The Ins and Outs of Pre-Employment Polygraph Testing
Pre-employment polygraph testing is a standard pre-employment screening procedure for various agencies and positions, especially in sectors such as law enforcement and sensitive information handling. In this blog, we'll discuss what a pre-employment polygraph test entails, what you should expect during your test, why certain agencies and positions require this type of pre-employment screening, why some individuals fail their tests when they shouldn't, and what an inconclusive test result really means.
Most people are familiar with or have heard of pre-employment polygraph testing, but you might wonder when and for what job roles you'd need one. A pre-employment polygraph test is required for all federal government agencies that involve investigating and working in criminal justice, law enforcement, or handling sensitive information. This requirement extends to roles in local and state police, sheriff’s departments, fire departments, 911 dispatchers, EMTs, certain correction departments, armored car companies handling large sums of US currency, and pharmaceutical companies involved in transporting and selling prescription medications.
Here are some examples of agencies and departments where a pre-employment polygraph test is required:
FBI
CIA
DEA
Secret Service
National Security Agency
US Marshals Service
US Customs and Border Patrol
Homeland Security
Why Some Agencies Require Pre-Employment Polygraph Tests
Firstly, it's about establishing your credibility and trustworthiness in dealing with others within your field.
Secondly, it's crucial for ensuring you can be trusted with sensitive and highly classified materials and information that you'll be handling and investigating. It also assesses your ability to collaborate effectively as a team player and determines if you can be relied upon as a trustworthy team member. Additionally, it involves looking into your past experiences, especially if you'll be dealing with currency, finances, narcotics, or medications.
Lastly, the test evaluates your mindset and personality when dealing with others, particularly in positions of authority. It aims to ensure that you have no ulterior motives for being in charge of others.
Now, do some individuals who shouldn't pass through the screening process and get hired slip through? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. We'll discuss this further later in the blog. However, the majority of applicants who undergo this extensive pre-employment application process (which can last up to a year or more depending on the agency/department) and take a pre-employment polygraph test are indeed well-qualified and deserving candidates who ultimately get hired for the position.
From Application to Examination: Navigating the Pre-Employment Polygraph Test Process
Let’s dive into what to expect when applying for a position with one of these typical agencies or departments and being required to take a pre-employment polygraph test as part of the hiring process. Keep in mind that these are basic topics; some agencies and departments may have more extensive or sensitive areas of inquiry based on their specific requirements.
First, you'll apply for the position either online or in person. Once your initial application is submitted, it undergoes review. If you meet the initial criteria, you'll then be invited (along with hundreds of others) to take a timed written examination assessing your educational background, technical abilities, and basic investigative skills. This comprehensive written test is scored among all applicants, those with lower scores will be eliminated. This is done to weed out those who just don’t qualify or barely make the cut-off testing score. Assuming you perform well on the initial entry test, your score will be compared with others, categorizing high-scoring candidates for further consideration.
Following this, you'll have an interview where you'll 'sell yourself' to the agency, explaining why they should hire you and highlighting your unique skills and attributes. This comprehensive interview process delves deep into your application details and responses. Afterward, your performance is evaluated to determine if you're a qualifying candidate. If so, the pre-employment polygraph test will be scheduled.
During the pre-employment polygraph test, you'll be asked about various topics, including:
Work history and any work-related disciplinary issues
Residential history (previous places you've lived)
Driving record and disposition of any traffic infractions
Criminal history and disposition of any arrests
Drug history and usage
Child pornography use
Social media use and content posted
Confidential information
Credit and financial history
Past experience in law enforcement, corrections, or fire departments
You will complete a specific packet before the examination, containing multiple questions, which the polygraph examiner will go over with you. Following this, a comprehensive interview will cover the topics mentioned above and more. You will then undergo testing to verify the truthfulness of your answers, both in the packet and during the live interview with the examiner.
FAQ: How long does a pre-employment polygraph test last?
The duration of the test typically ranges around 90 minutes (1.5 hours), but for some agencies, testing can extend up to 3-5 hours.
Most agencies and departments have an automatic disqualification policy for any falsification of answers in the packet or application. It's crucial to note that anything falsely presented in your packet during the interview with your polygraph examiner will result in automatic disqualification from the hiring process. Therefore, it’s crucial to be extremely cautious when completing your packet. Moreover, any deliberate withholding of information from the packet can also lead to disqualification from consideration. For instance, failing to disclose a traffic infraction, drug usage, or previous employment could result in possible automatic disqualification.
