As an employer, you have the right to ask your applicants to undergo various tests in order to determine if they really are the best person for the job. Even though a polygraph test is not very popular for most job vacancies, there are a few situations in which it is absolutely necessary if you want to make sure you have the most suitable person for the job.

When can you ask job applicants to take a polygraph test?

While these tests should only be reserved for when they are absolutely needed, if the job available in your company offers the future employee access to a large amount of money or weapons, this is definitely a situation in which a lie detector test is more than a fair request from your behalf. In these types of positions, the person in charge will have a lot of responsibility on their hands and you need to make sure that they do not have any problems to worry about.

What kind of information can I expect to find out during this test?

There are a few questions that are adapted depending on each type of job, but usually you will find out about this person’s work history, any illegal drug use problems, criminality problems and even indebtedness. In addition, you can check if they truly have the education they say they have or the work experience to handle the responsibilities requested by your job. With this information, any employer will be able to decide whether or not that is the person they have been looking for all this time.

Can I test people who already work at my company?

If you have any reason to suspect one of your employees of fraudulent activities, but you do not have a clear way of proving it, this could be the option you were looking for. By asking your employee to take a polygraph test you will obtain all the information you need to make a logical decision that will be fair for both sides.

Is it worth the investment?

A polygraph test can rise to certain costs, but when you are screening a person who might become a valuable employee for your company or even for the government, this investment is definitely worth it. With this being said, this does not mean that every manager looking to hire new staff should have them take a lie detector test. This is something that only those who are about to undertake high-risk positions should do or when you suspect that one of your employees might be guilty of a massive fraud and you want to be sure you have all the facts straight.

To conclude, pre-employment polygraph tests can certainly be a useful tool for those who are interested in hiring someone for a very important job. This is how employers can find out whether or not the candidates they are considering have any drug related history, criminal charges or any other problems that might be of concern when it comes to that particular job.