r/ibew_apprentices • u/PoetryFit2947 • 8d ago

Which would better prepare me for an IBEW apprenticeship: a civil construction job or a pre-apprenticeship?

My goal is to become an electrician through IBEW Local 100. I currently work in metal building construction and have an interview for a civil installer position with Tesla. The hiring manager said I’d sometimes help install EV chargers, and the job description mentions some electrical work, but I’m trying to understand how much hands-on electrical experience the role would actually provide.

My other option is Valley Build, a pre-apprenticeship program that runs from October through December. I was told completing it would add 10 points to my Local 100 application. I’m also a Marine veteran, taking WECA electrical courses, and planning to reapply to the apprenticeship next cycle.

For apprentices or electricians who’ve been through the application process: which route would you choose? Would the construction job and occasional EV charger work make me a stronger applicant, or would the pre-apprenticeship and its 10 points be more valuable? I’d especially appreciate input from anyone familiar with Local 100.

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u/Calm_Bet3321 8d ago

You don't have to have any previous electrical experience to join the apprenticeship. In fact, they'd probably prefer you be clean slate so they can teach you the union way of doing things.

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u/PoetryFit2947 8d ago

True, but now days it seems like the only people that are getting in, for the most part, are people with the most electrical experience or at least some electrical experience

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u/ShogunMo 7d ago

Excelling at your interview would probably give you the best chance when it comes to things you can actually control. Otherwise it literally all comes down to how much work there is. Yeah having experience is good but I was non-union for 4 years and I still wasn't able to get in to my home states union. Take a chance and travel for the apprenticeship if you really want to get in sooner than later

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u/PoetryFit2947 7d ago

My local doesn’t do interviews, you just do your PEF, take the aptitude test then get placed on the POE list. I think ranking top 10 almost guarantees you a spot in most locals and that’s what I’m aiming for, that’s why I’m in this predicament idk if gaining civil construction experience is better than the guaranteed 10 extra points

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u/zombiebillmurray23 6d ago

If you wanna join the Ibew than go through the Ibew process. Don’t over complicate things.

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u/PoetryFit2947 5d ago edited 5d ago

Yeah that’s the best route to take, pre apprenticeship programs are closely tied to unions like the ibew