Whats wrong with the truth?

[Steventwothousand]

Hi everyone I am new to this board and I apologize if this topic has already been discussed.

In the next year and I am going to have a polygraph and I'm wondering what will happen if I just tell the truth about EVERYTHING?
What are the actual policies to deny employment? I would imagine that most of these agency have people that are seeking exciting careers which would mean, in my opinion they have experimented with drugs or broke some laws. Not because all people who seek exciting lives are drug addicts or criminals but because if you are this type of person you do stupid shit in your teen years.

So anyway here is my list of stupid shit. I am just going to let it all out when my time comes and see what happens so I am not worried about posting on here. But what are all of your opinions of being denied employment? The only thing they can question is whether I would do these things again, not my honesty or loyalty.

Smoked marijuana less than 10 times

Coke 3 times

Acid once

Broke into a house stole less than 200 dollars

Got arrested for possesion of marijuana
(These were all before 18)

joined military served four years

went to school got a degree in computer science from a good school

became fluent in arabic on the side.

[Sergeant1107]

If you apply for a job list answer all the background questions truthfully.

If the choices you have made in the past disqualify you from employment at that agency, apply elsewhere.

If your choices were so bad that you cannot get a job in law enforcement anywhere, pursue another career.

As much as no one wants to hear this, you need to accept responsibility and consequences for whatever actions you chose to take, even when you were younger.

[PainfulDay]

I was denied employment for missteps far less severe than these. I answered every question honestly in the pretest interview and in the test itself.

Polygraphers DO NOT expect you to be completely honest. Tred there at your own risk. Maybe it will work for you. It didn't for me.

[EJohnson]

I was once denied employment because my hair was too long. I found out from a friend who worked at the company later. Getting jobs stinks, and unfortunately we are never entitled to a job, regardless of how ideal we believe we are for the employer. Thank God I didn't get that job----I never would have met my wife. Regarding working in law enforcement. I never met a truly happy cop.

[nomegusto]

I'm on a roll today. Good to see you were accepted in the Military, and I thank you for your service. Were you able to get a clearance out of curiousity sake? If you passed your ssbi, stop stressing. But then again, I recommend not lying. Good luck in the future.

[Sergeant1107]

I never met a truly happy cop.

If that is true and not merely hyperbole, I feel sorry for you.

[EJohnson]

huh? Why feel sorry for me? I am not a cop. And if memory serves, you are an accident reconstructionist---a sort of cop. No chasing perps through the hoods, no interviewing molested kids, and no interrogating murder suspects.
Once more, you spend countless hours telling your tragic story of your infamous three failed polygraphs from years ago. Based on your humorless writings, I see no evidence that you are a happy man---instead I see bitterness and vendetta. Sorry, I do not mean to levy an ad hom attack------it's just an observation Sarge.

[Sergeant1107]

huh? Why feel sorry for me? I am not a cop. And if memory serves, you are an accident reconstructionist---a sort of cop. No chasing perps through the hoods, no interviewing molested kids, and no interrogating murder suspects.
Once more, you spend countless hours telling your tragic story of your infamous three failed polygraphs from years ago. Based on your humorless writings, I see no evidence that you are a happy man---instead I see bitterness and vendetta. Sorry, I do not mean to levy an ad hom attack------it's just an observation Sarge.

Part of my job is traffic accident reconstruction.  I am also a shift supervisor for the patrol division.  I make arrests, interview molested kids and rape victims, as well as victims of domestic violence.  The only murderers I deal with are people who kill other people with their car, but that is because I work in a fairly small town.  The only murders we've had since I've worked here have all been involving motor vehicles.

The time I spend on this site is a tiny fraction of my life.  If you choose to characterize my posts here as the humorless recountings of my tragic tale of failed polygraphs, that is up to you.  I know from experience that the polygraph is not capable of detecting truth or deception, and I choose to spend some of my time participating at a web site where there are some like-minded individuals.  I think that is a perfectly normal and healthy expression of my opinion.

The reason I said I feel sorry for you is that if you feel the people around you are all unhappy, most often that means that you are the one who is unhappy.

[EJohnson]

The reason I said I feel sorry for you is that if you feel the people around you are all unhappy, most often that means that you are the one who is unhappy.

That is quite a reach----maybe even a reach around----regardless, I have cops in the family, cops as friends----luckily for me they are wonderful individuals, trustworthy, dependable, sharp. True happiness is altogether a different thing. As a result of no testing anymore---and ridding my life of criminals (ok, in the sense of a professional setting)---I am finding a happiness I have yet to experience---and I wasn't fully aware of how toxic criminals could be on the psyche.

ps I would hardly characterize daily viewing and posting on this site as a "tiny fraction" as you did in your previous post.  

[nomegusto]

Well, since you never answered my question about your clearance I'm going to assume. I hate assuming. But I could be right in this instance. Did you lie on your SF-86? Forget about your polygraph. I think thats going to be the last thing you need to worry about. Before you go there, you need to fill out your application. Then your going to have to go through a oral board, I think the Poly is sometimes easier then the board. Instead of one person, your dealing with 3 maybe or more people. Then your off to the poly (or VSA), hec maybe your lucky enough to apply to an angency that does not utilize this test. Afterwards the psychological, then the BI. Unfortunatly your in the system. So your gonna have to include the arrests. You might as well include the drugs, since one of your arrests was for possession. How did you enlist by the way???
I'm not questioning your patriotism, nor your integrity. But isn't breaking and entering a felony offense? I could be wrong. But you stated you were a juevenile.
Of course when you take the poly I hope your not gonna lie. Because doing so would disrespect all the veterans who have served, or are serving for our country now, and here you are using your Vet status to cheat and get a job. They'll know about the arrests. No matter if it is sealed or not. Make sure you don't lie about tickets too...
Other then that, good luck. Thanks again for serving...  But seriously, I'd worry more about the department accepting your application before stressing out on the polygraph...

[Sergeant1107]

ps I would hardly characterize daily viewing and posting on this site as a "tiny fraction" as you did in your previous post.  

Perhaps you and I think of fractions differently.

Out of the 1440 minutes in each day, I spend five or ten of them on this site.  That's less than one percent, which I would characterize as a tiny fraction.

[EJohnson]

Perhaps you and I think of fractions differently

Perhaps you and I think differently about a lot of things.