Journey Archives - Union Career Journal

What I’d Tell Someone Applying to Bay Area Union Apprenticeships Right Now

Apply early, apply broadly, study more than you think you need to, and do not let one rank decide your future.

Different unions asked different versions of the same thing: can you learn, work hard, take direction, and finish?

The IBEW 234 interview felt more engaged, and it included questions about the program itself.

IBEW 234 had a more manual application process, but transferring my test score helped me move straight to the interview stage.

UA 393’s ranking system felt clearer to me because the rank was tied to my test batch.

After two disappointing ranks, getting a top 10 rank at UA 393 felt like the first strong yes.

By the time I tested for UA 393, I had a system. Math, mechanical practice, and staying sharp on time management.

HVAC interested me, but steamfitting made more sense for my situation and got me excited about learning to weld.

UA 393 had more paths than I understood at first. The differences mattered.

The seminar was not just a box to check. It helped me understand the work and changed how I ranked my options.