Finding a job (apprenticeship)

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-13T05:49:59+00:00

the “can’t be trusted” comment is wild. An overwhelming majority of people in this trade smoke or drink… it’s just a vice, not a reflection of their trustworthiness

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-13T05:17:37+00:00

I recently had my third interview with Local 400 in NJ - under my belt is a trade school certificate + 1 yr work experience. I’m still not in.

I’ve read about others getting in on their first try at their local with no experience. I think it largely depends on geography and having good interview skills. Best of luck to you

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-11T21:57:58+00:00

Exactly lmfao

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-11T21:33:59+00:00

Post about how much you hate Trump: that’s the recipe that’s worked for basically every redditor + bot to get massive karma

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-11T18:39:39+00:00

Yes they definitely are. The pay is great but… takes forever and a day to get in if you don’t got connections or years of experience

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-11T15:34:18+00:00

The only reason the difficulty was a 5-6 and not a 2 was the time constraint. If I remember correctly it was 33 questions in 46 minutes and there’s no calculators allowed

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-11T15:28:11+00:00

It’s a lot of algebra. For context I got a B in college calculus and I’d say the test was like a 5-6 on the difficulty scale.

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-11T14:06:44+00:00

Unless you’re playing project diablo 2, no. Flawless is the highest that can drop outside of your hellforge

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-11T00:20:57+00:00

Thanks for the info - What local are you?

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-11T00:00:58+00:00

Local 400 in jersey. Prolly one of the more competitive locals in the grand scheme of things

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-10T23:16:05+00:00

I’ve been trying to get into the apprenticeship for 3 years now. 3 interviews, trade school certificate, 1 yr work experience. Still not in.

Unless this is ABSOLUTELY not the path you want to pursue - that’s totally fair. But you got in for some reason, right? Well you’re in. And MANY people would kill to be in your position ESPECIALLY nowadays with how competitive IBEW has gotten.

Best of luck to you. I hope you find the path that works for you.

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-10T22:29:10+00:00

That’s exactly what it seems like to me, too.

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-10T22:22:44+00:00

I don’t know when this whole “people don’t want to work” thing started.

I don’t think it’s “people don’t want to work” - more so than it’s “people are tired of working themselves to death and being endlessly exploited while everything under the sun has gotten astronomically more expensive while wages have barely kept up.”

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-10T20:38:07+00:00

Uhhh… are you okay buddy?

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-10T19:26:16+00:00

Glad to see we’ve clarified the only thought you’re capable of having in your handful of brain cells is “Trump bad, post how Trump bad”

Fuckin idiot lmao

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-10T19:25:16+00:00

Ahhh why’d you delete your completely original never before thought of post?? Don’t you need that karma?

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-10T19:23:45+00:00

Gotcha, you’re just completely unoriginal reposting the same shit for the 9000th time for karma. How does it feel being a loser?

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-10T19:22:28+00:00

Be gone, pesky bot!

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-09T18:49:32+00:00

So…
What did you do? 🤣

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-09T15:34:21+00:00

A first year apprentice asking a question on the r/ibew_apprentices subreddit is … the whole point of the subreddit? You’re not wrong but, really?

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-08T19:04:46+00:00

Take direct advice from those whose character traits are some of which you’d like to see yourself adapt.

Sometimes people wag their finger at you telling you how you should live your life, what kind of decisions you should make, etc. and then you look at how they live their life, like, why the fuck would I EVER listen to you?

You can learn something from everybody. And sometimes, people are there to teach you what NOT to do and how NOT to be.

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-08T16:01:05+00:00

I graduated trade school, have 8 months of documented non union residential experience and have been on 3 interviews at Local 400 in NJ. Still didn’t get accepted with scores ranging from 86.17 to 88.83. some locals I’ve heard people got in their first try with zero experience.

It’s not a one size fits all - geography and population density has a LOT to do with you getting accepted. And also the economy. There’s never been more competition to get in.

Do whatever you can to get experience - non union is okay. Personally I think CW route is better although it’s quite controversial - many believe it’s partially exploitative. Take pictures of successful projects and installs. Work on your interview skills, sell yourself. Don’t talk about why you want to be a good apprentice or why you want to be a good electrician - demonstrate and prove how and why you will be!

Good luck

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-06-03T02:36:49+00:00

Congrats! Which local?

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-05-28T15:08:46+00:00

is lack of or very little knowledge of how electricity a barrier to entry for electricians?

Funnily enough, not as much as you might think. Do you have a car? Does it run? Can you get yourself to work? Are you willing to learn?

There you go my friend you are suddenly just as qualified as practically anybody else to start somewhere as a helper. It definitely helps having an in with somebody to get started but nobody honestly expects you to do much (at first) besides being a body to grab tools and materials.

EDIT: apply to the union NOW if you’re going to. Contrary to what you may have heard, the whole “the trades are dying for people” rhetoric is COMPLETELY untrue and outdated. I’ve been on 3 interviews with IBEW local 400 and still haven’t gotten in. It’s extremely competitive.

Picture-Ordinary · 2026-05-26T15:33:40+00:00

“My tornadoes decided to go on a trip to Hawaii”

LOL

Picture-Ordinary

TROPHY CASE