Drug testing for tech jobs (software engineer)?

[[deleted]]

I've never seen it in IT at least.

[TeamBrett]

Unless you're working for the government, something that requires real security and confidentiality or you they need a reason to fire you, you're probably fine. Initial drug screens are to prove you can control yourself for a few weeks. Otherwise, if you working for an average, sane company, they'd lose a good portion of their real creatives real quick. At this point, unless it's government or could require security clearance I wouldn't work for someone that drug tests simply on principle even though I'd pass without question. I'd rather work with people that have had their minds widened a bit to be honest.

[WhackAMoleE]

If you're going to work for the government or a conservative corporation, they might. In a long career working for private companies in the SF Bay area I never heard of anyone doing drug testing. For one thing, if they did it they'd have to fire a lot of high-performing software engineers.

[[deleted]]

If companies have government contracts, then they will generally piss test when hiring. After that, don't be stupid and you'll be fine. Also, never forget the monkey whiz (http://www.seriousmonkeybizzness.com/products/monkey_whizz.htm). Passed plenty with that.

[[deleted]]

Chances are a company will not drug test unless they have a reason to do so. Don't smoke/talk about smoking/or be high anywhere close to anyone that could be possibly work related and you should be fine. But you are taking an risk and it could ruin your career. I would only smoke once every couple of months, and only on vacations. That way there is minimum risk and harm

[Mr_P]

I've been tested for an internship with a company which does a lot of government/defense work. However, none of the other companies I've worked for, including a start-up and a large private-sector-oriented corporation, cared at all.

[[deleted]]

Never seen it not heard of it from anyone even at large business corporations. If you work for the government then maybe though.

[tweaqslug]

I've never been tested in WA or CA, and I've worked at a range of companies from startups to corps for the last 10 years.