Have a polygraph/interrogation/BI question

[twnewbie]

Hello,

   I have polygraph with intelligence agency in future. If they discovered an employment termination discrepency from the application I filled out, will that become a topic of conversation at this polygraph session? I am pretty sure they know what happened because of some phone calls I recevied  during the background investigation last week. The incident occured 3 years ago when I was living in the southwest, then I moved to the north but had forgotten about what happened when I filled out my online application (I had quite a few jobs when I was out there).

Is it possible they will call me to clarify this issue before the polygraph or not even have me in for the polygraph at all?

Thanks very much,
E

[anxietyguy]

Depends, some agencies will disqualify you for falsifying information on your apllication. I suggest you talk to your background investigator before you go in for the polygraph.

Anxiety

[twnewbie]

Do you think they will ask me about the discrepency at the polygraph?

George, do you have any insight on polygraph's and the use of the background investigation during the polygraph?

Thanks you,
-Liz

[George W. Maschke]

It's certainly possible that the discrepancy you've mentioned may be brought up during the polygraph examination. Ideally, the polygrapher should have received any information developed by background investigators before polygraphing you. And one of the relevant questions typically asked during a pre-employment polygraph examination concerns the accuracy and completeness of the information provided in one's application.

If you have a point of contact you could get in touch with to rectify the discrepancy in your application, I think it would probably be best to do so before the polygraph.

[Fair Chance]

Dear twnewbie,

The employment discrepency, was it a negative termination (would the employer say bad things which surrounded your final exit from employment)?  

If it was a negative experience, it is mandatory that your clear things up as soon as possible.  It has already been looked upon as a negative since  "some phone calls you have received during the background investigation last week."  The agencies are paranoid about their appearance and such ommission is going to immediately raise flags about the rest of your application.

Take care of business immediately.

Regards.

[twnewbie]

Dear twnewbie,

The employment discrepency, was it a negative termination (would the employer say bad things which surrounded your final exit from employment)?  

If it was a negative experience, it is mandatory that your clear things up as soon as possible.  It has already been looked upon as a negative since  "some phone calls you have received during the background investigation last week."  The agencies are paranoid about their appearance and such ommission is going to immediately raise flags about the rest of your application.

Fortunately it was not negative, but it just doesn't align correctly with the information I provided on the forms. I'm just curious if information is deemed incorrect in any form, would it keep me from being invited in for a polygraph. I had so many jobs (being right out of highschool (waitressing type jobs)), that I wasn't able to remember that I left one sooner than I said I did.

Had it been negative, would that have kept me from the polygraph? I'm just trying to figure out how big of a problem a wrong date could be, and if the date being wrong would be seen as negative.

Thanks much
Liz

[anxietyguy]

Well which one is it a "termination discrepency" or a wrong date? If your dates are not perfect that in itself is not a big deal. Although if you are omitting a termination from a former employer you may have shot yourself in the foot. If they find out before or during the polygraph exam you will be DQ'd. I could be wrong but isn't a termination from a job usually negative? Thought thats why they called it a termination not a resignation.
Again call you BI asap or you will be in for some sad times.

Anxiety

[twnewbie]

Well which one is it a "termination discrepency" or a wrong date? If your dates are not perfect that in itself is not a big deal. Although if you are omitting a termination from a former employer you may have shot yourself in the foot. If they find out before or during the polygraph exam you will be DQ'd. I could be wrong but isn't a termination from a job usually negative? Thought thats why they called it a termination not a resignation.
Again call you BI asap or you will be in for some sad times.

Anxiety

I guess I mispoke originally in the wording I chose. It was a termination discrepency, but the discrepency is not that I was terminated, but that I was terminated earlier than I said I was. This threw off the hiring date of my next job I think, and then maybe another job after that since I just remembered when I was terminated, then could only piece together rough estimates of how long I worked at the other waitressing jobs. With one discrepency, I could understand, but with the other possible discrepencies of hire dates looming, it is starting to concern me if it's too late to get the toothpaste back in tube so to speak. I'm also concerned how much of details will give away my identity, which is why I am being so obscure with my details, just trying to ask broad questions.

Thanks much
Liz

[anxietyguy]

Again what is stopping you from calling your background investigator and explaining the situation to him/her? It would look more favorable on your part if something does or did come up. Although you can also "roll the dice."

Anxiety