Advice for electrical trade experience
Hey everyone — not sure if this is the right subreddit, but I could really use some advice from women already in the trades.
I recently applied and interviewed for the IBEW apprenticeship and scored a 92/100, but unfortunately I wasn’t accepted this round. I’m trying to reapply, and one of the biggest things I need to reapply is around 450 hours of electrical construction experience. The problem is… nobody seems willing to hire someone with little experience.
It’s honestly been really discouraging. I can’t tell if it’s just because I’m new to the field, or because I’m a woman trying to get into it, or both. I’m more than willing to work hard and learn — I just need someone to give me a chance to get my foot in the door.
For anyone who struggled getting into the IBEW or electrical trades at first:
- How did you get your first hours/experience?
- What jobs helped you stand out on your reapplication?
- Is there anything you did that helped improve your interview ranking?
- Are there certain companies or types of work I should be looking for to build experience?
I’d really appreciate any advice or encouragement. I’m determined to make this happen — just feeling stuck on how to get started. TYIA