If someone asked me what to do before applying to Bay Area union apprenticeships, I would keep it simple.
Apply earlier than you think.
Apply to more than one.
Study more than you think you need to.
Do not wait on one list before starting another.
That is the advice I wish I had followed from the beginning.
I was too focused on the path I wanted most at the time. I waited for results before moving on. That made sense emotionally, but it was not the best strategy.
These processes take time.
Application windows open and close.
Test dates may be weeks or months out.
Interview dates can take longer.
Ranks may not be competitive.
Lists may move slowly.
If you are open to multiple trades, get yourself into multiple processes.
That does not mean applying blindly. Do your homework. Know the commute. Read the wage sheets. Understand the apprenticeship. Ask questions. Talk to members if you can.
But once a program makes sense, do not sit around waiting for perfect timing.
There may not be perfect timing.
I would also tell people to take the aptitude tests seriously.
The tests are studyable. That does not mean they are nothing. Timed math can humble you fast if you have not practiced.
Study the basics.
Practice with a timer.
Learn how to skip hard questions and come back.
Answer everything.
For interviews, prepare examples.
Not scripts.
Examples.
Show that you can learn, take direction, solve problems, and stick with something hard.
The other thing I would say is this:
Do not let one result define the whole journey.
I ranked lower than I hoped more than once. It was frustrating. But those experiences made me better prepared for the next test, the next interview, and the next application.
This process can be slow.
It can be humbling.
It can also be worth it.
I am still in the middle of it. I do not know exactly how it ends yet.
But I know I am glad I started.