IBEW 332 taught me that not every rank list feels the same.
After the interview, I received my score and rank. The score was lower than I hoped. The rank landed in the low 300s.
That was disappointing.
But unlike some lists, this one could move as new applicants tested and interviewed. Depending on how others scored, I could move up or down.
That makes waiting feel different.
You are not just waiting for the list to move.
You are also watching your place shift.
As of June 2026, my rank had moved back and forth roughly between the high 200s and low 300s. That is not where I wanted to be, but it gave me a better understanding of how dynamic these lists can be.
This matters for applicants because a rank is not always a final answer.
You need to understand the system you are in.
Ask questions if you can:
- Does the rank move when new applicants test?
- How often is the list updated?
- How long does the rank stay active?
- Can you reinterview later?
- Can you improve your score?
- How many apprentices are usually called?
Some of those answers may be available through the program. Some may come from talking to applicants or members. Some may be hard to know.
But it is worth trying to understand.
Emotionally, moving lists are strange.
You check and hope for a better number. Then you check again and it may be worse. It can start to feel like following a scoreboard where you are not even playing anymore.
That is not healthy if you let it take over.
I had to remind myself that the rank is information, not identity.
It tells me where I stand in one process at one time.
It does not tell me whether I can learn a trade.
It does not tell me whether I should keep going.
So I kept going.
That meant looking seriously at other options too.