What exactly is a disqualifier?

[eaglesrock4ever]

I am a college student studying criminal justice, and want to apply to the FBI after graduation. I have done some things that I'm not exactly "proud" of, all before my 18 birthday. What exactly would disqualify a person, besides drugs, if I am completely honest? I would hate to have my dreams crushed because of something I did in high school! Please help.

ACH

[Fair Chance]

Dear ealgesrock4ever,

The FBI has a huge amount of applicants for special agent positions.  You can be an all around good person but there are so many applicants who have such a "squeaky clean" life.  It is a numbers game.  You are not a "bad" or "undesireable" employee but the FBI can find too many great applicants with none of the baggage that you might have.

If you are at all concerned about what a background investigator might drag up out of your past, do not apply.  There are many other agencies which need talented people who will not make you jump through so many hoops.

Regards.

[Johnn]

eaglesrock,

Apply and tell the truth before the polygraph is even discussed.  If you are not  qualifed, they will tell you.  When you get to the point of polygraph, it is difficult to pass a polygraph for the FBI according to persons that post on this site.  I have never taken an FBI examination, many have and will tell you all about it.  I am a polygraph examiner and I urge everyone to tell the truth, take the polygraph, and get on with your life.  

I am an FBI applicant who was accused of using drugs during the polygraph despite the fact that I've never touched illegal drugs in my life.

[George W. Maschke]

...if you had used drugs and admitted to the usage which was within the parameters of being qualifed, you would most likely have shown truthful on the examination and been qualifed....

darkcobra2005,

Considering that 1) polygraph screening is completely invalid and 2) the FBI has a pre-employment polygraph failure rate of about 50%, your confidence is ill-founded.

[Johnn]

Johnn,

I am sure that you were in fact truthful, the polygraph examiner accused you of drug use, and you were DQ'd,  however, if you had used drugs and admitted to the usage which was within the parameters of being qualifed, you would most likely have shown truthful on the examination and been qualifed.  Please do not infer that I am saying you ever used drugs.  I am sorry this happened to you.  

I dont' understand.  Are you saying that I should admit to something that I have never done just to pass a polygraph??

 Or are you saying that the polygraphic science  only works on criminals and other people who confess to various crimes and or activities?  

[Johnn]

darkcobra2005,

Considering that 1) polygraph screening is completely invalid and 2) the FBI has a pre-employment polygraph failure rate of about 50%, your confidence is ill-founded.

George,
I'm curious.  Where did you get the 50% failure rate?
Thanks ahead of time.

[George W. Maschke]

Johnn,

You'll find documentation in the message thread, FBI Polygraph Failure Rate Reportedly Near 50%.

[polyfool]

Johnn,

I am sure that you were in fact truthful, the polygraph examiner accused you of drug use, and you were DQ'd,  however, if you had used drugs and admitted to the usage which was within the parameters of being qualifed, you would most likely have shown truthful on the examination and been qualifed.  Please do not infer that I am saying you ever used drugs.  I am sorry this happened to you.  

DarkCobra:

I'm curious as to how you arrived at such an assumption? Where's the logic? Are you saying that people who have used drugs and are honest about their usage would pass the FBI polygraph, but those who deny any and all involvement fail? Not true. The FBI is failing applicants who are being honest about their past drug use that's within its guidelines.    

[mustbaliar]

I dont' understand.  Are you saying that I should admit to something that I have never done just to pass a polygraph??

 

Johnn,

I thought the same thing after I was completely truthful on my two polygraphs that I "failed."  I kept thinking that I should have admitted from the beginning that I did use drugs within acceptable parameters (even though I never actually have).  Maybe this would have allowed me to trick the poly and "pass."  But the polygraph isn't a scientific process, so you can't reliably predict outcomes.  Some people get lucky.  Some don't.  

[polyfool]

Johnn and Mustbaliar:

Admitting drug use that never happened to the FBI would not have helped you pass your polygraphs. The so-called tests do not work and are completely worthless. It's useless to torture yourselves over admitting to something you didn't do just to please an examiner and get a job. Your lack of drug experience probably got the examiners' attention because it's outside the norm. It's pretty sad that the FBI doesn't believe that there are actually people who have not experimented with drugs. Your examiners' biases and jaded views of society could very well have played a role in whether they believed you. If you had admitted to drug use and still reacted to the questions, the examiner would have accused you of being guilty of more drug use than you admitted prior to the test. There's no way to win. Deny using drugs, fail the poly and the agency thinks you are lying. Admit to drug use, fail the poly and the agency thinks you are lying about how many times you used drugs.

[Tspoiley]

I have a 2 part question.  My friend worked for CIA for about 7 years.  He was forced to resign or get fired for a variety of issues.  Some issues were fighting, domestic violence, using a unauthoirzed military ID card, having an affair with a foreign person while overseas while married.   I was told that according to CIA policy, you are polygraphed when you return from overseas.  He applied for a position with FBI and failed the polygraph about 2 weeks ago..  He failed the questions related to drugs.  He admitted to taking durgs  once at the age of 12, that's 26 years ago.  The FBI said he was lying about the recency of drug use or the amount of times he used drugs.  He also apparently was asked about the drug questions on the CIA polygraph and had a reaction but he still passed.  He hasn't heard anything from the FBI to this date.  He was told by the polygrapher that his results will be sent to HQ. My questions are:  do you think the FBI had his test from CIA and just based his failure on that.  Do you think with his record at CIA (resignation and all the trouble he was in) will the FBI even grant him a job even if he passed the poly.  Would they base any of their decision on his past with the CIA or would they even find out about all that info in his recored there.

[Twoblock]

tspoiley

Your friend has no business working for any of our national security systems given his CIA record.

Fighting I can understand. I still do a little of that, at my age, when FORCED to in order to stand my ground. The rest of his record is completely stupid. Especially his affair with a foreign national. This is one of the ways that foreign networks get their hooks into week minded agents. Any man who would hit a woman, outside of self defense, is a week minded bully.

[Tspoiley]

TwoBlock

I guess you were right...my friend got a letter from the FBI last week recending their job offer.  Oh well, I guess this is it for him

[agent817]

Where can I find out if mushrooms are considered "illegal drugs other than marijuana?"

[Twoblock]

agent817

Contact your nearest DEA and they will tell you which ones are halucinogenic and those carry a much heavier penality than MJ. I imagine most any LEO can fill you in, also. You surely must not be in LE. Any cop who doesn't know about shrooms shouldn't be a cop.