Pre-Employment Testing for Skilled Jobs

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• Why do I need to test?
  Qualification on the appropriate pre-employment test(s) is required for consideration for most non-management jobs at Pacific Gas and Electric Company. The pre-employment tests we administer were developed based on extensive research and recognized validation standards. Standardized pre-employment tests help us evaluate the many thousands of individuals interested in working here in a fair, consistent and efficient manner.
• How do I schedule a testing appointment?
  First, search skilled jobs to see if there are any job openings in your preferred location that fit your interests and background.
  
  Next, click on the job description (folder icon) to read about the job, the pre-employment test(s) required, and other specific job requirements. If you find a job that interests you, follow the instructions online to begin your job file. Please consider your choice carefully as you can only apply to one job at a time. If you are given a phone number to call after completing your job file, please do so as soon as possible. During that call, you will be asked to provide additional information to help us process your job file. Depending on the additional information you provide, you may then be scheduled for a testing appointment. Testing appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. However, due to space and resource limitations at our testing facilities, you may not receive a testing appointment.
  
  If you are not scheduled for a testing appointment, we invite you to return to our Web site and submit a file for another job that interests you.
• Are reasonable accommodations available for testing?
  As an equal employment opportunity employer, Pacific Gas and Electric Company is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to take the required tests. Therefore, if you have a disability that you believe may limit your ability to take a pre-employment test, you may request a reasonable accommodation. To ensure prompt handling of a reasonable accommodation request, please obtain any medical documentation relevant to your request as soon as possible. The availability of that information will help minimize any potential delay in the processing of your online file, as well as the scheduling of a testing appointment.
• What is the testing process?
  Important Things to Know
  If you are scheduled for a testing appointment, it is strongly recommended that you review the study guide prior to your test for a description of the test and sample questions. See bottom of this page for Test Preparation Tips and Study Guides.
  
  Bring to the test session a photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID card or passport. Also, be sure to arrive on time for your testing appointment. Before the test, you should make sure that you know how to get to the testing location. Please allow extra time for traffic delays and for finding your way in case you get lost. Latecomers and candidates without a photo ID will be turned away at the test session. If you miss your testing appointment, call the 1 (800) phone number that you received as soon as possible.
  
  You will be asked to fill out a job application at the test session. To help you fill out the application, bring information about your educational background and your work history for the past seven years, including dates of employment, employers' phone numbers and addresses.
  
  After you take the test, you will receive your results in the mail in approximately three weeks.
  
  If I don't qualify, how long must I wait to re-test?
  Most pre-employment tests at PG&E allow unlimited retests. However, you must wait the appropriate waiting period before being allowed to retest. For most tests the retest schedule is as follows:
  
  Second attempt - must wait three months after first attempt
  Third attempt - must wait six months after second attempt
  Fourth and subsequent attempts - must wait one year after previous attempt
  
  If you are invited to a test that is subject to a different retest schedule, you will be notified at the time that you test.
  
  After the appropriate retest waiting period you may visit our Web site to view the available job openings.
  
  I qualified on the test, now what?
  If you qualified on the initial pre-employment test for a position—congratulations! Your qualified score is good for an indefinite period of time, so you do not need to take that particular test again. However, please note that qualification on a pre-employment test is not a guarantee of employment. The applications of test-qualified candidates are reviewed for a match with the requirements of the position. Candidates who are the best fit for the position will be invited to proceed to the next step of the screening process. Depending on the specific position, the next step can be either another pre-employment test or a job interview. We will contact you if you are invited to proceed to the next step of the screening process. Your application will remain on file for one year. However, due to the large number of applications we receive, we regret that we cannot provide you with any status information regarding your application.
  
  If I change my job preference, will I have to test again?
  If you wish to change your job preference, please return to our Web site to apply for your new job preference. If the job requires qualification on a test that you have already qualified on, you do not need to take the test again. However, if the job requires qualification on a different test, you do need to qualify on that test to be considered for the position. Please remember, you can apply to only one job at a time. If you switch your job preference, you will no longer be considered for any prior job file you had submitted.

Where can I obtain test preparation and study guides?

Below are test preparation tips and study guides for our pre-employment tests. If after reviewing the respective guide, you find that the test assesses areas in which you are not confident, you may wish to do some additional studying on your own before the test. Additional reference material that you may use in your preparation is listed for some of the tests. If you do not feel adequately prepared to do your best on a test, consider re-submitting a job file at a later date when you are prepared. Preparation for Pre-Employment Testing.

NOTE: In order to view many of the following study guides you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.

• Apprentice Meter Systems Technician (AMT) Test Preparation Guide (PDF, 67K)
• Arithmetic Computation (ACT) Test Preparation Guide
• Arithmetic Computation (ACT) Test Study Guide (PDF, 239K)
• Arithmetic Computation (ACT) Test References Guide
• Assessment for Lineworker Progression (ALP) (PDF, 253K)
• Clerical/Meter Reader Test Battery (CTB/MTB) Guide (PDF, 69K)
• Computer and Telecommunications Technician (CTT) Study Guide (PDF, 29K)
• Electrical Technician Test (ETT) Study Guide (PDF, 127K)
• Electrician - Steam Generation (ESG) Preparation Guide (PDF, 12K)
• Gas Control Technician (GCT) Study Guide (PDF, 11K)
• Operator Test Battery (OTB) Guide (PDF, 82K)
• Physical Test Battery (PTB) Guide (PDF, 119K)
• Power Plant Maintenance Selection System (MASS) (see "Important Notes" below)
• Power Plant Operator Selection Test (POSS) (see "Important Notes" below)
• Scheduler Test Battery (STB guide) (PDF, 125K)
• Technical Test (TECH) (see "Important Notes" below)

Important Notes

1. The version of the POSS (Power Plant Operator Selection Test) test you will take does not contain the Tables and Graphs component described in the preparation guide. Instead of Tables and Graphs, it contains a component called Visual Pursuit. In the Visual Pursuit component you will be asked to trace a line from its beginning to its end point.
2. The version of the POSS test you will take contains only the short form (7-minute time limit) of the mathematical usage component. The long version of the mathematical component is not included in your test.
3. If you have Norton Internet Security 2003 installed on your computer, you may not be able to access this site. Please use another computer that does not have this program installed.

Please visit Edison Electric Institute (EEI), one of our testing partners, for test preparation guides on the following tests:

• Power Plant Maintenance Selection System (MASS)
• Power Plant Operator Selection Test (POSS)
• Technical Test (TECH)
• Practice tests are available for the Power Plant Maintenance Selection System (MASS), Power Plant Operator Selection Test (POSS), and Technical Test (TECH) through our testing partner, Edison Electric Institute. The following username and password will be needed to access the {Edison Electric Institute practice test Web site}:
  
  Username: pacific
  Password: ocean