Interview & Test Preparation
Find All the Help You Need to Succeed
Take Advantage of These Great Tips and Tutorials
We provide all the information, tools and support you need to apply properly, interview effectively and take your tests with confidence. If you’re interested in one of our entry-level positions, the information below includes job descriptions, study guides, and tips on resume writing, interviewing, test-taking, and more.
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Include your contact information:
- Full name
- Address
- Phone numbers (list all that are appropriate)
- Email address
Tell us what position(s) you’re interested in:
- Provide a brief objective statement including any relevant experience as it relates to the requirements for the PSEG position in which you’re interested
Detail your work history, experience and qualifications:
- List your employment history, descending from the most recent at top
- Include dates of employment for all positions listed (for example, January 2004 – May 2007)
- Provide specific skills, programs, training and qualifications that highlight your background and experience
- Highlight any work-related experience that relates specifically to the required/desired qualifications of the PSEG position in which you’re interested
Provide your education and associations:
- Educational background and degrees (if applicable)
- Professional associations
Be clear and concise:
- Use bold, intuitive and easily-identifiable headings
- Indent sub-sections where appropriate
- Use quantifiable data as often as possible. Ensure that your contact info is on each page
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PRIOR TO YOUR INTERVIEW - WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOUR INTERVIEW
Know the opportunity:
- Explore the PSEG website to become familiar with our services, culture, financial standing and other pertinent company information.
- Familiarize yourself with the job description and required/desired qualifications for the position.
- Prepare any of your own questions about PSEG and the position before the interview.
Know your strengths:
- Review your background and experiences (your resume is a great place to start).
- Be prepared to discuss your past experiences, positions, roles and responsibilities in detail.
- Make a list of accomplishments and experiences of which you’re most proud, and which best relate to the position at hand. Be prepared to discuss.
- Consider the reasons you’re seeking opportunities outside of your present position. Such reasons could include job content, company/industry change, financial factors or organizational culture.
- Assess your future career goals.
Come prepared:
- Expect to meet with an interview panel/team, as opposed to several one-on-one interviews.
- Bring multiple copies of your resume to the interview.
- Practice! Try preparing a closing statement as to why you’re the best fit for the position.
- Dress in appropriate business attire, unless otherwise instructed.
- Arrive at least 15 minutes early to allow time to park, access the building and find your destination.
DURING THE INTERVIEW
Following a behavioral-based format, your interviewers will focus questions on your past experiences, prior actions, knowledge skills and job-related abilities. Expect behavioral-based questions such as:
- “In leading a project, describe how you handled an obstacle in completing it.”
- “Tell me about a time when you exceeded a customer’s expectations.”
- “Describe a conflict situation and how you communicated your solution.”
Your answers to PSEG’s behavioral interview questions should be as complete as possible. As you prepare for your interview by thinking of past experiences and achievements, you can evaluate your intended response by seeing if addresses the following points:
- Explain the Situation.
- Define the Task you were charged with accomplishing.
- Describe the Actions you took to accomplish the task.
- Share the Results of your actions.
Ask questions and exchange information:
- Ask about the position’s daily roles and responsibilities.
- Inquire about the leadership of the group, management styles, workplace culture, and anything else of interest.
- Ask about growth opportunities and what it takes to advance in the company.
- Request contact information from the interviewers.
- Ask for your PSEG recruiter’s name and email address.
AFTER THE INTERVIEW
Please be patient:
- The PSEG selection process can take several weeks.
- You will receive email notification of your status a few weeks after your interview.
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Test Taking Tips
Review these general test-taking tips, and then scroll down below to see additional information for the specific area you’re interested in.
- Get enough sleep the night before your test.
- Eat before taking the test.
- Dress comfortably.
- Allow plenty of time to arrive at the test site early.
- If you feel nervous, try a breathing exercise to help you relax.
- Listen carefully to the test administrator, and follow all instructions.
- Work as quickly and as accurately as possible.
- Skip over questions that are taking too long to answer, and go back to them later if you have time. (If you skip a question, make sure you also skip the corresponding question on the answer sheet!)
Our tradespersons apprentice programs tests include graphic arithmetic and mechanical concepts (physics). You’ll be required to provide answers derived from looking at drawings, such as the distance between two points or the surface area of a rectangle. We’ll also measure your ability to work with formulas, such as converting quarts to gallons.
Our customer service test requires strong keyboarding skills and a demonstrated ability to follow instructions. To see if you can thrive in a customer service environment, practice performing consecutive tasks such as typing a document, making a phone call, and then toggling to a spreadsheet - then start over.
Our meter reader test is concerned with speed and accuracy as you perform such tasks as identifying tables that match sets of listed numbers.
With the exception of our meter reader test, all PSEG pre-employment tests will measure your reading comprehension, math skills and problem-solving abilities. Check the internet or your local library for study guides and practice tests in these areas.
Types of Test
Select the test types below to see what jobs coincide with them along with accompanying test brochures, sample tests, and fact sheets.
Note: Job titles are examples of positions that require these tests. Other positions may also require such tests.
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Note: Job titles are examples of positions that require these tests. Other positions may also require such tests.
