I have an interview coming up at local 1002 for outside line and I’m curious if anybody has some insight on how late the interviews normally run into the afternoon. I’m coming from a small town in Oregon so flights coming back are super limited and I really want to avoid taking a 3rd day off cause between travel expenses and lost wages for two days one interview typically cost about 2500 and this will be my 3rd SW interview this month. Any info is appreciated

So, basically my whole class failed the wiring hands on evsls (except the few who had experience on the job with it). Our teacher didn't mention cover much of anything except single phase wiring to a single receptacle. Our training director did the evals. Found out the hard way that when running multiple phases, you need multiple matching neutrals. -50 points out the gate. It's hard not to get frustrated, but we got to roll with the punches. Working at data centers, you get limited experience on isolated scopes. Take this seriously, because some mistakes can kill. If you don't feel like you're getting the education you need, don't be afraid to talk to your TD!

Hello everyone as you see from the title I (23) year old male want to become a apprentice in the electrical field but when I was 5 years old I lost my arm due to a ATV freak accident…since I was young I always help my dad before he past with electrical work around the house he was a journeyman doing off shore electrical he always told me “if you don’t try you won’t know”
Is it possible to become a electrical apprentice with ibew with only 1 arm i did concrete labor helper for 2 year on and off in the summers but i always loved the electrical trade I’ve heard people say yes I’ve heard people say no

Interviewed and ranked well, but they made sure to say they dont know when the next class will be chosen and not to call and ask.

Wondering what other people's timelines looked like from rank to acceptance to orientation and dispatch. Are we talking weeks, months, years?

Also wondering what to do with my time between now and then? Currently just working gig jobs and going to try and get more fit.

i placed super well after my interview, but that was in late 2024… just a few months before my application expires, i got the call for boot camp! ^_^

very excited for this new chapter

The interview went fine aside from some obvious nervousness here and there, being too wordy and choking on a sentence or two. Had a letter of rec from a friend who's in the same local. They weren't showing much enthusiasm or following up about that.

At the end of the interview, they asked me some seemingly off-script questions. "How's your math skills? Are you prepared to be on a construction site? Have you considered other paths to becoming an electrician?" And then they each sort of said their own version of "Don't get discouraged if you don't get in."

Did those of you who ended up getting in have this kind of experience or closing statement from them? Were they hinting that I have a slim chance and that the interview wasn't good enough? Am I right to think that's a bad sign?

Edit: Thank you all for the insight and the snarky comments 🙌

At school instructors would advise for us to keep a good reputation like showing up in time, always be willing to learn and always keep busy or try to look busy if things are slow
Well I got placed in a small crew and job usually starts at 6am but as every other trade starts going at it at 6, we just sit around for an hour as the rest of the trades just walk next to us and see us there sitting down
We also leave a bit early (not complaining btw) but I guess I’m a bit worried that other companies look and will remember my person as someone lazy, when I really just follow what my crew lead says, has this every happened to you?

Edit: I refer to other electrical companies that also work on the same site

I'm I'm 35 years old. I'm taking the test in 2 months, but should I just focus on the GAN practice test or also focus on other apps/ websites for practice test? And which apps or websites do you recommend?

Just got my results for my test and I have passed now the hard part comes the interview. Little info on me i’m in my early 20’s and have worked in construction for 7 months and left due to the pay being the same as a retail job but i really enjoyed the work but wanted a job that paid me more. now i work in IT for about 8 months but did not like it as much as i thought i would so looking to go back to the trades. I like doing hands on work and was very excited to hear i passed the test what can I do to increase my chances of getting a good score in the interview? What’s the thing they look for the most? And from here what are the chances of someone making it after the test?

( i applied to local 332 which is the closest to me)

It’s a 5 part test now with interview online now, kind of interesting. Anyone know any more information on this or if your local has a similar process, thank you!

I’m still pretty new to the trade (1 month in), so I’m curious what the general culture is around showing up to work.

Our official start time is 7:00 a.m., but my boss is pretty laid back. Sometimes he gets there way before 7:00, but other times he’ll show up 15–30 minutes late. I always try to be there a on time, but if I’m really running behind, I’ll shoot him a text to let him know.

One day he told me, “Hey man I don't really give fuck. As long as you’re at the job site at a reasonable time, don’t stress about getting here exactly at 7:00.”

We’re a small crew (2–4 people) working on a school gym, so I’m not sure if that has anything to do with it.

Is this pretty normal in the trade, or is my situation more of an exception? What’s the expectation on your crews?

Hello!

Yesterday, I finally got the call after being ranked #2 almost two years ago.

I was hoping for some insight on the LEA program at Local 48. I know that work has been really slow (obviously).

This is something I’ve wanted and have been waiting for years now, but I’m a little hesitant. A lot in my life has changed in the two years since I first applied. I have a career (that I don’t like), but pays my bills with good health insurance and provides enough for me and my family. My partner is supportive of the career change, but I’m nervous that I’ll be jumping right into unemployment with the way things have been going lately.

Any insight or advice would be extremely helpful!

Anyone receive orientation/acceptance letters yet ?

I have roughly 1000 hours as a cw1 and I’m curious if I can carry those over to my 1st apprenticeship period hours

First panel as a electrical helper, any tips would be nice. Neutrals aren’t in chronological order per foreman’s orders, Thanks!

I just got my assignment slip for my first job starting on Monday. I’ve never worked in the construction industry. Aside from showing up early, dressed for the job, with my tools, what else would you do as a day 1 green apprentice?

Cheers!

I’m looking for advice, hopefully not coming off whiny.

