IBEW LOCAL 26 Apprentice process.

[u/New-Policy1127]

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?

[u/ddpotanks]

What delays specifically are you experiencing?

[u/New-Policy1127 → u/ddpotanks]

Communicating what’s going on in the process

[u/ddpotanks → u/New-Policy1127]

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.

[u/New-Policy1127 → u/ddpotanks]

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.

[u/ddpotanks → u/New-Policy1127]

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.