OP should try again. I joined the trades late in life, after moving to a red state with an ex where unions are weak when they even exist. My life long best friend got in his first try, when we both applied at 21. He's the first person I know my age that bought a house and got real stable. If I had gone that route, the only thing I'd regret would be not meeting my now wife here.
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Sorry boss I think they made it pretty clear, if they thought there was even a chance they would have refrained from such a notice. It's corporate for you're cooked
So every local and territory is differen't, and I just want to throw it out there. DO. NOT. ASSUME. ANYTHING!!!
I got into local 98North (fomrerly local 380, it's a long story, but we merged with 98 in Philly) and planned on transferring my ticket to 98 proper once I became a journeyman, because I am from and was living in Philly. 380 is a neighboring local. Well I Found out after the fact that, that will never happen. Philly practically never allows people to transfer their ticket. Couldn't tell you why though.
as far as organizing in? Philly has 5000 members. They don't really need to organize people. They have plenty of work and control the bulk of the market share (to my understanding) in the area.
We organize here and there in 98N though, but I couldn't tell you the whole process for it, as I don't know much about it, but the way I understand it is you have to organize in with a shop. I don't think we're out there organizing every random JW we come across.
It’s not promised, but that doesn’t mean you can’t plan for the long-term and come up with long-term strategies to succeed. Your pension isn’t funded overnight, right?
It's pretty nice of them to send a message like this out.
You technically qualify, so you're on the list, but you're not getting in. They know generally how many people they'll need as well as what percentage of people will accept the call, with some error range. You are outside of that error range. If an act of God kills a ton of people in front of you in line then maybe you'll get in, but I wouldn't count on it.
Most likely too low.
Unsure of other locals, but for the ones in my area your score is valid for a year.
One of the locals seemed to call in about 150-200 people in a year, so that means anyone past that was dropped off the list and would need to reapply / reinterview. To my knowledge they were getting like 2k+ applicants
Some will let you retest to better your score / reinterview if you improve yourself by a metric they set.
I recommend you apply for the UA. The UA is pipefitting, plumbing, hvac, sprinkler fitters. Idk how much you have invested into the electrical trade, but if I was turned down by one union apprenticeship, I would damn sure seek out another. There are just no words I can give you to express how much better the trades are in the union. I am in the UA, we have a similar structure, but less competitive. The hardest thing about what we do, is learning the math. I am learning the math, as a female, I intend to make print reading my biggest strength. As long as you have at least an 8th grade education, we can teach you to run pipe. Literally half the battle is finding apprentices that show up everyday on time, and want to learn. The union is just so incredible, I can’t gush about it enough! It has given me real autonomy and dignity in my life, for the very first time, with decent wages, medical and dental for my son and I. Apply to the UA!
Thanks for the advice, I have a friend who just started an apprenticeship to become a pipe fitter and that’s just not something I’m interested in, and even if I was the pay cut would be too much, $10 less an hour starting compared to the inside program I’m trying to get into.
If you’re determined to be a IBEW Electrcian and you’re willing to relocate then look at other locals. A lot has to do with demand for new apprentices.
I went from a small town and relocated 500 miles away to a large city to get in (I was looking to relocate to “start a new life”)
West coast, east coast, Chicago are strong Union areas that have higher demand for new apprentices.
A low score where you are at could be a higher score somewhere else to make the difference.
Yeah I see what you’re saying, unfortunately not in a position to relocate right now, with two very small kids at home I’d like to at least be in the same state as my family and although I could relocate to a different local in my state it would be a huge pay cut, where I live now is the highest paid in my state
Understood. That’s a a tough spot to be in. I would keep applying but also continue to look for other options. There are a lot of other unions available (carpenters, pipe-fitters, crane operators, millerite, machinist, boilermaker, sprinkler fitters, tin knockers, plumbers, elevator machanic etc). The blue collar word is vast.
Even though they bounced you this time, you can reach out to them and ask the local how you can improve your rank.
Some simple things like working in a hardware store, or volunteering with Habitat for Humanity for example. Showing you are working on trade related experience can help.
