Johnn, 
Wait until you actually hear that they have disqualified you before you give up.  The post-test interview you described may have been the examiner’s attempt to get you to “confess” to drug use.   

Just because the examiner said you showed a significant reaction on the questions about drug use doesn’t mean that you did.  A very common tactic is to claim you showed a reaction to see if you will confess, now that you have ostensibly been “caught” by the machine.  That's the whole reason behind the trick at the beginning of the test where you are directed to lie - so that you will believe the machine can "catch" you if you don't tell the truth.

Since you didn’t confess anything the examiner may report that you passed.  Try to be patient and don't give up.

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



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.

polyfool wrote on Aug 31^st, 2005 at 3:31am:


Polyfool, 
I thank you for your sentiments, but I will not request for a retest.     If I fail, they will definitely get an earful (via letter) from me.  If I pass, I am renouncing the position.  I no longer want to be a part of an organization which treats innocent people like garbage.

I just don't think it's worth it.  Imagine being a special agent for 2 or 3 years, then having to take a poly again and being accused of espionage?  It's just not worth the stress and emotional trauma.  Once is enough for me.

It's funny how the polygrapher asked me if I looked into any websites about the polygraph, and I answered truthfully - no.  Well, he then went on to say that it's because "those people are very bitter cause of course, they failed".  I felt like asking him, "Why are they so bitter?  People are not bitter for no reason".  Of course, I didn't want to get into that discussion - I wanted to finish the poly as soon as possible.

Jeffery wrote on Aug 31^st, 2005 at 5:21am:



Thanks again for your kind words.

The truth is that I am not depressed because I don't have the job - the reason why I feel this way is because a big government agency is accusing me of something that #1, I did not do, and #2, goes against my beliefs.  But the fools over at the polygraphers probably think that I got defensive because I want the job so badly - funny how distorted their thinking is.

retcopper wrote on Aug 31^st, 2005 at 7:38pm:

Is the RET in your name short for retarded?

For somebody who grew up with fatith in the system, only to have that faith shattered by an asshole polygrapher -- from an organization that person respected -- is certainly a traumatic experience.  Kind of like finding out that not only does Santa Claus not exist, but he was also gay AND raped your mother.  News that would cause most people to become a bit upset (if they believed in Santa Clause).

Now, for a tough-ass street cop like yourself, probably no big deal.  You know polygraphs are bullshit, right?  So you'd go in there, lie to relevant questions (ever taken some money on the job?  Ever use excessive force?  Ever get a hooker while in the military overseas?) but because you are such a street-smart tough guy, you'd still pass.  Congratulations.  Take a bite out of crime.

But for good, hard-working people with no experience with "tough guys" who rely on deception to be confronted by such crap WITH NO SCIENTIFIC BASIS it can be a devastaging experience.  Even if the polygrapher was just bluffing, most people with integrity and intelligence will decline to associate with such organizations after learning how they operate.

Polyfool,
How does one find out if they've failed or passed?

Johnn wrote on Sep 1^st, 2005 at 12:20am:



Johnn:

At this point, there is really no way to know. After your examiner completes his report, it and your charts have to be reviewed by the poly dept. and headquarters before a final decision is rendered. Since you just took it last week, it's very likely that a final decision hasn't been made yet. If the agency fails you, your application will become inactive in the system and you will be sent a letter stating that your conditional job offer is being rescinded because the results of your polygraph were "not within acceptable parameters." I especially love the part about "we know this decision will be disappointing to you, but trust that you understand the FBI's position in this matter." Based on my experience, it takes about three weeks to receive the letter. You could wait a few more days and phone your applicant coordinator. He/she should be able to access this information in a database and tell you if you were deemed DI (deception indicated) as well as the date your application became inactive, if that's the case.      

I understand your point about it not being about the job. It wasn't for me, either. Ironically, I had been so upfront and honest with the agency, but was forced to be less than truthful during my appeal interview when I had to  pretend that I was still interested in the job in order to get a retest. I had simply wanted to pass and clear my name, so that I would'nt be blacklisted from other employment requiring security clearances. That's the worst part--that the FBI uses a worthless, joke of a screening procedure that requires one to lie to pass to not only deny employment, but to tarnish the image of the person to which it extended the job offer. Unbelievable, isn't it?

I think you're right about the agency not being what it used to be. Someone I know recently left the FBI after a lengthy career and says the agency has really gone downhill in the past five years.