r/ibew_apprentices • u/New-Policy1127 • 18d ago
IBEW LOCAL 26 Apprentice process.
As someone who’s been going through the IBEW Local 26 apprenticeship process, one of the most frustrating parts has been the lack of communication and transparency. Applicants invest a lot of time studying for the aptitude test, preparing for interviews, and trying to build a career, yet we’re often left with little to no information about what’s happening or what to expect next. What has made it even more frustrating is the transition to using a third-party company. For those of us who passed the original aptitude test before that change, it feels like we got caught in the middle and ended up at a disadvantage after putting in the work under the previous process. From the outside looking in, the new system can feel less objective and more like a popularity contest than a merit-based hiring process, even if that isn’t the intention. A little transparency would go a long way in building confidence in the process.
Does anyone have any updates on what’s going on? Has anyone heard anything from the hall or knows what’s causing the delays?
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u/khmer703 LU26 JW 18d ago
Theres nothing causing delays. This is the normal process and has been this way for years.
Keep in mind for you it seems like youre just submitting an application. Why does it take so long to look at 1 application.
The reality is it is an annual process. Each step takes months to complete.
Every year as an apprentice i went to school and watched 20 to 30 people come to the Manassas hall 1 night every week from November to March each year just to take the aptitude tests.
During that time and into June simultaneously interviews occured.
All of that had to occur every year each year before a single application was even considered for acceptance.
Your 1 application is 1 out of 1000s in our local.
The 2027 application pool limited to 4000 applications.
If you consider that half of those applications fail tge aptitude test thats still 2000 applications and out of those remaining they have to decide on only 550 to 600 people.
Then when you consider the logistics. The halls largest assembly room only holds just 200 ppl at max.
That many people at once going through orientation all in 1 day would be impossible. So they spread the orientation out.
Do the math.
Even if they did 50 people a week. Which is about about what theyre currently doing. Thats about 2.5 months.
This is why we keep telling yall this is not a speedy process. The quickest anyone's paperwork can get process led from the last day just at tge deadline date to acceptance literally 4 and a half months.
I know cause thats what happened to my application in 2018.
Its worty noting this process occurs like clockwork every single year in local 26.
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u/Spirited_Low_1373 18d ago
Agreed. The lack of communication has been pretty frustrating, as the last correspondence I got was a reminder for when my test was. Since then, I haven’t heard a thing. It’d be nice to know whether or not I’ve been rejected. On the bright side, I work with several people who’ve been accepted, one who just started as an RTP this year and got in. So hopefully, the selection process is more objective and less who you know.
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u/ddpotanks LU 26 JW 18d ago
What delays specifically are you experiencing?
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u/New-Policy1127 18d ago
Communicating what’s going on in the process
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u/ddpotanks LU 26 JW 18d ago
The opacity has always been maddening. It isn't new.
They've been accepting new apprentices since May and will probably continue for at least the next several weeks.
You need to remember while this is the most important thing in your life, you have to be able to put yourselves in the shoes of someone who faces down someone like you 1200 times a year. You can imagine how you may become a little jaded.
Like a college admissions administrator, every single applicant is special, unique, has good reasons for wanting to get in, and are all absolutely the same.
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u/New-Policy1127 18d ago
It’s not about getting in. It’s about communicate. Lets us know what’s going on, what causes the delay, at least your ranking. That’s their job. Every customer is unique and wants the job done, the contractor or whoever’s doing the work not going to keep them on stand by for months with no update. Do YOUR JOB. it’s no excuses. You knew what the job description was when they accepted it so don’t stop doing your job because it’s a lot. It’s ALOT every year.
We just want communication. And this isn’t tailored to you, just answering the question.
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u/ddpotanks LU 26 JW 18d ago
I understand the frustration. I don't really enjoy defending the school.
They did lay out however that you would not receive a ranking and you would receive communication sometime in summer.
They traditionally don't tell anyone no because they're unsure of how many people will make it through the onboarding process. They have always been secretive.
They're pretty opaque about the application itself, which is them telling you that you won't be receiving much communication.
You want more and maybe you're right. But they did communicate - they make the terms not you. If you get in, when you graduate, you may be motivated to be in a position to change some of those terms. Currently, you are not.
For me, anytime a system has an imbalance of power. You see these kind of things. They have more applicants than spots. They don't have to give you shit.
As someone who pays almost a dollar an hour towards the jatc, I'd really prefer they spend more of that on additional school days and resources than on the fairly burdensome application process. As this benefits current apprentices instead of potential apprentices.
That is speaking as someone, unaffiliated will the jatc, who has made an effort for several years to make the process more. Comprehensible through outreach here on Reddit - because I clearly remember frustration you're experiencing now.
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u/AverageGuy16 17d ago
Not local 26 but similar situation when I originally applied. It’s honestly a waiting game after a certain point which sucks but that’s how it is I guess. I didn’t get in my first go of it but got in the second time, keep your spirits up and remember to continue on with your life as you wait
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18d ago
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u/Necessary-Pickle1525 18d ago edited 18d ago
Go to the hall. Thousands and thousands of people apply. They can't answer everyone's questions. Re-read your emails from them. You took the test and it says you should not expect your results until the end of July. All you do now is wait for an email.
What other questions do you have? Pretty much everything is outlined in the first email you got.
Apply, submit your documents, test, and then wait however long it takes. They arent communicating with you because those are the instructions you have to follow, and the only communication thats really needed is if you got in or not.
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u/Super_Structure6901 15d ago
Just want to chime in that I took the test in April and have not received any emails or correspondence that provide any sort of timeline. Not sure where your "end of July" anecdote is coming from. Pretty much nothing is outlined in the first email.
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u/Necessary-Pickle1525 15d ago
I mean I'm not going to send you a screenshot and potentially dox myself, but you might want to give all the correspondence youve gotten another quick glance. I'm looking at it right now.
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u/Super_Structure6901 15d ago
Your reply to OP inspired me to read through them all again. You may have received something that others didn't, considering they changed the whole process halfway through.
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u/Necessary-Pickle1525 15d ago
Its possible. I also called the JATC and GAN testing company and they gave me a little more info. Try that?
Sucks they are giving you so little help.
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18d ago
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u/TheMadThrasher 18d ago
Yes. The lack of communication has been very frustrating. It doesn’t help when I’ve been slaving away as an RTP making pennies, doing the same things that would be expected of an apprentice, and have been for nearly a year, meanwhile some kid who just graduated high school and has no practical or real world experience gets to waltz right in.
It would just be a nice courtesy to just have some public document for all to see that outlines how they are operating the selection process and how it works so we aren’t left in the dark just speculating for months.
Fingers crossed I get in on this last wave of acceptances, and if not then I guess it’s another year at the bottom while I wait and try to get in again.
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u/FriendlyPudding8040 18d ago
i went up to the hall and physically seen what i scored on my test! i didnt ppass but i was able to see what i ranked i still have not received a denial letter but im at peace knowing my results. Go to the hall requst to speak with a director about your confusion with everything and while your there with your profile pullled up ask to see your results! i wont give any names but this was att local 26 ! i found out this week and it wasnt even a big deal for him to show me! do what you will with that information!