I think I passed

[exrider]

I am 4 months into the hiring process for my selected agency. I have been given the job offer but still needed to do a polygraph and medical exam.

I had read this site a couple months back and to be honest didn't put much faith into it. I don't have anything to hide and felt like I would be better off not trying to "cheat" the polygraph. I am just here to share my recent polygraph experience.

First off she didn't come right out and tell me I "passed" or "failed". I was told it is not a pass or fail test. I was told she had nothing to report to HR so I could probably count that as passing.

Anyhow, here is my experience. I had to give a comprehensive list of jobs I have worked since I was 18. I am near 40 now so this was a challenge. While I have only worked at 2 employers the last 14 years, back in my early twenties I never stayed on a job very long and trying to remember dates and employment information was difficult to say the least. I know for a fact I left off at least 3 employers and guessed the dates of some of others. I didn't feel it important to list these employers as they were so short term.

During the polygraph exam (I was tested twice) she asked the question "Have you been completely truthful on every section of your application?" I answered yes even though I knew I had left a couple employers off. I passed this question on the polygraph. I showed no reaction according to the chart.

Now the reason I tell you this is I showed a small reaction to the question "Have you committed a serious crime (felony) that you didn't get caught for as an adult?" Now I haven't committed a felony type crime as an adult but I had stolen a couple of "high ticket" items as a teenager. The value was close to $500 on these items and it was fully disclosed on my application and fully talked about during the interview in the polygraph. The examiner basically said I was thinking about that when the question was asked and that is why I may have shown a small reaction. Then she said she had nothing to report so that is basically good news.

The point here I am trying to make is the question I told the truth on seemed to cause a reaction out of me and the one I "fibbed" on didn't show anything. Go figure.