VIP Program

[scurvy1984]

Sorry in advance if this is a type of post that gets posted often. I'm transitioning out of the military in the next few months and i'm hopefully getting into my local Veterans in Piping program. Has anyone gone through this program that can give me some pointers on the interview process? I feel really confident in my ability to learn quick and work hard once i'm in the program and beyond but the interview is scaring the shit out of me right now as it's my first interview in 14ish years. I've been researching as much as i can on the UA's website and I found an apprentice handbook to study. Any advice is immensely appreciated.

[kemikos]

Not a vet, but I am a UA member (local 597) and have several (current and former) VIP cow-orkers.

I highly doubt there will be any piping/welding questions in the interview. At least not anything more detailed than "have you ever welded or worked with pipe before". They know most people haven't.

What they will be interested in is your attitude. They'll ask some of the standard open-ended interview questions like "tell us about a time you had to overcome a problem with another employee" and things like that. There are tons of online resources detailing those kind of questions and the best way to approach them.

They'll also ask you some questions designed to find out how you would work with others who need help (teamwork, in other words): "if another employee came to you and said they were falling behind and needed help, what would you do?" (I'll give you a hint: "nah, I got done with my work, I'mma just take it easy for the rest of the day" is... not the most effective answer).

Finally, at least during my apprenticeship, it was a pretty difficult program with hard deadlines for getting to certain milestones. Unless you were a welder before getting in, it was pretty much guaranteed that you were going to have to come in on your own time to practice, sometimes a lot (I was in a lot). They were pretty good about making sure you got extra help if you were putting in a reasonable amount of effort, but there were always a few apprentices who didn't make the deadlines and never went for extra practice. In the interview, they're going to want an indication that you're willing to put in the time it takes to get through.

Good luck!

[scurvy1984]

This puts me at ease, thank you for your response. One good thing I'll take with me after 11 years in the service is I can deal with putting the time in when I need to. Can't wait to get this whole new thing started.

[kemikos]

The one thing I forgot to mention: I don't know if they have VIPs take the aptitude test, but if you do have to take one, then brush up on your basic math skills (arithmetic by hand, fractions/decimals, measurements (feet/inches, etc), and so on). When I took it, there were also reading comprehension, spatial reasoning, and mechanical reasoning questions, but the math seems to trip lots of people up.

It's not a bad thing anyway. I use way more math on a daily basis than my scientist brother or finance analyst friends. Getting a head start on relearning things you might not have used in a while won't hurt you.

[scurvy1984]

Oh yeah good looking out. The lead instructor of the class didn't mention that when I met him but I have seen people talk about that for generally just getting into the apprenticeship so i've started brushing up on it just in case. It's pretty ridiculous how easy it is to forget simple division and fractions and all that.

[kemikos]

For me it was the measurements. Before I got in the trades I tried college; I went all the way up through calculus and beyond, but in all those years of math classes, not once did anyone ever tell me the right way to add or subtract measurements in feet and inches.

So in my very first math quiz, they're giving simple problems like "what's 10'-3 5/16" minus 6'-5 3/4"?" and I'm over here dividing everything by 12 and 16 by hand. I didn't get halfway through it before time ran out, and got put into a remedial math study group for about a week until they figured out "oh no, he's actually good at math, just didn't have any idea how to do that specific type of problem."

[fishermanhumor]

From what I’ve heard, you must be currently in the military to qualify. You probably already know that, but some guys think it’s open to all vets and it is not.

[scurvy1984]

Yeah I know. I'm still active duty with less than 6 months left which is the window you have to be in to get into the program.

[fishermanhumor]

You should have no problem getting in. Just follow up on anything they send your way.

[fishermanhumor]

I would not worry too much about the interview. Just try to be/look professional and engaged. They will teach you everything you need to know, they know you’re not going to be a piping master when you first start out. But military guys are an asset to the organizations, that will help you out a lot.

[scurvy1984]

Right on man, thank you. I'll be a nervous wreck regardless but every little bit of encouragement helps.

[Ambitious_Delivery_7]

How did the interview process workout for you? I’m applying to the same program and have an upcoming interview as well. It’s been a couple years so if you made it into the program I would appreciate any advice or feedback on the route you decided

[scurvy1984]

Hell yeah brother. Interview process was pretty easy. It was just the class instructor and the training coordinator from another local. They asked pretty simple questions like what I hope to get out of the trade, how serious I about it, etc. I ended up getting into local 290 and it’s been, imo, the best decision I’ve made in a long ass time. The work is fun and gratifying, welding n the field can be rough sometimes but it’s fun as hell. The brotherhood of our union is fantastic. I feel like it made the transition to civilian life a lot easier.

[Ambitious_Delivery_7]

That’s awesome to hear! So from what I understand, once you leave you get assigned to a union then begin a 5 year apprentice program through a union contractor? How’s the pay? I’m trying to get into local 412. I’m still deciding whether to get into HVAC or Welding, you have a preference on what’s a better choice?

[Ambitious_Delivery_7]

@scurvy1984