I had to stop him and explain my arm was sore.  I was afraid as I know this is a sign of "guilt", but it was sore.  I told him my heart was racing all over the place.  He asked due to what question? I told him due to my throbbing arm.  My hand was, infact, purple!   

This happened ALL 3 TIMES!

In the end he told me he did not feel I was being totally honest.  I told him I was (which I really was!) and that none of the questions was hard on me (the truth).  I told him I already gave him signed confessions and that a background check would confirm them all.  He said he's sending my file to HQ, but things do not look good.  No second testing would be offered.

I left feeling angry that he was putting so much faith in a machine that couldn't even tell when I was actually lying (drawing the 15 and him stating it was a 6) from when I was truthful.

My question: how much weight can actually be placed on this crap test?  It seemed more like a bad future teller than a professional "truth varifier".  It was laughable!

I hope more people have better experiences than me.  I am angery and insulted.