Construction and Skilled Trades (CAST) Test (test brochure)
- Lineman/Linewoman
- Underground Technician
- Division Mechanic
- Automotive Technician
- Substation Mechanic
Gas Battery Test (sample test)
- Street Apprentice
- Service Apprentice
- Utility Mechanic Apprentice
Plant Operator Selection System/Mechanical Aptitude Selection System (Poss C Mass) Test (test brochure)
- Technical Operator
- Nuclear Worker
- Nuclear Technician-Mechanical
- Nuclear Technician-Controls (INC)
Technician Occupation Selection System (test brochure)
- Apprentice Relay Technician
- Apprentice Engineering Technician
- Nuclear Technician Chemist
- Nuclear Technician Radiation Protection (RAD-PRO)
System Operator/Service Dispatch-System Operator/Power Dispatch (SOSD/SOPD) (sample test)
- Electric System Operator
- Apprentice Service Dispatcher
Customer Service Representative Test Battery (test brochure)
- Credit and Collections Representative
- Customer Service Center Representative
Meter Reader Test (test brochure)
- Meter Reader
Support and Administrative Selection System (SASS) (test brochure)
- All entry-level union clerical positions
First Line Supervisor (FLST) Test (fact sheet)
- Positions that directly supervise union associates
PSEG Sample Tutorials
For Practice Tests, Skill Builders and Test Brochures, you can visit online practice tests at www.eei.org/practicetests. When prompted, please enter the following:
- Name: car
- Password: boat
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Sample Test
- ESTIMATOR HVAC
- HVAC COORDINATOR HBR
- INSTALLER HVAC
- LEAD INSTALLER HVAC
- MEASUREMENT TECH SPECIALIST
- MEASUREMENT TECHNICIAN
- MECHANIC ASSISTANT
- MECHANIC OPERATOR
- SERVICE MECHANIC
- SERVICE MECHANIC 1st CLASS
- SERVICE SPECIALIST
- GAS MECHANIC
- GENERAL MECHANIC
- MEASUREMENT TECH ASSISTANT
- MECHANIC ASSISTANT RIDER
- SEASONAL STREET APPRENTICE
- STREET APPRENTICE
- STREET HELPER
- STREET MECHANIC
- STREET MECHANIC 2ND CLASS
- UTILITY ASSISTANT
- UTILITY MECHANIC
- UTILITY MECHANIC APPRENTICE
- UTILITY METER TECHNICIAN
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Test Brochure
- NUCLEAR EQUIPMENT OPERATOR
- UTILITY OPERATOR
- NUCLEAR CONTROL OPERATOR
- RAD WASTE OPERATOR
- NUCLEAR TECH - CONTROLS
- NUCLEAR TECH CONTROLS - SPECIAL
- CHIEF TECHNICIAN CONTROLS
- SHIFT NUCLEAR TECH - CONTROLS
- SM - ELECTRONIC TECHNICIAN
- CALIBRATION TECHNICIAN - INTERMEDIATE
- CALIBRATION TECH
- NUCLEAR TECH - MECHANIC
- NUCLEAR TECHNICIAN MECHANICAL - WELDER
- NUCLEAR TEHCNICIAN MECHANICAL - MACHINIST
- NUCLEAR WORKER
- CHIEF TECHNICIAN MECHANICAL
- SHIFT NUCLEAR TECH - MECHANICAL
- SHIFT NUCLEAR WORKER
- NUCLEAR TEHNICIAN - HVAC
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Test Brochure
- APPRENTICE ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN (DISTRIBUTION)
- NUCLEAR TECH - CHEMISTRY
- NUCLEAR TECH - CHEMISTRY - SPECIAL
- NUCLEAR TECH - RAD PRO - SPECIAL
- RADIATION PROTECTION (NUCLEAR)
- NUCLEAR RELAY TECH
- CHIEF NUCLEAR RELAY TECH
- RELAY TECHNICIAN - (DISTRIBUTION)
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- COLLECTION AND CREDIT REPRESENTATIVE
- CREDIT AND COLLECTION (BILINGUAL) ASSISTANCE REPRESENTATIVE
- CREDIT AND COLLECTION (PART TIME) ASSISTANCE REPRESENTATIVE
- CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE REPRESENTATIVE
- CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER REPRESENTATIVE
- DEMOLITION PROCESS INQUIRY REPRESENTATIVE
- INBOUND COLLECTION AND CREDIT REPRESENTATIVE
- MARKETING ASSISTANT
- SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
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Sample Test
- METER READER
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- APPRENTICE CLERK
- CLERICAL SPECIALIST
- CLERK
- DISPATCHER
- GENERAL CLERK
- GENERAL CLERK 1ST CLASS
- GENERAL CLERK L/C
- MATERIAL HANDLER
- STOREKEEPER
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- DISTRIBUTION SUPERVISOR
- GENERATION SUPERVISOR
- METER SUPERVISOR
- NUCLEAR MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR
- NUCLEAR SHIFT SUPERVISOR
- NUCLEAR TECHNICAL SUPERVISOR
- OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR (CT, MD)
- OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR
- SECURITY SHIFT SUPERVISOR
- SERVCO MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR
- SERVICE SUPERVISOR
- SR DISTRIBUTION SUPERVISOR
- SR OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR
- TRANSPORTATION SUPERVISOR
- TURBINES SERVICES SUPERVISOR
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For Practice Tests, Skill Builders and Test Brochures, you can visit online practice tests at www.eei.org/practicetests. When prompted, please enter the following:
- Name: car
- Password: boat