If you have filled out the packet correctly, another potential disqualification could be if you fail to sign it. Therefore, it's essential to thoroughly check and double-check the packet before submission. Additionally, arriving late or without a proper photo ID may result in being turned away, potentially requiring you to restart the entire hiring process, not just the polygraph, or facing rejection from the hiring list altogether. To avoid such issues, ensure you arrive on time and bring a valid photo ID.
Understanding Polygraph Test Failures: Truthfulness and the Role of Examiner Experience
As a 22-year Expert Advanced-Board Certified Polygraph Examiner, I often receive this specific question from individuals who have taken pre-polygraph examinations: "Why did I fail when I know I didn't lie?" or "Why did I fail my pre-employment test when I believe I shouldn't have?" This is an excellent question and I address it as follows:
There are essentially two factors at play.
Firstly, individuals who fail the test despite believing they were truthful likely did not tell the truth during the exam, even though they claim otherwise.
On the other hand, if someone genuinely tells the truth during the test and still fails, it comes down to only one reason: the lack of experience of the examiner who conducted the test.
Now that you are aware of the two factors that are at play, let's discuss a recent real-life scenario:
I once had a candidate who called me after undergoing pre-employment polygraph testing for their dream agency, the US Customs and Border Patrol, following a year-long application and interview process. The agency, not me, conducted the test. Following the test, the examiner asked if the candidate would be willing to return for a retest after their polygraph charts underwent Quality Control (QC) checking. This is a standard practice for many agencies, ensuring a thorough accuracy check. The candidate agreed to return for a second test. However, things took a turn when the examiner, despite promising immediate QC checking, did not have the charts QC'd right away. Instead, they escorted the candidate out, informing them of their test result: fail.
When an examinee is asked if they are willing to return for a second test, it typically indicates the need for retesting due to inconclusive initial results or for further clarification on an issue with the examinee that was previously discussed but not accurately reflected in the test results. For example, in this case, the examiner neglected to explain why the retest was needed and simply inquired about the candidate’s willingness to return. Subsequently, after the candidate agreed to come back, they were escorted out by the examiner and informed of their failure. This was improper on the examiner’s part.
In this case, an example of retesting for clarification would be if the examinee showed a significant reaction to a theft question and explained that they had only stolen money from their mom as a juvenile. This scenario would require retesting to clarify that nothing more significant has occurred since being a juvenile.
The candidate later retook another exam elsewhere with an advanced, experienced examiner and passed. Their only purpose for retaking the exam was they were very upset and wanted to use the results to restore their integrity, as they were confident they had been truthful all along. Unfortunately, they could not use these results for hiring purposes with the same agency. To further add to the situation, about a week after the initial polygraph test where he was informed he failed, the candidate received a letter from the agency. This letter did not mention that he failed but instead highlighted irregularities in his test responses. Again, that indicated to the experienced examiner that the candidate did not fail; rather, the inconclusive results pointed to the shortcomings of an inexperienced examiner who didn’t know what they were doing.
Inconclusive Polygraph Test Results
What does an inconclusive test result mean? This is a question I receive regularly, as many people are more fearful of this outcome than of failing for some reason, and understandably so. To help you understand, let me illustrate a couple of scenarios for you.
Imagine you go for a medical exam to investigate a serious health issue that has been troubling you, such as a potential cancer diagnosis or another significant condition like a persistent cough or a lump.
You get a blood test or an X-ray to find out what the problem is.
You're eager to receive your results—either positive or negative. However, after the test, the technician informs you that the doctor will need to review the results and will get back to you.
Days pass, and you finally receive a call with the news that the findings are inconclusive. Now, you're left in uncertainty, unsure if this outcome is good or bad, especially when dealing with potentially severe health issues.
The doctor advises you to undergo retesting for a more accurate reading of the results. In such a situation, we never question the doctor or lab technician; we simply comply and get retested.
Now, let's shift to the scenario of a polygraph examination. You have been accused of infidelity, child molestation, or another serious allegation, and you know you are innocent.
You either choose to take a quick and affordable polygraph examination with someone that you found online or one administered by law enforcement due to a criminal matter or at the request of your significant other.
