r/ibew_apprentices

I have my interview for IBEW scheduled in early September for local 481. Without any experience in the electrical field, I’ve been warned my chances of getting in are low. I also have never been the best interviewer in general, but I’m going to try and study the questions and do my best. I’m pretty sure I aced my aptitude test though (only a few questions I didn’t know). So I hope that goes a long way to help.

Anyways, I’ve been saving up money all year with my current job and planned to take a vacation in the fall. How long after the interview does it take to hear back? And then how long after getting accepted / rejected would they call me to begin classes / start work? I’ve heard some stories that people got the call and had to start the next day. They had to literally drop everything to make it work. I know I’m not guaranteed to get in, but I won’t count it out. I if I did, I’d hate to have to cancel my vacation or simply leave my current job without giving my boss a two weeks notice. Is the process really that short notice? If anyone has knowledge on local 481 specifically, that would be great.

Just received the my acceptance letter! Excited to get started.

In the letter it said the next steps could take up to 6 months, does it actually take that long? Curious how long these next steps will be.

Any advice/tips on what to expect?

Traveling to a data center about 2.5 hours away, going to be getting a hotel, what do you guys think I should bring? Food wise and comfort wise

How do you deal with this situation when it arises? What is your survival strategy?

Hello all. I applied to IBEW Local 40 and finally got my ranking today. I am 24. Does anybody know if this is high enough to get in? Thank you all for any insight.

Right now I’m a first year apprentice working solo at the shop building shelves doing plumbing and all other things except electrical and I’d understand it if I was bad at it but I work hard learn quick and we just had a job start where a jman requested me personally and they told him no bc they didn’t wanna pay me the higher scale AIO or is this not right

I was about as green as you can possibly be when I started. I’ve learned a lot but i still feel really behind. My local slowed down a ton so I’ve spent a lot of time laid off. And I’ve also been out of work due to surgery before that. I haven’t gotten very lucky with work experience either. I have tried to be proactive asking for a rotation and different experience at jobs. Sometimes it just wasn’t an option. I don’t know what to do. I feel like I’m always going to be the first one let go because people expect me to know more than I do at this point. I’m about halfway through my apprenticeship. How can I recover this? Does anyone relate?

Good evening all

Just wondering when I receive my benefits. Is it after 450 working hours ? I’m new to union so still figuring things out and learning. Can’t really find a solid answer online. Thanks in advance

Local 353

I’m just asking how bad is it that I’m missing my pre employment orientation due to having to appear in criminal court?

I'm a JIW, but my brother wants to be in the low voltage program. The apprenticeship program talks about there being a "technician wage" and an "installer wage" after graduation. Wondering if any of you guys can shed some light on what the differences are? Since the tech wage is much higher, is there some sort of additional specialization involved? Thank you for any info.

I just started my first job in a plant, and within a week have had 3 different journeymen, contractor is spread thin. Has anybody else experienced this? I can’t help but wonder who will be completing my evaluations.

Throughout June/July, I got sick, traveled to to Cali to help my gf move in with me, then got sick again. Missed like 1-3 days a week for 3 weeks, then got better and worked a week, missed a week, worked a week and then missed one day last week, I got notified today I have to meet with the committee on Wednesday next week.

Should I be worried? I've been with the union/my current company since May 8th, and my foreman/contractor said they are happy with my work just I need better attendance which I'm taking steps to be healthier so I don't miss work.

“Trump administration is canceling a Biden-era effort to speed up power line construction in parts of Pennsylvania, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Nebraska and the Dakotas…”

I know lay offs come with the job don’t get me wrong but I can’t help but be upset about this one. I finally leveled up on wednesday, and it took me 3 years due to some personal and medical things and I was beyond proud of myself. my company (small commercial company) hired a lower level on thursday, then on friday im laid off for shortage of work. it sucks to feel like it was because I advanced my career and got a raise. there’s nothing I can do about it and I know that but it sucks a lot. I just got this job in june after I was laid off in feb due to the job ending (which makes sense), and I felt like things were falling into place for me finally but nope. i’m hopeful a job call will come out this week, it also sucks because if they laid me off the day before I would’ve had a new job already. I love my job and the work I do, but this constant 3 months employed, 3 months laid off, is exhausting, especially mentally as I worry about my bills constantly since the apprenticeship doesn’t pay all that well. also doesn’t help I just got rear ended twice in one week this month and need a new car that I now cannot afford. :( here’s to better times I guess.

shitty mf deals.

I’m a new first year apprentice in SoCal and been with a non union GC for a month. So far I’ve done 1 day of electrical related work. They keep telling me to be patient and the work is coming but it’s one set back after another.
I’ve already waited so long to get into the program.

It’s just me and a foreman on the site and he’s constantly complaining about how unorganized they and unsafe they are, but “the checks are cashing”. Im really eager to learn the trade and want more than just a paycheck.

Just been helping the laborers doing forms and grading, and it doesn’t feel right. The whole situation feels so ratty and disappointing. They haven’t sat me but they won’t lay me off. Any one have any suggestions or words of encouragement? Foreman says i can demand a layoff but “I will have to go in front of the committee and almost certainly will be dropped from the program”, which I obviously don’t want to do.

I have my interview next week for the S&C apprenticeship program in NorCal San Leandro and I was wondering how long did it take for them to reach back to y’all about being accepted in for an orientation? I know it’s different for everybody based on score and ranking but I’m just curious to know based off other people’s experience.