I (was told by my examiner that I) passed a CIA polygraph recently but had my job offer rescinded for "suitability" reasons, whatever that means.

I am now applying to another agency and have to take another polygraph.  The first polygraph used control, relevant, and irrelevant questions.  My tactic with the first polygraph was just to *stay as calm as possible* and I had never even heard of countermeasures when I took it.  That plan seems to have worked, though it didn't secure me a job.

With this new poly I'm supposed to be taking, I'm inclined to just do exactly what I did the first time.  But after reading about the different types of polys in use and all the variation, I'm wondering if passing it once is any guarantee I can pass it again.

Has anyone ever passed a poly only to fail another one later?  Or do some people with the appropriate physiology (that hopefully includes me!) just not have problems with polys?

lookingforajob,

Passing a polygraph once is no guarantee that one will pass a second time. To the best of my knowledge, there are no scientific studies of CQT polygraph test-retest reliability. But more importantly, the entire procedure has no scientific basis to begin with.

That said, your having passed a CIA polygraph may help you to pass the other agency's polygraph. When your polygrapher asks about any past polygraph experience, and you mention that you passed a CIA polygraph, it will presumably tend to increase his/her confidence in your honesty and expectation that you will also pass his/her examination.