I smoked pot in college 15 years ago, was told that is a non-starter. Is that true?

My opinion based on going through the clearance process for the NSA is that the federal gov't is fairly pragmatic and the anti-drug use policy is primarily a way of ensuring state secrets are not leaked, via extortion, bribery, etc. For instance, buying drugs from people who might intend to blackmail with that information at a later point. See also someone with e.g. a gambling addiction, skeletons in one's closet. In general, owing people money, wanting certain personal things hidden, and so on tends to compromise one's integrity. Which is to say, if you can demonstrate that integrity it is my belief that no one would deny clearance on moralistic grounds.

I've always wondered about that extortion/bribery dealy. I mean, how does it work exactly? Is it an embarassment thing? Asking for a friend.

Went through a security clearance years ago (in the UK). Explained to another candidate also about to go through the process that we would be asked questions about our sex lives, etc. and had to be honest. They were horrified.

I suspect it was the horrified nature of having to discuss it that ruled them out (they failed), not the fact that they - I inferred through gentle questioning - had experimented a little with a same-sex relationship whilst at University.

If you're OK with your family finding out or it going in the local paper, you can't be blackmailed over it. You're probably fine.

If you are terrified by the thought of whatever it is - even if it's legal - becoming knowledge of those you care about, and even more so those you don't care about, that's likely a problem.

Within security services and law enforcement, hanging around with criminals - which is what drug dealers in most places are - will rule you out for obvious reasons.

Even in places where drugs (weed increasingly, booze almost everywhere in Europe and North America), being a heavy and habitual user of substances is going to raise an eyebrow and prompt a discussion, at least.

Probably not, unless there were extenuating circumstances like you got arrested for dealing. The paperwork you fill out for a security clearance doesn't care about drug use more than 7 years old (unless it led to jail time), and lots of people who do have drug use in the last 7 years still don't have major issues.

There's different types of polygraphs. The counterintelligence one is basically asking if you're a terrorist, so no trouble there. There's also a "lifestyle" polygraph that is sometimes necessary, which is more focused on how blackmailable you are. It might be an issue there, but I wouldn't be surprised if the questions for that have the same "within 7 years" qualifier.

May not be an issue. https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/05/fbi-dir...

Is it on your record?

Does a polygraph care?

It's not a lie if you believe it's true.

Those polygraphs though. :\

Kind of ridiculous they still abide by that pseudoscience.

The Feebs definitely understand it doesn't tell lies from truths with 100% accuracy. They do know that it scares a bunch of people who don't meet their ethics/morality/legality bar away.

it’s also a way that they can dismiss candidates without violating equal-opportunity laws. “Looked good on paper, but failed the polygraph” for any reason they want

I’ve honestly thought about applying. I’m veteran and do miss that sort of community and overall feeling of contributing to my extended family to keep them safe.

I live overseas now though, so not sure how that process would go lol

I always have this question: when applying to jobs (software related for me), the applications always asked whether I have been a government employee. Why do they ask about this? Does working for the government affect something?

Just a guess: if you've ever worked for the government, there's some record of it (maybe including performance, any issues they had with you etc). On the off chance the FBI doesn't know about those records already, they get a lead on getting those records.

Imagine working for a business this far in the red. What's your runway? What's your CEOs track record? /s

When you ask for equity options they give you US Treasuries

Could be a pretty good deal.

Just remember that Mulder and Scully at some point answered posting like this... Truth is out there...

My first lead as an FBI agent would be investigating all HN account holders.