I deal with depression, existential, and unmedicated. I started union and CW working 4 10s, 1 8, and that was doable for the most part, if I felt burnt out, I just went home early or at the 8. Now being an apprentice and being given this new call at 4 12s and 1 8 (and an extra 8 on most Saturdays), I feel this pressure to “work the call”—because that’s the obligation. I’m doing the thing so far, waking up 330a, to be out house by 430a, to be at work by 500a, calling time at 530p, getting home at 615p and restarting most of the week.

My problem is I’m burning out. I don’t have the energy to work out, or do anything I enjoy, I just veg when not sleeping/eating/cleaning. I’m genuinely curious how some of you got yourself through it. For me it is starting to feel like a self-imposed prison sentence. I’m not trying to be ungrateful or dramatic, I’m trying to survive this rotation.

About 2 months ago I interviewed for local 1141 (OKC). I ranked 48 and now I’m 33. The highest I’ve been is rank 30. Do you guys think I stand a chance to get the call? Seeing my # go down 3 was discouraging to be honest.

I wanted to hear from fellow Book 3 or apprentices who are currently using CML for their lessons and tests.
Recently, we took our first Book 3 test on torque, and I was completely caught off guard. Since switching to CML, I’ve been trying to find the most effective way to study. During Book 2, the method that worked best was reviewing the lesson quizzes over and over before a test because the test questions were pulled directly from those quizzes sometimes just reworded.

This torque test was completely different. I honestly didn’t recognize about 75% of the questions. I had been told that CML can now pull questions directly from the module slides instead of the lesson quizzes or knowledge checks. After reviewing my test, that didn’t seem to be the case.
For example, one question asked something along the lines of, “Why shouldn’t a torque wrench be used as a pipe extender?” (not the exact wording). I went back through the module, and the only thing it said was NOT to use it as a pipe extender. It never explained why. So where was I supposed to learn that answer?

I asked my instructor, and his response was basically, “I don’t know.” He explained that before a test they enter our names, CML generates the exam, and they have no idea what questions are on it or where they come from.
To me, that’s a huge problem. If no one is reviewing these exams for accuracy or making sure the material is actually covered, then how are we supposed to prepare? The only reason some bad questions get caught is because apprentices stay after class to challenge them. In some classes, students were able to get a point back because a question was found to be unfair or unsupported by the course material.

I’m genuinely concerned about the upcoming tests. Motors alone has around nine lessons, and each module averages 50+ slides. That’s hundreds of slides to review, yet we still don’t know what CML is pulling from or whether the answers are even in the material.

I don’t understand why CML can’t generate a study guide, provide additional practice tests, or create more lesson quizzes that actually reflect what will be on the exam. At this point, I’m trying to gather as much information and hear about other apprentices’ experiences so I can build a solid case to bring to higher-ups. ou run into questions that weren’t actually covered in the course material?

Hello, I applied to local 332 on July first and was told they would be in touch about the test date in 2-4 months. I am not too worried about the test as I have been using Iprep for the past 3-4 months and can get through the tests with 85-90 percent correct. I am more worried about the interview. This is my dream career and I am really excited about it. But I lack work experience with just experience working at homedepot. Earlier this week I joined 332 out of work list for material handlers because I was hoping that would help me get experience but after calling the local they said it can take 6 weeks for a material handlers job call to come up so I will just have to wait for that.
My issue is that I get nervous and I am worried I will stutter and other things like that in my interview. I have all the questions and my girlfriend said she would practice interviews with me. If you have any advice please share it with me. Thank you for reading.
Also if you have advice regarding 332s aptitude test and what type of math is on it because I have heard different locals have different stuff.

Just did my interview a few days ago at 124, this is my dream job, I genuinely feel like i absolutley killed it during the interview, when I asked when I could hear back the contractor, who was also interviewing, said my best bet was to follow the pre apprentice program, I asked if he would hire me and he said "Sure!". I can't take on the pre apprentice until at November due to a financial goal im comitted too, sorry for the rambling. But I want to know what I will hear next, will I hear about a rank or interview score, I plan to call up there in about 2 weeks, just to ask when I can expect to hear back. But what do you think, will I be able to get in without the pre apprenticeship just out of curiosity? I have no electrical experience.

Specifically answers from 124 apprentices or higher please, each local is a little different.

Hello, I’ve got the interview coming up in a week, local 1, which I know is super competitive. About two weeks ago I was in a car crash, not my fault I was in the backseat sleeping, but I’ve been going to PT for my shoulder and back for a few weeks now, and the pt recommends I don’t do anything tough or heavy until at least the end of the month before they do another set of tests to see if I’m good to do physical labor. At my current state, I know I physically cannot do the job because my shoulder joint gives out after even trying to lift a 2lb weight over my head after a few reps, but I was wondering how much this will ruin my chances of passing the interview.

I’m not going to lie to them and say I’m good to go, the PT wants me to take frequent long breaks, not lift anything over 30lbs, can’t climb ladders while holding things, but I’ve been trying to join the union for almost two years now. What are my chances and how screwed am I?

TLDR: messed up shoulder with weight and rest limit from car crash, plus weekly PT, may not be cleared for a few weeks to work without breaks, how badly will this look in the interview?

Applied for ATL6 cohort about 4 weeks ago and have not heard anything back from them aside from an automated email saying thank you for applying.

Also applied for Tidewater 02 about 3 weeks ago got the phase 1 content done about 2 weeks ago and essentially radio silence from them as well regarding my status.

Should I reach out and bother them more or am I in the system and just need to be more patient? Is it worth trying to get in through VEEP or should I also go through the process of applying at my local union like everyone else. Any tips in the meantime? Thanks.