What Next?

[JustAsking]

Hi,

If you were told that you failed the polygraph. What should you do next? Should you wait for the letter to come in the mail saying you failed?

Also, if you are given the opportunity to appeal and you go ahead and do so, and, they allow you to take it again, is there any point in taking it again?

And, are you blacklisted by any other agency that may do a security check on you because of the results of the polygraph?

Why would the polygrapher and the agency he/she works for would look in your face and lie to you about your response to the questioning? Without even showing you the charts? Are they that desperate to "scare" you into some confession and in return ruin your reputation? Or, is this part of some sick game to see how desperate you are to work for their agency?

Thank you for your comments and suggestions in advance,

 

[George W. Maschke]

The answers to your questions depend in large measure on the agency involved. Since you don't mention what organization polygraphed you (and for what purpose), it's hard to provide a meaningful answer.

[JustAsking]

the agency was the FBI

[JustAsking]

also, it was a pre-employment poly

[George W. Maschke]

If you were told that you failed the polygraph. What should you do next? Should you wait for the letter to come in the mail saying you failed?

You should definitely appeal the polygrapher's accusation of deception in writing. Your letter will be added to your FBI file. There's no need to wait until you get a rejection letter. Your FBI file is a permanent record. You don't want the last thing in it to be your polygrapher's uncontested accusation of deception.

Also, if you are given the opportunity to appeal and you go ahead and do so, and, they allow you to take it again, is there any point in taking it again?

No, there's little point to doing so. FBI "re-tests" are a sham designed to create the appearance (but not the reality) of fairness. Virtually everyone "fails" the second time, too. It seems the "re-test" process is rigged.

And, are you blacklisted by any other agency that may do a security check on you because of the results of the polygraph?

You're blacklisted by the FBI for life. Failing the FBI polygraph means a permanent bar to FBI employment. Also, as I mentioned above, the FBI's record of your polygraph failure is a permanent one. If you apply for employment with any federal agency that requires a National Agency Check as part of the background investigation, that agency will see that you have an FBI file, and when they request it, they'll see that you were accused of deception on the polygraph. This is a black mark that, while it may not necessarily preclude you from being hired, will put you at a competetive disadvantage.

Why would the polygrapher and the agency he/she works for would look in your face and lie to you about your response to the questioning? Without even showing you the charts? Are they that desperate to "scare" you into some confession and in return ruin your reputation? Or, is this part of some sick game to see how desperate you are to work for their agency?

Polygraphers with some agencies will accuse applicants of deception regardless of what the charts might "say" and badger the examinee for admissions. CIA and NSA polygraphers do this routinely. But when an FBI polygrapher tells you that you've "failed," it's a good bet that you really have.