# should I take job requiring security clearance **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 18, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-take-job-requiring-security-clearance/650730 "2013-02-18T20:53:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-take-job-requiring-security-clearance/650730/41 "2013-02-20T21:37:43Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > When I went through the clearance process, they sat down with me before the polygraph, and ran through the questions they were going to be asking me. During that interview, they told me that past drug use was OK, as long as you weren’t using any more, and you were honest. I said, “no problem, I never have!”, to which they replied “But it’s OK if you did!” > > They hooked me up to the polygraph and went through their questions. When they got to the drug question, I answered, honestly, that I never had used drugs. There was a long pause, and they said, “OK” and went on to the next question. > > They certainly seemed surprised when I passed that question. I may have been the only one they ever interviewed who could honestly say they never had! Were you going for a Top Secret? Secret clearances don’t require polygraphs. Just fingerprints. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-take-job-requiring-security-clearance/650730/42 "2013-02-20T21:53:13Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > When I went through the clearance process, they sat down with me before the polygraph, and ran through the questions they were going to be asking me. During that interview, they told me that past drug use was OK, as long as you weren’t using any more, and you were honest. I said, “no problem, I never have!”, to which they replied “But it’s OK if you did!” > > They hooked me up to the polygraph and went through their questions. When they got to the drug question, I answered, honestly, that I never had used drugs. There was a long pause, and they said, “OK” and went on to the next question. > > They certainly seemed surprised when I passed that question. I may have been the only one they ever interviewed who could honestly say they never had! The real question is why you wore a Bob Marley t-shirt to your poly. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-take-job-requiring-security-clearance/650730/43 "2013-02-21T01:18:17Z")
> [@JerrySTL](#): > > Were you going for a Top Secret? Secret clearances don’t require polygraphs. Just fingerprints. Neither do some TS clearances, IME. It probably varies from agency to agency, but the DOS didn’t require a polygraph. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-take-job-requiring-security-clearance/650730/44 "2013-02-21T20:47:37Z")
> [@JerrySTL](#): > > Were you going for a Top Secret? Secret clearances don’t require polygraphs. Just fingerprints. It was actually higher than that. But if I told you, I’d have to kill you. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-take-job-requiring-security-clearance/650730/45 "2013-02-21T22:41:25Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > It was actually higher than that. But if I told you, I’d have to kill you. You compartmentalized crypto types all think you’re so-o-o-o badass. Oops, there’s the doorbell. . . ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-take-job-requiring-security-clearance/650730/46 "2013-02-22T17:36:15Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > You compartmentalized crypto types all think you’re so-o-o-o badass. Oops, there’s the doorbell. . . Never Say Anything… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-i-take-job-requiring-security-clearance/650730.md?page=2)