You undergo the polygraph test, being treated fairly by the examiner, and your primary concern is obtaining the results because you're certain of your innocence.
Despite your expectations, the results come back as inconclusive.
When you ask the examiner what this means, they explain that based on the charts and readings, they cannot determine with certainty if there were accurate findings of deception or no deception.
They offer you the option to retake the test if you're willing to pay. If it's law enforcement conducting the test, they may not provide a second chance, suspecting manipulation during the testing process and opting for further interrogation instead.
Is an Inconclusive Test Result Your Fault?
The answer: possibly yes. This could indicate that you didn't follow the instructions properly or attempted to manipulate the results, leading to poor chart readings. Alternatively, the answer could be NO, and it's the examiner's fault. You might wonder how it could be the examiner's fault and not yours. The answer is simple: when you enter the examination room for testing, you're the only one who knows whether you're telling the truth or lying about the issue being examined on your polygraph test. It's crucial to choose an experienced examiner for your testing—if they’re not experienced… BIG RED FLAG. Inexperienced polygraph examiners can make significant mistakes that may ultimately impact the outcome of your polygraph test results and have far-reaching consequences on your life moving forward.
The examiner's role is to determine what you already know: whether you're telling the truth or lying. If the examiner fails to provide a definitive answer of deception or no deception on your test and instead gives an inconclusive result, then they've failed to do their job correctly.
Inexperienced examiners can render inconclusive results, which ultimately hurt several parties. First and foremost, it affects the examinee—the person who took the test. Second, it impacts victims or alleged victims who are involved in the matter. Third, it tarnishes the reputation of the examiner if they value their professional standing. Therefore, when an inconclusive result occurs, do not, I repeat do not blame yourself unless you intentionally manipulated the test—an experienced examiner will be able to identify this. Otherwise, it's the examiner's fault. They should have formulated strong, appropriate questions to obtain accurate results from the examinee and avoid any inconclusive outcomes.
A perfect example of this is a case involving a US Navy Sailor charged with the rape of another sailor by the federal government. Despite undergoing two separate exams that both came back as inconclusive, the sailor was charged based on investigative work and witness statements, alongside the inconclusive polygraph results. Defense attorneys sought my expertise as an expert polygraph examiner and hired me to review both of the polygraph charts along with the investigation reports and notes and to retest the examinee myself. Upon thorough examination, it became evident that the sailor should have passed, not received an inconclusive result—the inexperienced examiner had scored incorrectly and asked weak questions. Additionally, the investigation was notably one-sided, lacking proper investigation and weak questioning of witnesses. Knowing this, I passed this information on to the attorneys.
I conducted an extensive polygraph exam, and the sailor passed with high scores. During the trial, the judge acquitted the sailor of all charges, concluding that no crime had been committed. It was found that the accusing sailor had fabricated the story as a means to exit the service.
This situation highlights the potential harm of an inconclusive result in the wrong hands. However, when an experienced examiner interprets such results, it can lead to positive outcomes for others involved.
Before getting tested for pre-employment or any type of polygraph examination, ask to see and review your examiner's credentials, experience, and reviews. The results you receive can significantly impact your career and life.
If you are in need of any assistance or need your polygraph charts reviewed, don't hesitate to reach out to Executive Protection Group Polygraph Service to schedule your polygraph examination.
Take the pivotal step towards peace of mind by connecting with Mr. David Goldberg, the founder of Executive Protection Group Polygraph Service. With over 30 years of experience as an Advanced Board-Certified Polygraph Examiner and Investigator, Mr. David Goldberg brings unparalleled expertise.
Our mission at Executive Protection Group Polygraph Service is clear: to eliminate doubts and ensure you find the closure you deserve to move forward in your life. Specializing in comprehensive and confidential polygraph examinations, we serve clients in Hampton Roads, including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Newport News, Suffolk, Hampton, and beyond. Led by Mr. David Goldberg, a Virginia State Licensed Advanced Board-Certified Polygraph Examiner and nationally recognized expert, our commitment is to deliver immediate, reliable, and accurate results.
To explore how we can assist you further, review our polygraph services or call Executive Protection Group Polygraph Service today to schedule your polygraph examination. Take the first step towards resolution and peace of mind with us.
