ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Aptitude test for apprenticeship question

Wow, what a different market you live in, it must be nice.

The local here is lucky to get one qualified applicant and the contractors do most of the recruiting; we find them and send them in to get organized. Some of us even run our own code study and math classes to help out the intermediate journeymen, and other young men that have potential.

I remember when it was a country club and you had to know somebody to get in, but it seems like most young men are not interested in construction any more. The plumbers definitely have it worse; it’s not unusual to see whole plumbing crews with no one under 40 years old.

Just something to think about, the market may be working for you now, but one day the same people who you might think unqualified now, could look pretty good if the labor market changes for you.

When I was young man they union turned me away, now the count on me for work…its funny how things work out sometimes.

Thanks for all the input guys, i really appreciate it alot. Like i said i have a few years as an apprentice carpenter so that looks real good when i go in on may 14th to fill out my app for the electrical apprenticeship, i know how to work hard, use power tools, read a tape and have done well in all my carpenter apprenticeship classes and have a good head on my shoulders, maybe i'm stressing too much about the aptitude test, but i want to get in real bad, i feel the test is my only hurdle to be placed high on the list, so i need a great score.

Good luck.
The reading is straight forward. Read the whole section first, then look at the questions. The questions from the selected reading are usually about details. Just try to remember where information is in the reading that way you can refer back when you answer the questions. I can tell from your post that you shouldn't have too much trouble from the reading portion.

The math is a little more difficult. Besure to know fundamentals like substitution and transposition. Refresh on graphic equations, especially the linear ones. There are only a couple parabolic ones. The questions that threw me for a loop were the ones that asked: 1, 17, 22, 34, which number comes next? That wasn't a real example so don't try and figure it out, but I tried to make it too complicated and the other guys who figured it said it was simple addition.

The real distinction is made in the interview. Dress nice, not like a douchebag, that is button-up shirt, slacks, belt, and decent shoes, shaved, haircut, you get the idea. Since you are already a union carpenter, you are probably made. But, take pictures of your best work and bring them in a folder along with a few other official looking items so they have something to look through at the interview. There are three questions they ask everyone, its been along time so I'll paraphrase: What are 3 qualities that make a good electrician? I say Quantity, Quality, and Attitude. Why should we accept you? I say because I will keep applying until you do. And there's one more but I forget it. The number one quality they are looking for is confidence.
Introduce yourself, common courtesy, etc.
The tests are just to screen-out, the real list is made off the interview.

One of the best electricians I ever worked for never even went to high school but could do trigonometry in his head. I've had nothing but the highest respect for hillbillies ever since. I am glad you are applying, us electricians have got to stick together.

ITO,

I don't think so. As the labor market gets tighter as is will do, then the wages go up to get the required people. If the wages are high enough you will get qualified people. Our JWs get %36.50 on the check and almost $15 an hour into the pension funds and another $9 for health insurance.
One issue we do have is that the school counselors do not like to refer qualified people to the trades even though our journeymen make more than many college graduates and did not spend $100k to get a degree, and you can't export construction jobs to India.
Our work is getting more technical by the day and cannot be done with unqualified people.

By all means brush up on your algebra. If it's been awhile since you had any formal classes it may would help you to go to Powell's (or any good book store) and get one of the books designed specifically to help with math testing. You absolutely want to score as high as you can on all the parts of the test because they take the top test scores and interview those people. Make sure you bring everything they require to the application process (transcripts, etc.) I've been told office staff mark your application if you weren't even bright enough to have your stuff together for that part. The interview is a very important part of the process for you, a little scary but if you can think on your feet you'll be alright. They usually interview in five person teams, these people are typically shop owners, estimators, and school instructors. Some of these people are a little harsh and some are just people. When I did my second interview (inside wireman) they didn't ask any questions at all, you walk into the room - sit at a table - they told me to read the piece of paper in front of me and respond. I think it said something like "why should we pick you, blah, blah, blah". Point is, you better have something to say, because when you are done the interview is done. At the time all interviews were 5 minutes max. Good Luck and hope to see you on the job in Local 48

I did the SBCCI, ICBO and IAEI inspector and plan examiner tests and I am not sure any of ther math could really be called "algebra". Certainly there were formulas to solve but you are not making new formulas from raw data. If you can plug the numbers in the box and do the arithmetic you are good to go.
Trig is also used but you are still just doing arithmetic on a fixed formula.