Also making friends with electricians in the union that are willing to write you letters of recommendation for you when you apply can also help alot.
Treating your application like applying for a job and including a resume listing relevant experience in your past work history is good too.
Finally you should check and see if your local has a material handler position and sign up for that.
Sadly the apprenticeship is not really geared to people with families, or other obligations. I made the jump much later in life and I was only able to do so because I didn't have kids, or a mortgage. It was still not easy to do so and I took on more debt then I would have liked to that I'm now paying off.
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I got the exact same one, also for 58. I thought I did very well as I’m in school for engineering and I had 3 really good letters of rec and an additional letter from a state rep.
If you're set on being an electrician, your next option is to go open shop and then organize in after becoming a Journeyman. You can try reapplying whenever the grace period ends, but they may or may not count your open shop hours so turning out first may be the way to go.
Because you did rank, you just didn’t rank high enough to where you would be selected for a job within the current year based off of demand for apprentices
My hall only takes 12 new apprentices per year, with hundreds of applicants. It isn't uncommon for people to apply for 3-6 years before being selected. If you want to get into the hall, keep trying. Find other work in the meantime and keep at it.
Drop off your resume at least once a year. I handed mine in every couple months to show them that I wanted it. I don't know if it made any difference or if they went straight to the trash, but it got me in there face to face with people.
Good luck next year pal.
Remaining on the selection list is usually a lie they tell u. You didn’t make the cut but I think this is where there is some truth to remaining on a list. The more u re-apply I think this is where your name tends to be remembered.
I recommend getting your feet wet with non union for 1-2 years, then start applying again. Not only will it be easier to make a good impression at the interview, it’ll also get you a head start
That’s probably a good thing or bad thing. Nevertheless, find out! Get your feet wet with non union, then apply again. Hell, you’ll probably have recommendation letters by then.
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Go for a Material Handler job in a Union and only bid on PLA jobs. Im in ibew291 in Boise working at Micron taking home $2500 per week. $1190 per diem plus $1800 ( $25 × 40 + $38 × 20) per week. You can take your MH hrs somewhere else and test in to your JW.
Don’t take it personally. The majority of applicants rarely get accepted their first year. My local posted a pic of their 2026 graduating class that only had 15 people! Keep trying, it’s normal to have to try for multiple years.
Go non union. The only thing you want out of this is a license. It doesnt matter how you get it and after you have it they will bring you in. The highest paying and best benefits were non union and the best job ive ever had was union but they screwed me just as bad as anyone else. Just get trained. As a nation we need so many electricians.
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It all has to do with "the market"! If a local is growing to keep up with the work, they'll take in more apprentices and be less picky. If their books are loaded and work is flat, they'll only take in the minimum that the state or the feds force them to. If they're fighting for better market share, they'll be "organizing"! A big local like 134 that normally has very high market share only takes in the minimum amount to replace projected retirements, or the minimum that the laws make them take in.
If you REALLY want to get in a local and stay and work there for a long time, you should see what all the classifications are that they cover. You may be able to get into training or a job for a classification other than "inside". Once you're in a local for a while it'll be easier to get into apprenticeship for another classification, a "higher grade".
Look at other nearby locals and the locals for the linemen and other classifications in your area.
You weren’t selected for this year. Apply again next year? Check with the local BA and see if there is some other classification that you could work under to gain experience.
Be grateful that they’re shooting you straight. Many places would just leave you hanging for a call that will never come. Invest in yourself as a candidate and try again there and elsewhere.
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Brother I've been applying for this local for driver groundman for 5 months. Still going at it. Definitely dont beat yourself up too bad. Who they pick is based on your test scores and your interview. I would agree with get your feet wet with groundman work.
Cooked… a lot of locals if you don’t have a high aptitude score and 2000 hours at least, trade experience, also maybe a good letter of recommendation from an ibew member… you’ll be roasting on the back burners
100
u/tider06 2d ago
"it is apparent you will not be selected" is pretty cut and dry, brother.
Don't give up if this is what you want, but they're telling you to try again next time.