I have a Poly Exam in a few days with a local law enforcement agency. This will be the first time taking it, so I'm really nervous. I get nervous just thinking about it, and basically I'm worried that I will fail because I might sweat too much, or have a faster than normal heartbeat. For the most part I'll be telling the truth, but I'm also worried that they may throw me a curve ball and I choke up and have my future career down the drain. Any advice will be helpful. I will try to read most of the pdf e-book on this site, but being nervous is something that will be a challenge to control especially since someone told me that people can fail even if they are being truthful. Please Help. Thanks!

Wildcat,

I agree w/ Eos. It's unwise to submit to a polygraph interview/interrogation without knowing exactly what you're getting yourself into. Someone gave you sound advice--you most certainly can fail a polygraph while telling the truth.

It will help put your mind at ease to educate yourself. Also, realize that not all LE agencies foolishly use the results of polygraphs as a sole basis for applicant disqualification like the FBI. Some local LE's are a little more intelligent than that and understand the polygraph's many limitations. Good luck and try to relax, just not during the controls.

George:

While giving  pre employment exams some examiners will do a global evaluation where  the subject might fail one relevant out of three or 4 and still pass.  This evaluation is done by  considering all of the  other pertinent material such as pre and post test interviews and any other background material available.

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I think this is an accurate way to describe activity such as Retcopper wrote about.

Since they admit they will disregard polygraph "results" if their instincts tell them an applicant should pass, is there any reason to believe they would not disregard "results" if their instincts tell them an applicant should not pass?

retcopper wrote on May 23^rd, 2006 at 7:47pm:


In what respect(s) do you disagree with my characterization of your comments? Do you mean you see merit to a polygraph examiner going with his gut instead of the charts? Or something else?

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Which one? Why?

Well I passed my polygraph. 

I will not go into specifics on things I did and didn't do because you just don't know who is reading this message board. Especially, since there are always more guests than registered users on this website at one time. What I will say is that the information on this website is golden. Everyone must read The Lie Behind The Lie Detector if they would like to pass. I would like to say thanks to everyone on this website who replied to my initial post, and to the creators of this website, and especially the author(s) of this informative book. Thank you all, and good luck to the rest of you!

WILDCAT