Any Union Lineman on here?

[dawn_kiebawls]

After well over a year of job hunting, applying for jobs and interviewing my local Union has finally called and invited me to attend their orientation/training/evaluation class! While I was excited to get the call I am cautiously optimistic since I'm not in the clear just yet..

They say there will be an aptitude test involving some basic math, reading comprehension, and they will be testing our physical, mental and mechanical abilities.

I'm just getting nervous because its been ~18 months since I have last worked in the industry, much of the technical 'stuff' I learned has left me and I'm not in the same condition I was when I was building line every day.

I realize reaching out on the forum is a long shot but I'm also trying to just ease my mind and vent a bit. SWMBO has an unexpected bun in the oven and I'm feeling the pressure to be able to provide so if anyone on here has any insight on what I should be studying, practicing, what they'll be looking for or what I should expect in general I would be forever grateful! Thanks. Cheers!

 

[Ricksclass]

Good luck brother, IBEW 412, power house electrician

 

[BruceH]

If I was in your position I'd make sure I had a solid grasp of the formulas for determining voltage, amperage, etc. (ohm's law because all basic voltage parameters are based on the ohm formula). Basic math should not be a problem. Either you know it or you don't. When you think about it that's easy stuff. The rest is going to be on how well you do in a board/interview situation.

My disclaimer is that I've never been a lineman. I have been an electronics tech in the USAF (high voltage and distant cabling/distribution was just a part of the job). I've also spent over 28 years as an airplane electrician.

Good luck Dawn, let us know how it turns out.

 

[passedpawn]

Good luck. The lineman I've met were pretty hard corps. I'm afraid to pull my own meter. What they know goes well beyond ohm's law.

 

[TBC]

Look up POSS test exams. This is what utilities traditionally use for testing. Also check the Edison electric institute for sample tests.

The math is basic as is the reading comprehension. The mechanical part is usually tool identification, pulley and gear direction(shows a gear with an arrow direction and you pick which direction the adjacent gear spins). As long as your somewhat mechanically inclined you should be fine.

My brother is a journeyman lineman. I know he had climbing school which was a bitch and pole rescue where you climb to the top and have to lower a dummy down. I can’t imagine they would have you do any climbing initially though.

Good Luck. IBEW 1600 here. Power Plant Chemist.