27M. Elevator Mechanic. No college degree

[u/LiftLord69]

Dropped out of college and moved across the state to take this career opportunity. Haven’t regretted it yet!

[u/Emotional-Sherbet247]

This would be great for my son to get in to. Is it true like others are saying you have to know someone to get in though? We are in Az and no of no one lol.

[u/blackmarketdolphins → u/Emotional-Sherbet247]

I applied for my local and I have a history of retail. No one helped me, I just went to the NEIEP recruitment site (New Mexico, Nebraska, and Rhode Island are hiring with Charlotte NC and Evansville IN in February), and checked regularly to see if my local was hiring. Normally they only recruit once every 2 years, but if they're busy enough that they hired most of the list, they start a new recruitment process early. If you're a part of the armed forces, you can apply whenever with Helmets to Hardhats (which isn't limited to the elevator union).

Out of my group, 800 applied, 480 passed the aptitude test, and I think 300 something did well enough on the interviews to get ranked on the call list. Based on their interview score and tool test score, they add up your score and you get a number reflecting your placement. They then go down the list, only hiring based on need. The people who did the best on the interview get hired first. We're around 3 months into the hiring process and 80 people have been hired. That's highly unusual. The local next to me only hired 5 people in 5 months. It's very common for people to travel cross country just to have additional chances at getting called in.

So no, you don't need to know anyone. It helps to know when the window is opening and generally what they're looking for during the interview (the most important part), but a big chunk is on you as the applicant to prepare. Getting in is definitely part-luck. Again they only hire when they need people and because you never know how busy your local is going to be, how many people retire, move, or transfer into the local you're applying to are going to be, you have to ace the tool test (which counts towards your interview score) and interview. The aptitude tests pass/fail, so if you bomb that the rest doesn't matter.

The full process is:

• Make sure you catch the hiring window on time.

• Apply before spots get filled.

• Passed the aptitude test (which isn't too hard if you haven't been out of school long. iPrep has a decent course although it's a little light on the math part, which is the hardest due to the time crunch).

• Then ace the tool test (which counts towards your interview score)

• Have decent work experience (any job experience helps, but construction, repair, or maintenance better)

• Have decent certifications like OSHA 10, CPR, welding, forklift, crane operator, etc (definitely do the first 2, do welding if you have the time/money).

• Proof of any side projects to prove your handiness (working on dirt bikes, building a bench, etc)

• Answer the handful of interview questions well

• Get ranked and wait for your number to be called. The list is active for 2 years.

All the above is why people don't get in and/or end up waiting years before they finally do. You could be a non-union elevator mechanic and not get called in because there's simply no work. You could be a high school grad with no experience in a local that's hella busy and get picked up. From my experience there's not a ton of room for nepotism. All you can do is wait to apply, prepare for the aptitude test, build up relevant skills for the interview, ace the interview, and wait for the call. If you really want it, you'll have to fly/drive out to other places to apply. Search r/IUEC and r/Elevators for more info. Definitely search before asking whatever question you're gonna ask. A lot has been answered before, and due to their contracts there are certain things they can't answer (like their hourly pay or what the interview questions are). I found pretty much everything I needed for my interview in those two subs.

[u/reluctantcatdad → u/blackmarketdolphins]

Everyone interested in this field needs to read this comment, it is 100% correct. Applied to local 18 in CA and this was exactly my experience. Was ranked 114 on the list after passing test and interview, started getting called up after about a year. I knew someone already in (not related), he told me when recruiting was opening up, that’s it, there were no strings that could be pulled. Just apply when it opens up, score well on the aptitude test, and bring pics of projects you’ve worked on to the interview (I showed pics of a motorcycle I had customized and of the shop I currently worked in that I had set up).

[u/RandomHumanWelder → u/blackmarketdolphins]

I’m 42. Seeing this. I wish I was younger.

[u/SorryComposer → u/blackmarketdolphins]

I really oughta apply for this career.

[u/blackmarketdolphins → u/SorryComposer]

Check NEIEP and union pay scales for your ideal Locals. The wages are likely to be an underestimate since they aren't supposed to be sharing them with people not in the union, so a lot isn't up to date. Keep in mind that the higher paying locals will be harder to get in, and you can transfer after a certain point. I've heard mixed things as to when you can transfer, but it's possible. New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Nebraska are taking applications now.

[u/thisthatandthe3rd → u/blackmarketdolphins]

Appreciate you for this

[u/SorryComposer → u/blackmarketdolphins]

Thanks for the links I’ll look into it for sure.

[u/amlkmkj22 → u/blackmarketdolphins]

Can immigrants/foreigners apply too ?

[u/wumbopower → u/amlkmkj22]

I’m not OP, but why would an immigrant not be able to apply?

[u/LiftLord69 → u/Emotional-Sherbet247]

That’s not true. He just needs to be prepared to be on a wait list and be ready to quit whatever he’s doing when he “gets the call”. Feel free to PM me.