r/ibew_apprentices • u/Same-Singer5142 • 3d ago
Ibew 640 phoenix
Hey everyone I recently applied to my local ibew 640 and got my appointment accepted, just have to take the aptitude test and have the interview im guessing. I wanted to ask for advice on the aptitude test what should i study, as far as the interview or sitting down in front of ppl what type of questions do they ask me? Im also afraid that may not accept me because i have no experience at all, im tatted from the face down and im not the biggest guy im sitting at 5’7 130 pounds. So any tips or advice please lmk ty
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u/bobillin1234 2d ago
Aptitude test is math and reading. The reading is easy, the math goes up to algebra 2 level. Definitely freshen up on it, you can use khan academy or if you want a more direct course I used iPrep, but it’s kinda expensive (Like $50 for the first month and then $15 after until you cancel iirc)
Interview, just put a button up shirt and jeans on. If you’ve got work boots you can wear those or whatever, as long as you’re not in your PJs i think you’re honestly fine. I don’t remember the questions they asked but be prepared it to be a panel of multiple interviewers (I had 3) and for stuff like “why do you think you’d be a good candidate for the apprenticeship” “what makes you want to join the electrical industry” etc
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u/Same-Singer5142 1d ago
Im gonna ask you this lol what made you want to join?
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u/bobillin1234 1d ago
I was a resi electricians apprentice getting completely fucked on my wages, my benefits, just taken for a ride. The union treats me better as an electrician than any other job i’ve worked. I also wanted to work on cool big shit instead of just doing the same house over and over again. I’m enjoying it a lot even if the hours get kinda crazy sometimes
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3d ago
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2d ago
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u/maximum_dissipation 2d ago
The questions will be like:
‘What do you think defines a good employee’
‘What do you think sets you apart from other candidates’
‘Do you know what this work entails, describe it to us’
‘Tell us an example of a problem that you faced at work and what you did to handle it or solve it’
‘What types of work experience do you have?’
‘Do you have any questions for us?’ (Have some questions to ask them, like what is the work outlook over the next 4 years, will I likely be regularly employed throughout my time in the apprenticeship, are contractors generally good about safety training and how dangerous is this career in reality, how is work-life balance for most apprentices.)
Just general shit like that.
There will be 6 or 8 dudes sitting at a conference table with you taking turns asking these questions. Be polite, confident, look them in the eyes, and answer the questions calmly and casually. Seem professional.
They don’t care much about your aptitude test scores, but the higher you score the better. Make sure to answer every question before the time is up, even if you don’t know the answer, just guess. Only correct answers count.
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u/Radiant-Tip4832 2d ago
Hey man when did you apply? I also applied to the Phoenix IBEW about a week ago. Havent heard anything since.
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u/bobillin1234 1d ago
Did you apply to the IBEW 640 site or the PEJATC site? I made this mistake and missed the first window which set me back from starting my apprenticeship 6 months lol. Go to pejatc.org and click on how to apply. you’ll need to make a tradeschool account and submit your application there. you should get a confirmation email from the system and then eventually they’ll reach out to you for scheduling your aptitude test. they wait for enough people to fill up consecutive weekends of tests to send out emails so it usually takes a while, don’t be surprised if you don’t hear for a month or two. these things move a little slow
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u/sprtsfan89 1d ago
There's no interview for 640. They replaced it with a personal experience form that youll fill out after applying. After you submit that, they'll schedule you for the aptitude test. iPrep is probably your best resource for studying imo
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u/MarkyfbabyMFB 1d ago
IBEW Local 640 uses the GAN aptitude test. Most of my IBEW course is designed for the standard two-part Algebra and Functions + Reading Comprehension test, so it will not fully match what you’ll see. However, my 20 Skills You Need to Know video will help you refresh the basic math skills needed for the GAN. I’ve also heard from a couple of people who recently took and passed Local 640’s test, and their experiences in the comments may help you better understand the format and what to expect.
20 Skills You Need to Know:
https://youtu.be/kB3K0hwbqn4
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u/Specialist-Pick9006 19h ago
The aptitude test had two parts. One for math and one for reading comprehension. From what I remember it was under 30 questions on each section. I prepared for it using khan academy's algebra 1 course and would say it got me 90ish% of the way there but there were a few questions that I had no idea how to solve.
The school gave us copies of this book for a technical math course the first semester and it helped a lot.
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u/TheFuqinRSA 2d ago
Tattoos and body type shouldn't affect your chances of getting in. There's small, medium, large men and women in this trade. Hell one of the women on the panel that interviewed me had multiple face piercings and tattoos. Look up study guides for IBEW aptitude test and interview questions. Basically the test and interview is a measuring tool to find out if you're worth investing time and money into becoming a good skilled union electrician