I need some help and advice....
About a year ago I applied to a Metro Dept in Tennessee.  I was given a polygraph and like an idiot I spilled my guts.  Needless to say I failed.  I'm guessing that my prior juvenile sticky-fingeredness got me disqualified!  Now I'm in the process of applying to a smaller dept.. The question that I pose is--do other dept. get copies of my rantings forwarded to them, and if they do, will they use it against me?  Has anyone else had this problem and actually got the job?
Also, has anyone actually suceeded in sealing pre-employment records, and prevented them from being released?  Any response would be appreciated!

"Freakin' Stupid,"

Have you read The Lie Behind the Lie Detector?  If not, you will be interested to learn that the polygraph screening format common with police departments actually assumes that all applicants have stolen at some point in their lives.

Unless you admitted to stealing something of substantial value (grand larceny, etc.), I would not be so sure that it was your admission that got you disqualified.  If you actually admitted to the polygrapher everything you had stolen as a child, the likelihood that you failed the "test" because of an outcome on a relevant question (drug use, major crimes, falsifying the application, etc.) was greatly increased.

You need to consult Tennessee laws to see if there is any statute providing for access to government information (similar to the federal Freedom of Information Act).  If so, request a copy of your records to see if there is more specific information about exactly what go you disqualified.  If your theft(s) were not major, I have a feeling that you may be surprised.




Last modification: Gino J. Scalabrini - 03/01/01 at 08:52:21