Interview with USSS

[sabo]

Hey guys, just wanted to say that I enjoy this site.  I have a problem and if anyone can help, I would greatly appreciate it. I have an interview with the Uniform Division of the Secret Service soon and I recently found out that something that occurred in my past will disqualify me as an applicant.  Back in the day, I did anabolic steroids for sports reasons and found out today through the SS recruiter that this would disqualify a person for employment.  I am a stand-up citizen and have never done anything illegal except for the steroids.  Would the polygraph test be the only way they could tell if I used steroids?  What should I do?  I have went to college for a career in federal law enforcement and I am a little discouraged knowing that I would do my job with excellence.  Any help would be grateful.  Thank you.

[Administrator]

sabo,

Your post contained specific personal details which if correct, would compromise your anonymity. We have taken the unusual measure of lightly editing your post to protect your anonymity. If you disagree with the changes made, please post a note, and your original post will be restored.

[George W. Maschke]

Would the polygraph test be the only way they could tell if I used steroids?  What should I do?

A polygraph "test" cannot tell if you used steroids, unless you make the admission. See Chapter 3 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector to learn about the trickery behind polygraphic interrogation.

Apart from your voluntarily reporting your use of steroids, this information could conceivably come to light in a background investigation, if others who know of your use of steroids were interviewed. Whether to report your use of steroids is an ethical choice that ultimately only you can make, but in doing so, you should be aware that the polygraph "test" is a pseudoscientific fraud that depends on your polygrapher lying to and attemting to deceive you.