Hi everyone,
This is a long post. The TL;DR version is on the bottom, but I'd really appreciate anyone who takes the time to read all of this.
I had my polygraph exam today. My conditional offer of employment is tied to passing the polygraph and psychological. I felt like the pre-interview went great, and I feel like the polygraph itself went well when I was hooked up to it. The examiner is a detective with a police department, so he obviously has interrogation and investigative experience.
He was friendly, and built rapport with me (as most examiners probably do). I was truthful for the entire exam. He kept complimenting how clean of a background I have, and what a good candidate I am. He hooks me up to the machine, and we go through the questions for about 25 minutes. He leaves the room. After "looking over" my polygraph chart results with another examiner (supposedly), he comes back in, sits down, and accuses me of deliberately trying to manipulate the test. He starts off by saying "right now, you're not doing well with the test".
He continued on, saying I was trying to manipulate the results. He implies I was trying to control my breathing, which I was not. I stood my ground, and I did not change my stance on the matter. He then plays a little bluff, which I've heard of them doing before - saying that I'm a really good candidate, and that if I just admit to having tried to manipulate the test, he would go to bat for me with "the hiring supervisors". He said he has a really good relationship with them. He said "they will listen to the report" about what he writes about me. He said if I don't come clean, he's going to write what we just discussed and my outcome in the process "will be obvious". I still didn't budge or change my answers. I said "I can assure you, I did not manipulate the results - and everything on that packet is the truth".
After being unable to break me down, the detective gets angry. He said that he hopes I never become a police officer, then saying "you're a liar". He beats a dead horse again, saying it's obvious of what I was trying to do and that anyone could "see it". He then changed it minutes later, to being able to "hear what I was doing". A bit of an inconsistency, which I thought was strange.
It was kind of like watching a horrible actor try out for a High School drama class, I could tell he was bluffing/acting the entire time. And I thought he winked at me at one point during it (as if to almost give me a hint?), but I can't be certain. He ended with saying, "is there anything you want to tell me? This is your last chance." I said "No." He ended the session with one last question - "How do you feel about the test and the way I treated you today?" I answered "I think you were professional and respectful, and I'd like to thank you for your time." He walked me out and seemed to be somewhat cold towards me, slamming the button on the elevator and saying "there ya go".
Has anyone had a post polygraph interrogation like this before? Being accused of manipulation/cheating - and maybe end up having passed it? I feel like it would have either been this version of an interrogation, or being accused of "having a problem with a question". Maybe I'm right in saying no one is ever told they "passed"? I've heard they usually try to get people to make admissions by confronting them with a "failure".
I know polygraphs are junk science and my experience today is probably common. I'd just like to hear some other opinions. Otherwise, I'll be waiting to hear officially (hopefully soon).
TLDR Version:
I was told I was trying to manipulate test results by a polygraph examiner, and I could tell he was probably bluffing - but I'm not certain. I'm curious if anyone had a similar experience and still passed?
This is a long post. The TL;DR version is on the bottom, but I'd really appreciate anyone who takes the time to read all of this.
I had my polygraph exam today. My conditional offer of employment is tied to passing the polygraph and psychological. I felt like the pre-interview went great, and I feel like the polygraph itself went well when I was hooked up to it. The examiner is a detective with a police department, so he obviously has interrogation and investigative experience.
He was friendly, and built rapport with me (as most examiners probably do). I was truthful for the entire exam. He kept complimenting how clean of a background I have, and what a good candidate I am. He hooks me up to the machine, and we go through the questions for about 25 minutes. He leaves the room. After "looking over" my polygraph chart results with another examiner (supposedly), he comes back in, sits down, and accuses me of deliberately trying to manipulate the test. He starts off by saying "right now, you're not doing well with the test".
He continued on, saying I was trying to manipulate the results. He implies I was trying to control my breathing, which I was not. I stood my ground, and I did not change my stance on the matter. He then plays a little bluff, which I've heard of them doing before - saying that I'm a really good candidate, and that if I just admit to having tried to manipulate the test, he would go to bat for me with "the hiring supervisors". He said he has a really good relationship with them. He said "they will listen to the report" about what he writes about me. He said if I don't come clean, he's going to write what we just discussed and my outcome in the process "will be obvious". I still didn't budge or change my answers. I said "I can assure you, I did not manipulate the results - and everything on that packet is the truth".
After being unable to break me down, the detective gets angry. He said that he hopes I never become a police officer, then saying "you're a liar". He beats a dead horse again, saying it's obvious of what I was trying to do and that anyone could "see it". He then changed it minutes later, to being able to "hear what I was doing". A bit of an inconsistency, which I thought was strange.
It was kind of like watching a horrible actor try out for a High School drama class, I could tell he was bluffing/acting the entire time. And I thought he winked at me at one point during it (as if to almost give me a hint?), but I can't be certain. He ended with saying, "is there anything you want to tell me? This is your last chance." I said "No." He ended the session with one last question - "How do you feel about the test and the way I treated you today?" I answered "I think you were professional and respectful, and I'd like to thank you for your time." He walked me out and seemed to be somewhat cold towards me, slamming the button on the elevator and saying "there ya go".
Has anyone had a post polygraph interrogation like this before? Being accused of manipulation/cheating - and maybe end up having passed it? I feel like it would have either been this version of an interrogation, or being accused of "having a problem with a question". Maybe I'm right in saying no one is ever told they "passed"? I've heard they usually try to get people to make admissions by confronting them with a "failure".
I know polygraphs are junk science and my experience today is probably common. I'd just like to hear some other opinions. Otherwise, I'll be waiting to hear officially (hopefully soon).
TLDR Version:
I was told I was trying to manipulate test results by a polygraph examiner, and I could tell he was probably bluffing - but I'm not certain. I'm curious if anyone had a similar experience and still passed?
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