FBI Pre-employment fail "Now what"

[bubba]

Hello all,

I'm a newbie to the site. I have just completed my second attempt to pass a pre-employment poly for the FBI as an Electronic Tech. Although I haven't recieved my results yet the second polygrapher said to not get my hope's up. According to him I was being deceptive when it came to the drug policies they have in place. Even though I can recount the 3 times I had tried marajuna and the last time was 5 years ago. All other requirements didn't mean anything to me because marajuna was the only illegal drug I have tried. It seemed interesting after the second time, the polygrapher at least mentioned something. The first only said thank you and after my results are reviewed by HQ I will recieve my results.

This whole process to me has been nothing but shocking. While I served in the Army, I had obtained a TS SCI clearance and then toward the end of my tour I took a polygraph and was told I passed. Although I don't consider myself a boyscout, I haven't done anything in my past to merit this much frustration. Esspecially for a Electronic Tech position.

For a long time I had the mis-conception that everything would work out and I would perform my duties with honor and distiction. I truly hope that the work Mark Zaid is doing towards this issue helps the future people wanting to serve in this fashion.

Thanks

[Marty]

bubba,

Do you remember any questions, aside from the drug ones, that made you at all nervous? There are reasons I ask but please don't be too specific about the actual wording.

Thanks in Advance,
Marty

[bubba]

The only other question on the second go around that made a little un-easy was: Had I lied to anybody in the past. This being so vague I asked him to be more specific. He said "You don't lie to your wife do you?". I said sometimes. His reply was in the order of well the FBI stands for Federal Bureau of Investigations but it also stands for Fidelity Bravery and Integrity (A bunch of smoke being blown up the tail pipe). He went on saying that the FBI is looking for people with integrity. Finally about the lying to my wife he asked if I have lied to her for anything important. I said NO of course. But now that I look back on it, what about the rest of my past.  

[Marty]

The only other question on the second go around that made a little un-easy was: Had I lied to anybody in the past. This being so vague I asked him to be more specific. He said "You don't lie to your wife do you?". I said sometimes. His reply was in the order of well the FBI stands for Federal Bureau of Investigations but it also stands for Fidelity Bravery and Integrity (A bunch of smoke being blown up the tail pipe). He went on saying that the FBI is looking for people with integrity. Finally about the lying to my wife he asked if I have lied to her for anything important. I said NO of course. But now that I look back on it, what about the rest of my past.  

bubba,
Thanks. Didn't you feel nervous saying NO about lying to your wife? Most people have lied about something important to their spouses.

BTW, have you read TLBTLD yet? How long have you been at this site?

[polygraphers, you can do a better job choosing C's than that! -sheesh]

-Marty

[bubba]

I had dropped by this site after my first time a couple times.  I haven't read the truth about poly's yet.  I think my mind set was that I would be vindicated the next go around.

As far as lying to my wife, I honestly believe that I haven't lied to her on anything important. Trivial BS yes, but nothing important.

[bubba]

Hell, The first time I was scared Sh__less. Due to nerves and because of my life situation I thought that obtaining this position would get my life back in order. When I recieved my notice that I didn't pass I was devistated.

The second time I felt somewhat comfortable. A little nervous but I felt in control of myself. I felt more confident than the first time due to a conversation with my wife about this was just a job and if I didn't get it  OH Well.

[Marty]

I had dropped by this site after my first time a couple times.  I haven't read the truth about poly's yet.  I think my mind set was that I would be vindicated the next go around.

As far as lying to my wife, I honestly believe that I haven't lied to her on anything important. Trivial BS yes, but nothing important.

Well, you are probably one of the infamous "false positives".  The polygrapher was trying to sensitize you to a question he was certain you would lie about and your response to those were compared to the drug question responses. In a sense, you were too honest.

Your wife is right. It's just a job, there are other places to work. Good luck.

-Marty

[Marty]

Hell, The first time I was scared Sh__less. Due to nerves and because of my life situation I thought that obtaining this position would get my life back in order. When I recieved my notice that I didn't pass I was devistated.

Does your "life situation" have anything to do with what was asked on the polygraph? Also, if you get a chance to read TLBTLD, drop by and let us know your thoughts. I suspect many here appreciate hearing about your experience. I hope it helps some others and gets a polygrapher or two to have second thoughts or at least to be a little less careless.

-Marty

[bubba]

As far as my life situation was concerned. No the questions weren't related during the poly. It was more of an issue being a recent graduate w/ three degree's in technology and not being able to find a substantial job that would support my family. I was out of work for almost 8 months. This brought on stress for me that when they called about the position my thought's were I "have" to get this job.

Since then I have found a programming job that in reality I don't like, but it puts food on the table, put cloths on my kids and pays the bills.

[Marty]

As far as my life situation was concerned. No the questions weren't related during the poly. It was more of an issue being a recent graduate w/ three degree's in technology and not being able to find a substantial job that would support my family. I was out of work for almost 8 months. This brought on stress for me that when they called about the position my thought's were I "have" to get this job.

Since then I have found a programming job that in reality I don't like, but it puts food on the table, put cloths on my kids and pays the bills.

Bubba,

Thanks. I know it was indelicate to ask but some of the polygraphers here are, shall we say, cynical.  That aside needed to be clarified so I do thank you for taking the time to respond. You are a classic case where the polygraph disfavors people that are too honest. Essentially, agencies that screen candidates simply believe that any level of false positives produces acceptable losses in the case of new hires, so long as the process is even slightly better than a purely random one. They use the significant rate of "confessions" as validation of that assumption.

Again, if you get a chance to read TLBTLD it will explain exactly what happened and why the polygrapher said what he did.

-Marty