Johnn wrote on Aug 30^th, 2005 at 7:03pm:

Thank goodness I found this site - it's too bad I haven't found it before my polygraph exam.   I took the poly 1 week ago with the FBI.  Beforehand, the polygrapher went through the standard questions on my security form, and I answered all of them truthfully.  When he got to the drug usage part, I again responded truthfully and told him that I grew up religious (Mormon), and that I have never used any drugs in my life - as this is contrary to my religious beliefs.  The polygrapher nicely then told me that it is very  rare the people who come in here like myself who have never taken any drugs.   When I finished with the exam, the polygrapher left me waiting in the room for a good 1/2 hour, then he finally came back.  He told me that I was being deceitful in my polygraph about the drug usage!!  I was not only stunned, but offended as this goes very contrary to my religious beliefs.  For crying out loud, I don't even do alchohol!   He kept on drilling me if there is anything that I would like to add to my application and that if I ommitted something.  I told him no- and that I was being extremely truthful.  However, no matter how many times I told him that his accusations are horrendous to even listen to, he did not seem to budge.  Finally, he told me that he would just "include a copy of your statement along with the polygraph" but that at this moment "it don't look too good". I am not only stunned and outraged, but I feel like I now need psychological counseling because  a government agency is accusing me of something that goes very against my beliefs and something that I have NEVER done.   When I got back home, I got very sickened to my stomach, cried, and even threw up.  I have yet to hear of any results, although based on the "it don't look to good" comment, I know that they are going to fail me.

Johnn:

I am truly very sorry to hear about your experience with the FBI's polygraph process and that the agency continues to treat job applicants as if they were disposable. I am also sorry to say that from personal experience, if your examiner treated you in a very aggressive manner during your post test interrogation, it really doesn't look good for you, I'm afraid. A little fishing is one thing, but the drilling is indicative that your examiner will recommend that you fail your test and that headquarters  will most likley echo those same sentiments. You should prepare yourself to receive a letter in the mail from the agency in the next couple of weeks withdrawing your conditional job offer. You can appeal for a second test by writing to the person who sends you the "not within acceptable parameters" letter and asking for a retest. However, please do not be fooled like I was into thinking that the agency will let you pass and clear your name. Trust me, it has no intention of doing so. Knowing this upfront now will better help you deal with the situation. Don't give the FBI the satisfaction of leading you on, thereby prolonging the mental anguish the agency has caused you. Virtually no one passes an FBI retest--it's a total front to give the impression of a fair appeals process--don't fall for it and set yourself up for an emotional tug of war as you wait for your appeal interview and retest. That doesn't mean you shouldn't appeal your test--you should do so and write letters stating that you told the truth so that information can be included in your file.

I can honestly say I know exactly what it feels like to have your integrity called into question and berated by an FBI polygraph examiner after you've placed all your cards on the table, so to speak. It's absolutely devastating and very hard for others who have not experienced it to understand it's emotional impact. The best thing for you to do is to appeal the decision and move on with your job search as soon as possible. Ask yourself this--would you really want to work for an agency that treats job applicants the way you were treated last week? Just imagine how screwed up it is on the inside of an agency with such a jaded view of the world that it can't fathom that there are some people such as yourself who have never tried drugs.

I will say that as horrible as you feel now, it will get better over time. For a long time after my experience with the FBI application process, I believed the polygraph ruined everything. Now, I am convinced it saved me from working for one seriously screwed up government agency.

Good luck to you, Johnn and don't let the examiner get the best of you--he most definitely doesn't deserve it.