Hey folks, Dieter here,

            Some of you may know me as being an avid lurker that occasionally posts on here. Well, I’d like to shed some of my anonymity and introduce myself, as well as pose a question to anyone else who is currently going through the hiring process for law enforcement.

So to start, My name’s not really Dieter (Deeter), It’s Clayton, I’m a 19 year old army reservist from Kentucky, I’ve been a member since  2012 I think, I love mopar, classic cars, guitars and music. That’s me in a nutshell.

Now for the kind of cool part, and the question that prompted the entire post. I’ve been going through the hiring process for border patrol for about 3 months now and I just passed the second to final step, the final being a polygraph exam. So if anyone out there has been through this before and has any pointers for me that’d be neato. I have had some things expunged from my record (Traffic violations not drugs.) and being a normal wiley teenager I occasionally drink with my friends.

What should I know going in, what should I say in regards to my expunged stuff, and will they turn me down for being a normal teenager (IE the occasional drink with the boys.), and any pointers for anyone else. I can answer any questions within my limitations in regards to the steps up to this point for border patrol, who’s minimum hiring age is 18 btw…

 

I imagine the biggest "do" is "be honest" and the biggest "don't" is "don't lie". It's hard to say if they would turn you down for being a so called "normal teenager" but they would definitely turn you down for lying.

While I haven't been through a polygraph test, I have talked to many people who have and gave me advice, as I also plan on going through the hiring process.

 

1. Don't try to "beat" the test. Be completely honest. Only a few individuals can actually manipulate the test, or rather the examiner, by maintaining their heart rate and mental state during control questions in which they decide to lie. If you don't have anything to hide, I see no reason for even attempting this. If you've done something wrong, admit to it. Don't lie.

2. Your answers should be either a yes or a no. The polygraph examiner may try to make you nervous by asking for clarification on certain control questions, if they do, be brief. Don't dig yourself a hole.

3. The examiner may try to pretend to be your friend, but they are not. They may want you to feel like you can trust them, but they're absolutely trying to manipulate you and catch you in a lie.

 

 

1 hour ago, Original Light said:

While I haven't been through a polygraph test, I have talked to many people who have and gave me advice, as I also plan on going through the hiring process.

 

1. Don't try to "beat" the test. Be completely honest. Only a few individuals can actually manipulate the test, or rather the examiner, by maintaining their heart rate and mental state during control questions in which they decide to lie. If you don't have anything to hide, I see no reason for even attempting this. If you've done something wrong, admit to it. Don't lie.

2. Your answers should be either a yes or a no. The polygraph examiner may try to make you nervous by asking for clarification on certain control questions, if they do, be brief. Don't dig yourself a hole.

3. The examiner may try to pretend to be your friend, but they are not. They may want you to feel like you can trust them, but they're absolutely trying to manipulate you and catch you in a lie.

 

 

I personally would keep #1 and #3 to yourself.  No offense to Dieter, but we shouldn't give him any help on passing.  If he passes the lie detector it should be because he told the full truth and was an open book.   By all means we can give some advice on how to keep calm, simple things like that, but telling him the methods the examiner uses?  A bit too much.

8 minutes ago, Kallus Rourke said:

 

 

I personally would keep #1 and #3 to yourself.  No offense to Dieter, but we shouldn't give him any help on passing.  If he passes the lie detector it should be because he told the full truth and was an open book.   By all means we can give some advice on how to keep calm, simple things like that, but telling him the methods the examiner uses?  A bit too much.

 

The polygraph examiner is likely to say #1. Also, when I was polygraphed they specifically said it was *not* a lie detector and was not capable of telling when you’re lying. Because it’s not. It’s a way to measure certain physiological reactions. They were quite explicit on that point.

 

To the OP: Remember that just about nothing on your background will be worse for your chances than lying. Be completely honest and straightforward. If you fall into one of the exceptions, you should probably drop your application entirely.

Depending on what you do for the Army already you may have a leg up. Your actual training means absolutely dick and you should go into this as a sponge and soak up all their ways of doing things because that is all that matters. The fact that you already have some training makes you a more ideal candidate as they know you shouldn't be johnny shitbag from back on the block.

In saying that your going to be nervous. Its what the test is designed to do. Be truthful honest and take your time answering questions but do not put too much thought into them. Its not just what you say its how you present yourself. Think about it the same way you would approach a board for promotion(NG generally doesnt do these) or a Soldier of the Month/Quarter/Battlion. 

Dont sound rehearsed. Dont sound deadpan. Do be honest. Do be truthful. Do answer it the same way you did on your applications as long as its honest and truthful. If you lied on your application your already fucked. Dont elaborate any answers unless they specifically tell you to. 

On 11/30/2017 at 8:10 PM, Kallus Rourke said:

 

 

I personally would keep #1 and #3 to yourself.  No offense to Dieter, but we shouldn't give him any help on passing.  If he passes the lie detector it should be because he told the full truth and was an open book.   By all means we can give some advice on how to keep calm, simple things like that, but telling him the methods the examiner uses?  A bit too much.

Do me a favor and type in how to beat a lie detector in Google. It is not like he just gave some secret answer that nobody knew about. Why not I think Demeter can use all the help he can get reservist classic cars dont get any better than that M'erica. Quit being a little woman 

30 minutes ago, motive007 said:

Do me a favor and type in how to beat a lie detector in Google. It is not like he just gave some secret answer that nobody knew about. Why not I think Demeter can use all the help he can get reservist classic cars dont get any better than that M'erica. Quit being a little woman 

 

Just because he can Google it doesn't mean we need to be telling him how to pass a lie detector or the tactics used. 

The polygraph is no secret test.  Generally, the questions asked and your answers are cross-referenced against your background check to see if you're lying.

 

The problem is that it is an subjective test, not an objective one.

 

It's why polygraphs are not admissible in court in the United States, as they are not considered reliable enough, as they are all up to the interpretation of the test giver.

 

Here in MI, it is illegal for employers to mandate polygraphs for pre-employment.

 

CBP and Border Patrol have been in the eye of the news and legislature recently because of their extremely high polygraph failure rates (Nearly 70%, compared to less than 30% for the nationwide average among other LE agencies that use polys)

 

I can't really give you good answers as I've never taken one. However, just as in your background check, it pays to be honest. And don't be upset if you fail.

Edited December 6, 20178 yr by TylerF

put a thumb tack in your shoe