Hi,
I plan to apply to 2 diff. dept.'s that go through the same personnel office in cali. If I fail a poly with one dept. will it ruin my chances with the other dept. I Have nothing to hide, but considering what I have heard about failing the poly even if you do tell the truth, it has made me alittle concerned.
Also what if one of the dept.'s do not poly? will failing the other one effect the appl. process of the other. I would appreciate any information I could get on this matter.

Thanks in advance to all.

Bennyblanco,

[You ask]
“If I fail a poly with one dept. will it ruin my chances with the other dept.”

Assuming that you have not yet been subjected to a pre-employment polygraph exam with either of the two CA departments in which you seek employment, you must consider:

Should you fail a pre-employment polygraph exam with any Federal/State/LE agency; I don’t believe that any other agency would “readily” dismiss or “forgive” your previously failed polygraph exam without further extensive questioning with regard to the exact nature of your failed result.

[You wrote]
“I Have nothing to hide, but considering what I have heard about failing the poly even if you do tell the truth, it has made me alittle concerned.”

You have every right to be concerned with respect to failing a polygraph exam even if being completely forthright and truthful. Total honesty and simply telling the truth, is no guarantee of passing a polygraph exam. False positive results are not uncommon.

[You wrote]
“Also what if one of the dept.'s do not poly? will failing the other one effect the appl. Process of the other”

Good question. I would “theorize” that any agency that does not require experienced, qualified and potential candidates for employment to pre-employment polygraph testing evidently does not put much confidence or trustworthiness in the polygraph.

Likewise, a previously failed pre-employment polygraph exam with another agency would not exactly preclude a candidate from some degree of suspicion. Having said that, a previously failed pre-employment polygraph exam could reasonable play against a candidate’s advantage.

Good luck.


Respectfully,
Triple x

i took my first polygraph last month, and did not pass. while taking the written test for another police department, i came across some already certified police officers who had tried to get on with other departments and did not pass there polygraphs.