Aunty,

First off thank you very much for the advice! Option 1 is most definitely my primary goal.

I don’t believe they are going to let me use one test for both because they want to see if I lie on one vs the other. I called one of the departments and asked if I could use the test I already completed and they said no. I realize that the main goal of these pre employment polygraphs is to trick or scare people into admitting things. One thing I wonder is if the company is actually allowed to compare the two and inform each department about the findings on both. Are you or anyone else reading for that matter aware of any kind of law that may exist preventing that? For example If a person had a polygraph completed say in 2010 while being a suspect in a crime could that old polygraph be brought to light in a case for a different crime later on, say 2016? I am wondering if because it’s a private company if they can do whatever they would like. I am debating if I should flat out ask if they will compare the two or just ignore it all together, what do you think? You make an excellent point about the possibility of a civil suit.

Thank you very much for the help! I will most definitely let you know what happens

Aunty's advice in this case will depend on your primary goal. 

If you mainly want to be a fireman, then tell the third party polygraph company that they already have test results for you on file. They will decide whether to re-test you or use one test for both clients. Do your best on any second test and don't worry, they won't let you fail. 

If you mainly want to prove that the polygraph lie detector test is hokum, don't tell anybody you have already been tested. Do your best on the second test, and raise a big stink if the two test results are in conflict. 

If you mainly want to be maximally entertaining, don't tell anybody you have already been tested, and deliberately fail the second test. 

Aunty would pay admission and buy popcorn to witness the civil lawsuit over the tort created by this third party polygraph company when they test the same person on the same questions for the same purpose, and get two conflicting results, one of which has damaging consequences for the testee. 

"Your honor, my client was denied employment by <fire department> due to the 'deceptive' rating given my client by <third party polygraph company> on <date>. This rating is demonstrated and proved to be negligently faulty by the 'truthful' rating given my client by <third party polygraph company> on <date>." 

In any case, good luck, and tell us how it comes out. 

Hello all,

I am currently in the hiring process for 2 different fire departments in the state of Virginia. Both departments require a polygraph and both departments use the same third party polygraph company. My question is, can the company compare the results of both tests? I have already taken one test and I think I did well, I have another coming up in a few days. Both tests require a question packet to be completed and my answers are pretty similar (minus a few dates being off by a day or 2). I am just wondering if I happen to do poorly on this upcoming one if it will effect my score on the one I've already taken. Can't find anything about it on this companies website.  Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!