Will failed FBI polygraph test harm chances for other jobs?

Derrick T. Dortch, president of the Diversa Group, is a career counselor who specializes in government job searches and military transition. This is adapted from a recent chat at washingtonpost.com.

McLean: I just had an interview with the Board of Immigration Appeals in the Department of Justice, and I am still waiting for the results. I have a question about clearance matters. I also applied to be an FBI special agent, and although I made it through the selection process, I failed the polygraph examination. Do you think this will count against me if I get the BIA position?

Derrick Dortch: I am sorry to hear about the polygraph. The FBI's polygraph process is a very stressful one, so don't be too discouraged. Keep on applying to federal positions as you are doing.

Now in terms of the polygraph and the DOJ, it should not be held against you. Most DOJ positions, aside from those in the FBI and a few other areas, do not require you to take a polygraph exam. They usually require only a background investigation and sometimes a security clearance. This all depends on who you are working for. Since you received only a conditional offer of employment and you went through only the initial phase of evaluation, which includes the polygraph, you did not go through a background investigation. When you are asked whether you were denied a clearance, the answer would be no because a security clearance background investigation was barely started and was never completed.

The polygraph should have no bearing on this position, and you should be fine.

I wish you much success.