Some along the lines of:
What sort of experience you have
Why you want to be an electrician

They are not going to ask you about Ohms law, how to bend pipe, read a print, etc.

 

And the question that I did not have to study for when I applied for my apprenticeship.:thumbsup:

Question: Who is Norman _ _ _ _ _?

Wrong answer: I do not know :no:

Right answer: He is my uncle :whistling2:

 

Don't worry, be happy !

Any future employer is looking for a new hire who is presentable, alert, has a little appitude, and sends the message that he will be reliable. You do not have to know squat about the job for which you are applying.

IBEW training will set you up for life.

Best Wishes Everyone in 2008

 

Turn up early
do not chew gum
be pleasant
wash/shave/teeth clean
do not reek of tobacco
do not ask about holidays/days off etc. Nothing worse than interviewing somebody who is more intested about when they do not have to work than when they do
take any qualifications that you have that may be relevant
speak clearly, head up! don't mutter into your shoes

Well that's what I look for anyway:thumbup:


most important....imagine that the interviewers are all sat on toilets behind the desk. It takes the edge off things:whistling2:

Good luck

 

What Trimix-leccy said!

Tri,

Kind'a difficult to instill those concepts into pups, isn't it?

Glad to be out of the loop . . .

Best Wishes Everyone in 2008

 

It appears to be prevalent amongst the younger generation; poor diction.
I am 51 [in my eyes not old] One of the lads [22 years old] that I dive with regularly last year got a 1st Class Honours Degree in Quantum Physics, he is now being fully funded [ie he gets paid for it!!] on a combined Masters /Ph.D........so he is not thick! I cannot understand a word he says! [not the context, but the actual words coming out of his mouth!!]

I have to get himto repeat everything 3 times, and he is constantly chewing.
Not a smoker though!!!!

 

"Does that still hold any water these days in your local?"

Lawn,

Since I went rat (27 years) been kind'a out of the loop on the "Who is Norman" quiz. Will you enlighten me?

Best Wishes Everyone in 2008

 

Like you have been told by others: show up early, clean, and neat. No ass hanging pants, funky board shorts or odd colored hair. Leave the nose rings or other silver masses home. No ebonics or street mumbo jumbo. And don't gasp when they ask........How do you feel about random drug testing?

 

It helps to not have a tattoo crawling up your neck as well.

 

High:
in the 70's (same local you are taliking about I bet) I was told not asked, you have no family in this local have you considered becoming a plumber SERIOUSLY!

 

Hey Big R.... When they ask you "what do you think an electrician does in a days work" the IMPROPER answer is: install light fixtures, put up conduit, pull wire, install plugs and light switches.

THe PROPER answer is: They use shovels to dig trenches, use saws and conduit benders to install conduit, use scaffolding and ladders to get where they cant reach. They crawl under houses and in hot attics, they usually work in the elements... etc you see what im getting at? I just had a friend get into the IBEW, and he failed the first time because he answered the improper way - the table of like 15 guys interviewing you want to make sure you know what an electrician does before they let you in, they dont want you to think an electrician plays with wires all day and does nothing else, then you find out it is a hard job and drop out.

Good luck man!

~Matt

 

5150 has it. I interviewed right around 2000 and I made it sound like we defused bombs while carrying crates of fittings inside of trenches full of water that was too muddy to see through. Man, if you think that trimming switches (or tell them you think this) is the height of electrical prowess, you WILL be turned away. I was honest, I told them that yes, the money was a factor, I knew that I would be slingling rigid in a trench, and working on 40 ft. lifts. Be realistic and up front. That is all ANYONE can ask. Good Luck!:thumbsup:

 

Big R

The best answer to ANY question is: "I am willing to do what ever it takes to get the job done" and look them directly in the eye when you say it.

Good Luck and enjoy the ride that has not yet begun. :thumbsup:

 

Big R

The best answer to ANY question is: "I am willing to do what ever it takes to get the job done" and look them directly in the eye when you say it.

Yes, and for some that is the best LIE they will tell. Once hired, it seems, the younger generation can't remember that they actually said--

Big R

The best answer to ANY question is: "I am willing to do what ever it takes to get the job done" and look them directly in the eye when you say it.

And they say I have "CRS." "Can't Remember Stuff"

 

Ok I give, Who is Norman?

