Interviewing for Apprenticeship - Electrician

Hey all,

I made the decision to change job fields. I have an interview coming up for an apprenticeship for a Journeyman Electrician at my local electrical program/school. Any tips on what to prepare for or maybe study for beforehand? I was planning on reading up on electrical theory and the basics of electricity. I took my NCRC and had decent scores so I think that will help.

I’m super excited for this upcoming change (hopefully soon). The goal is to obtain my license and finish my bachelors degree and move onto a Master Electrician down the road.

Thanks for any tips or pointers all!

 

I'm also interviewing for an apprenticeship. I was told to get CPR/First Aid & OSHA 10 Construction Certificate before hand. Also some construction experience may help. Best of luck to you!

 

Having a CDL helps getting onto the power companies around my way

 

Hey guys, I have an upcoming interview this coming Wednesday for the Utah ETA for the electrical apprenticeship program. I was curious with how did your interviews go and what kind of questions did they ask you?

 

Look into high voltage as a move to make the real money once you become a jouneymen. Do everything you need to get into high voltage if you want to make the real money. A good friend works as a sub station technician and travels all over inspecting substations making $120 an hour with a $500 a month car allowance. If he goes out of town on a job he get $150 per hour and $75 a day per diem. Good for you for getting into the trades there's not enough of you out there these days

 

My apprenticeship interview they had some ohms law questions as well as dc and ac motor theory questions....also had some binary and resistor codes thrown in. However I was an intern here and had schooling. For my intern interview it was just basic symbols and explains what the symbols were on the blueprint. some questions about how a relay or contractor work, some stuff about safety and some ohms law as well. This was for an industrial electrician position.

 

I had very basic questions. You can literally google electrician apprenticeship questions and those were the exact ones they asked me, they used an online script. Having said that, I scored 89/100, and got a letter saying a score bed low 90/100 is not likely to receive an apprenticeship offer within a year. I have zero experience or knowledge as I’m in a totally different field (I did get a high score on my NCRC test) so I didn’t expect to be a top pick. I think what gives the edge is having a background in it already.
I figured if the demand is high enough like you hear everywhere, I’ll get a call back within the hear for an apprenticeship offer. Good luck to you!


Edit: If you know someone in the field ask them too. The facility maintenance guy at my work knows one of the head guys at the biggest electrical contractor in my area and offered to talk to him about me. They can pull anyone off the waiting list if they request, doesn’t matter how high or low you’re placed.

 

Thank you for the feedback and luck, i appreciate it! I'm looking at reddit discussions to prepare for those questions.

 

Union Stationary Engineer here.

My biggest recommendation to people looking to get into the trades is to understand that there are many people in your position now realizing the trades is a great way to make 100k+ a year, get the best benefits, and to be in a position of having to retire early because between your pension, 401k, ect. . . you stand to make more retired at 58 than to keep working.

So with that said. Your #1 job should be to learn as much as you can about the field your looking to get into. Your #2 job (that is equally and sometimes more important) is to try to build relationships with people in the field. Everyone from your instructor/teacher (who probably is personally friends with 10+ union shop bosses and employers) to the lady at the desk that takes your apprenticeship application (who's probably the sister of the #1 union business agent for that local). Having a real grasp of the knowledge and books of your trade will allow you to not bomb your job interview. But when it comes to union trade gigs, your not getting an interview unless you where recommended by someone.

Be on time. Be courteous. Be patient.

Best of luck!

For electrical apprentice questions id suspect they would want you to know OHMS Law - Describe/understand Volts/Amps/Resistance . 1,2, and 3 phase. AC vs DC. ect.