how to pass the Polygraph

There are several steps to becoming a police officer. If you pass the oral interview and are selected to enter the background investigation phase, you will have to undergo a polygraph test. This can be one of the most stressful parts of the hiring process, so we want to give you the insider information about why some candidates succeed while others fail. The polygraph machine, also known as a lie detector, is a machine that measures the body’s stress response. Often times, when a person lies, their body gives off stress responses, so the polygraph exam is used to look for signs of deception. As a police officer applicant in the background investigation phase, you’ll be expected to divulge a lot of information about yourself. After all, we’re looking for people of high moral character. We will be using the polygraph test to verify the truthfulness of what you’ve told our background investigators. Being strapped into a polygraph machine is obviously pretty stressful on its own but for candidates who plan to be dishonest, it can be terrifying. If a candidate decides to try to conceal a certain part of their past, they may search for ways to fool the polygraph. A simple Google search of how to beat a polygraph yields recommendation ranging from sticking a tack in your shoe and stepping on it to biting your tongue, both which are designed to skew the results. Our polygraph examiners have read the same recommendations and are trained to recognize applicants who are trying to outsmart the machine. An applicant trying to purposefully deceive the polygraph examiner will be disqualified from the application process and that disqualification becomes a permanent part of the candidate’s record. You don’t want to join the ranks of disqualified police applicants so instead, here are some tips to help you be successful.

Tip #1: Be truthful.

We understand that the background investigation is invasive, and it can be embarrassing to have to confess all the negative parts of your personal history. But you should feel comforted by the fact that all police applicants go through that and not one of them was a perfect person. We only hire human beings, and all human beings have flaws. Be honest about your flaws.

Tip #2: Relax.

Don’t try to beat the machine. Don’t try to act a certain way. Just follow the directions of the polygraph examiner and answer the questions you are asked. There is a good chance that anything you are worried about isn’t as big of a deal as you think it is. The background investigator will look at the results of the polygraph exam in the greater context of the rest of your background investigation so trust the process.

Tip #3: Do not lie.

There are very few things that will automatically disqualify you from being a police officer but lying is one of them. If you are honest about your flaws and mistakes, there will always be time to explain what happened and give context. If you are honest, there will be an opportunity for you to tell the background investigator what you learned from your mistakes and how you have grown. But if you are caught lying you will absolutely be disqualified from the application process and you will not become a Santa Clara Police Officer.

In conclusion, remember that if you are selected to enter the background investigation phase and get to undertake a polygraph exam, just relax and be honest. It really is that easy.