 

Norman WAS my uncle. Back then you had to know someone influential or had to have relative in the local in order to get into the IBEW apprenticeship program. In 1972 there was a very high demand to get into the apprenticeship program because of the Vietnam War. If you were in an “approved” apprenticeship program you were deferred from being drafted. I did not make it because my uncle Norman was not as influential as someone else’s Uncle and I got drafted. When I got out I applied again and was accepted because of my uncle Norman (with a little more influence this time) and my military experience.

 

Your old uncle Norman? He was superintendent for ABC lighting for a while, but now he's running work for Huff 'n Puff Electric. You guys go waaaaay back.

 

"Trimix-leccy
51 years old and a Junior"

Tri,

I'll see your 51, and raise you by 12!

Believe we are fighting an uphill battle with those youngsters.

I visited a Burger King 'restaurant' recently for one of their deathburgers. Was greeted by a nice young counterman, repleat with somekind'a eyebrow and lip decorations. When he greeted me I saw sumpthing shinney in the middle of his tongue? Made me feel creepy. Only thing I left the store with was a bad taste in my mouth, even without that burger . . .

I guess hiring managers everywhere now-a-days are strapped by so many regs that they must deal with what they are 'brung', and hire some of 'em.

Glad To Be Gone.

Best Wishes Everyone in 2008

 

"in the 70's (same local you are taliking about I bet) I was told not asked, you have no family in this local have you considered becoming a plumber SERIOUSLY!"

Well don't leave me hang'in . . .
Were you indentured into Local 2_ (_ pronounced to rhyme with six), or did you apply some where else. In retrospect, I should have stayed in D.C. Good men there . . .

My hindsight is 20-20, just like everyone else Monday morning !

Best Wishes Everyone in 2008

 

IMO:

Be neat and presentable.
Answer all questions honestly.
Do not BS the interviewers.
Do not give more information than necessary, do not talk to much.
Be polite.
Hope for the best.

 

well, here in tenn we dont have that hard of a time at it. but the union in the south is nothing like it is up north. just have to show up here and act like you are interested in the job. but dont sweat it. and good luck

 

Thanks for the tips and keep them coming if you got them. I do have a strong desire to work in the electrical field -lol. I actually had applied and taken the aptitude test last spring and was set up for an interview but I had just taken a job with the Postal Service and wasn't able to make it. I know being an apprentice kind of has connotations of being real young (i.e. just out of high school) and I will be turning 27 next month - I hope that isn't a negetive in the eyes of the committee.

 

Actually that is a real positive.

Young enough to not question your ability to do the grunt work and old enough to appreciate the opportunity of the training.

One last tip:
If your hands aren't already calloused up from work... do something about that. If REAL short of time... mix up some sakcrete by hand the night before. Serious.

Good luck with it.

 

Wear a dress shirt, pants and tie. Be respectful, polite, but most importantly, let them know that you have a burning desire to be an electrician, and you will do fine.

 

The degree of difficutly on the apptitude test surprises me for apprentice application at our local.

click the blue link "apptitude test"

I'm not stupid, but I couldn't pass walking in cold.

http://www.ibew692.org/index.cfm?zone=/unionactive/view_page.cfm&page=Apprenticeship20Info

 

High Wire:

Missed your question, I worked open shop, got all my masters and got in the back door.

 

A lot of good post on this one. I just went through the process of interviewing 15 wanna be industrial electricians. The kid that won out was the one that used the earlier mentioned line "whatever it takes to get the job done". The good thing was that he qualified that statement by adding "...safely and by the book."

I'm always afraid of hiring some hero that ends up getting himself or others killed by taking a shortcut. The priorities I set with both the plant and my electrical contracting are: (1) Safety, safety, safety (2) Do it right and by the book (NEC) the first time (I don't care how long it takes) (3) If you don't know, don't guess - ASK.

Good luck on the interviews.

 

I am going on my interview tonight... very nervous right now! When you don't go on an interview in so many years it's pretty nerve racking! Big R, where are you located? I an in Upstate NY - Local 910. I will be sure to tell them I am related to Norman!!! :laughing:


In all seriousness, there is some great advice here. I am glad I found it!

 

I'm in Minneapolis, MN area.

 

Well, I had my interview yesterday and am pretty confident I did well. I think I really nailed it towards the end when they asked about my current employment and the possibility of getting called for work on short notice, and I told them that it was a concern, but like with every problem there is a solution... just have to look hard enough to find it.


They all nodded theirs heads in unison agreeing with me.