Should I sit down with a recruiter to discuss background issues before app?

[jason kidd]

Just be honest, it will pay off in the long run. BTW the BI has access to your tax records, and unemployment and Social Security info as well. Just tell the truth. These officers on here will not sell you BS. What they say is the truth.

[fishAK]

My fault. I was really, really tired and didn't get it. Blonde-moment kind of thing.

[DACP]

Feel free to explain that further if you're referring to me.

I was referring to the OP and his "buddy", sorry if you thought I was talking about you.

[irishlad2nv]

I have (as Im sure everyone else has also) possible problems with my background and wanted to know if sitting down with the recruiter and laying it all out is a good idea, or if it would lead to unnecessary self incrimination or tainting of my chances. I have a friend who went through an academy and got picked up by a local agency and he had to tell a couple lies to do that. So hes advised me to lie about certain things also but I dont feel good about that because its lying, and if it were to be discovered later i would surely get canned.
Would the recruiter be appreciative of my upfront honesty is discussing things or would it just be self incrimination and my app get disregarded?

If you feel that uncertain about your background, why not just do yourself a favor and not apply? I have never heard of anyone, let alone a recruiter/agency allowing an applicant or future applicant to sit down and "lay your cards out". Anyway, best of luck...

[ch29]

Snif snif, I smell a major integrity issue here, with both of you.

x2

[fishAK]

Yeah, sorry. Haven't slept in about 40 hours, so my brain is a little slow at the moment. That thought eventually surfaced in head, but after I posted that.

[bg0075]

Pretty sure DACP is referring to the OP and his LE buddy. You know, the one who is a liar...

Could be wrong though...

[fishAK]

Snif snif, I smell a major integrity issue here, with both of you.

Feel free to explain that further if you're referring to me.

[DACP]

Snif snif, I smell a major integrity issue here, with both of you.

[fishAK]

Glad to hear that. I wish you the best of luck!

[novemberclass]

You sound like you like the idea of being LE but don't want to be held to the same high LE standards as the rest of us. I'm sorry, but I'm not an officer yet, (sorry if I'm not supposed to comment in here)and it's people like you who get in my way of being hired. I've been applying for more then two years, flown around the U.S. for interviews and tests at select departments, and I have been rejected numerous times. I am on the verge of being hired, finally. I still have to do my poly, and I will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth just as I have in my other polygraphs.

If you have to lie to get hired, you aren't qualified for the job. Period. End of story. You lack the integrity. Get out of the way, since there are a lot of qualified and truthful people struggling to find jobs.

That said, you still have the choice to take the high road on this. Give up all of your secrets and see what they say. Most agencies don't expect perfection in people's pasts; they expect honesty and taking responsibility for the imperfections and mistakes.

I want to take the high road on this. I am going to sit down with the recruiter this week and spill everything to him, and I mean everything and just let the chips fall where they may. It just doesnt feel right to try to hide things just for the sake of getting the job, and even if I got the job I would always know it was gotten by ill means and not only that I would always have to worry about anything coming out and then getting fired. I just dont want to live like that, this sort of job is very different from anything Ive known and I know its not for everyone and I may have to accept that.

[fishAK]

You sound like you like the idea of being LE but don't want to be held to the same high LE standards as the rest of us. I'm sorry, but I'm not an officer yet, (sorry if I'm not supposed to comment in here)and it's people like you who get in my way of being hired. I've been applying for more then two years, flown around the U.S. for interviews and tests at select departments, and I have been rejected numerous times. I am on the verge of being hired, finally. I still have to do my poly, and I will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth just as I have in my other polygraphs.

If you have to lie to get hired, you aren't qualified for the job. Period. End of story. You lack the integrity. Get out of the way, since there are a lot of qualified and truthful people struggling to find jobs.

That said, you still have the choice to take the high road on this. Give up all of your secrets and see what they say. Most agencies don't expect perfection in people's pasts; they expect honesty and taking responsibility for the imperfections and mistakes.

[PhilipCal]

Yes that is very true. Even though I (and my friend who got hired despite lying) are only applying to non-polygraph agencies.
It still doesnt feel right though even if skirting a poly.

Let me throw an additional thought or two at you. The fact that you, and your less than truthfull friend, are choosing non-Polygraph agencies is pretty significant. It's not that the Polygraph is some see all, know all instrument, it's merely an investigative tool. It can't tell whether you're lying or not. It's been said, that the Polygraph won't reveal anything a good investigator can't find out. Whole lot of truth there. So, stated another way, if there's something in your past, that concerns you passing a Polygraph, that same "something" has an excellent chance of being uncovered by a Background Investigator.

[novemberclass]

I agree with Phil. If they tell you not to apply after you talk to the recruiter, then you saved yourself some time. If you lie, they will find out, and they will tell the surrounding departments.

I don't know how much you know on the subject's of background investigations and polygraphs; but between those two things, nothing can hide. Good Luck with your endevors.

Yes that is very true. Even though I (and my friend who got hired despite lying) are only applying to non-polygraph agencies.
It still doesnt feel right though even if skirting a poly.

[mikeymedic]

I agree with Phil. If they tell you not to apply after you talk to the recruiter, then you saved yourself some time. If you lie, they will find out, and they will tell the surrounding departments.

I don't know how much you know on the subject's of background investigations and polygraphs; but between those two things, nothing can hide. Good Luck with your endevors.