Drug use question for government job. Forum

[Anonymous User]

I already got an offer for a gov't job/internship. In the disclosure, they are asking if I have ever done drugs. Is this a trick question? Will they automatically deny me if I say yes? I smoked marijuana like 6 years ago, but I have no record.

[3ThrowAway99]

Say no. Maybe it was soap suds. JK, but read the effing website about mandatory dings (for FBI etc).

[Anonymous User]

I was asked this exact question after I received a job offer from the government. I answered honestly. I am currently working in this position. Just admit it. They don't care unless it's recent. They WILL care if you lie. Not saying they'd find out, but why risk it?

[3ThrowAway99]

I was asked this exact question after I received a job offer from the government. I answered honestly. I am currently working in this position. Just admit it. They don't care unless it's recent. They WILL care if you lie. Not saying they'd find out, but why risk it?

Yeah.... they will care more if you're honest and it's within 3 yrs under current FBI standards...

[Anonymous User]

I was asked this exact question after I received a job offer from the government. I answered honestly. I am currently working in this position. Just admit it. They don't care unless it's recent. They WILL care if you lie. Not saying they'd find out, but why risk it?

Yeah.... they will care more if you're honest and it's within 3 yrs under current FBI standards...

Right, see the bolded...

[AreJay711]

I was told in a recruiting interview once that unless I was caught, the answer was no.

[PARTY]

I was told in a recruiting interview once that unless I was caught, the answer was no.

by whom?

[lukertin]

Generally speaking, the only reason the government really cares about whether or not you're using drugs is whether someone who knows could use that fact to leverage it against you and blackmail you into divulging things under security tape. Sure, some agencies are little more butthurt about it (like the FBI or DEA) but that's mostly because they're supposed to uphold the law and whatnot.

[nonprofit-prophet]

I had a casual conversation about funny job stories with a guy that used to administer these tests for a major federal agency. He said the lying was way worse, even if it was recent. He said they hired people that had done hard drugs fairly recently. He also said that for people of a certain age group, they assume you've smoked pot. If you say no, they're immediately suspicious.

[Anonymous User]

disclose. i did and still worked there

[AreJay711]

I was told in a recruiting interview once that unless I was caught, the answer was no.

by whom?

The Marines. Of course that was after the guy asked me the first time and I answered honestly. Apparently, you need to go higher up to get a signature if you answer yes and it is a big hasstle. This was also back at the Iraq highpoint so they probably wanted people who could shut up when told to.