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EGMC · 4th March 2007, 22:01

I got a cheeky little email this afternoon from HR (I'm in!), wasnt expecting ANYTHING on this 'day of rest'... maybe HR are working shifts like ATCO's!

Ayway, I thought I'd write up my experience. But personally, I thought that stage 2 was the hardest, followed by, yes-stage 1!!!..... or maybe I was just more thoroughly prepared for this final stage.

I really think that these Stage 3 events start earlier than is necessary, I mean 8:30 does SOUND okay, but when you factor in:
1- Get up early enough to eat, shower and be presentable.
2- Get on public transport, which involves one or two changes, and you crossing your fingers that no delays occur, or even that there is room for you to squeeze your body onto the tube when it arrives at rush hour!
3- Allowing enough time to find the place which is usually easy enough… but you have to factor in some insurance time!
4- Getting there STILL a little early to feel the place out and at least calm your nerves, or go the bathroom.

….well then you would be in for a wake up time that most ATCO’s know all about, as they are well used to it [but then maybe that’s the point!]- its quite funny really when you introduce yourself to your assessors and they tell you that NATS paid for them to crash at the luxury hotel last night… but if that’s an indication of how NATS treats its committed and qualified staff- I cant wait to be in the company!

But quite honestly I don’t mind getting up at that hour as I actually am used to it for work- but it would be a lot more worthwhile if this event was held at an ACTUAL NATS establishment [this was an opinion shared by my two assessors].

On my day, there were just 3 sweaty wannabees; things were never awkward or tense. The group exercise coming first does actually puts you at ease- even though the hawk-eyes are watching over you. I think the main thing to remember is that you do not have to succeed in the game you just need to listen to and help each other…. It’s a TEAMWORK assessment!

You do feel the gradual warmth of the company being introduced as not only do they Pay for your travel [within reason], but they also provide you with a delicious lunch.
I appreciate all of this and wouldn’t have issues if these nice gestures weren’t there- I think I share the opinion of the ‘old’ passionate [&luckier] generation that we are fortunate to be getting these ‘give-backs’… in some professions- especially with pilot training/jobs you have to PAY for such assessments[they say “GIVE US £££”]. NATS are offering Golden tickets to this TATCO factory, we should appreciate the providential offer that is on the table… they even give you a little help whilst you train!
…. Okay ‘Pizza hut’ paid me whilst I trained too- but that was for 3 weeks and the pay didn’t change much after a month or two years.

Lunch is ‘sandwiched’ between the interviews… it was a casual affair, just pigging out basically…and interrupting the assessors between each mouthful for a mouthful of answers to our questions- I didn’t ask them any Q’s in the interview as I didn’t feel right to switch from the position of being grilled to being inquisitive… I did however ask about my stage2 results… I was denied, [they simply said- good enough to sit me down across the table from them and that’s all that was required] - I think the main justification would be that if they told me I might tell others [or even post on PRRuNe]- and then everyone with a pulse would demand to know... (I think that they are busy enoug as it is!)
I wasn’t asked any technical or a/c recog Q’s. Having done a PPL, and the amount of research I had done in preparation meant it would have been a formality anyway.

They were interested in my tower visit, and how I had arranged that.

I was given a couple of scenarios to handle and they are looking for you to explore and exhaust all schemes and initiatives, not to fix on one solution adamantly if the situation develops and at least ACT like you are re-thinking the situation with the new information in mind.

People say it time and time again:
“don’t be easily led, be flexible in your position when new info comes in…. and with HR relate everything to ATCO qualities whilst providing examples”. However, the thing you may not realise is that when you are in the interview it will beckon on you that you don’t HAVE time to think too much and its better to just give an honest response. A short 3-second pause is all you feel is appropriate, a bit of ‘ummmmm’-ing and ‘errrr’-ing CAN help but it does not LOOK too good for your credibility when you say you make quick decisions without faffing around.

Lastly, I think it’s important to be friendly with them before the ‘assessing’ starts, and at lunch because at the end (or rather- at the beginning) of the day they ARE nice people, human like us, and are obviously interested in improving the company and the quality of the people in their profession. They also appreciate that as long as you have skills for the job it does not mean that you are a pleasure to work with. Being an ATCO is a lifestyle and it might be useful if the people you work and socialise with are people that you can get along with. We know you are nervous, but try to say something interesting/ make a joke or just don’t sound completely dry- it IS easy to do that when you are nervous.

PS: I went to the bathroom 4 times in the period of the 1st interview… so did the guy I was waiting with!.... mind you, at least we didn’t go together!

Any PM’s?- feel free

4th March 2007, 22:01	#20 (permalink)
EGMC Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: EGHH-ish Posts: 31	HR work on SUNDAYS?! I got a cheeky little email this afternoon from HR (I'm in!), wasnt expecting ANYTHING on this 'day of rest'... maybe HR are working shifts like ATCO's! Ayway, I thought I'd write up my experience. But personally, I thought that stage 2 was the hardest, followed by, yes-stage 1!!!..... or maybe I was just more thoroughly prepared for this final stage. I really think that these Stage 3 events start earlier than is necessary, I mean 8:30 does SOUND okay, but when you factor in: 1- Get up early enough to eat, shower and be presentable. 2- Get on public transport, which involves one or two changes, and you crossing your fingers that no delays occur, or even that there is room for you to squeeze your body onto the tube when it arrives at rush hour! 3- Allowing enough time to find the place which is usually easy enough… but you have to factor in some insurance time! 4- Getting there STILL a little early to feel the place out and at least calm your nerves, or go the bathroom. ….well then you would be in for a wake up time that most ATCO’s know all about, as they are well used to it [but then maybe that’s the point!]- its quite funny really when you introduce yourself to your assessors and they tell you that NATS paid for them to crash at the luxury hotel last night… but if that’s an indication of how NATS treats its committed and qualified staff- I cant wait to be in the company! But quite honestly I don’t mind getting up at that hour as I actually am used to it for work- but it would be a lot more worthwhile if this event was held at an ACTUAL NATS establishment [this was an opinion shared by my two assessors]. On my day, there were just 3 sweaty wannabees; things were never awkward or tense. The group exercise coming first does actually puts you at ease- even though the hawk-eyes are watching over you. I think the main thing to remember is that you do not have to succeed in the game you just need to listen to and help each other…. It’s a TEAMWORK assessment! You do feel the gradual warmth of the company being introduced as not only do they Pay for your travel [within reason], but they also provide you with a delicious lunch. I appreciate all of this and wouldn’t have issues if these nice gestures weren’t there- I think I share the opinion of the ‘old’ passionate [&luckier] generation that we are fortunate to be getting these ‘give-backs’… in some professions- especially with pilot training/jobs you have to PAY for such assessments[they say “GIVE US £££”]. NATS are offering Golden tickets to this TATCO factory, we should appreciate the providential offer that is on the table… they even give you a little help whilst you train! …. Okay ‘Pizza hut’ paid me whilst I trained too- but that was for 3 weeks and the pay didn’t change much after a month or two years. Lunch is ‘sandwiched’ between the interviews… it was a casual affair, just pigging out basically…and interrupting the assessors between each mouthful for a mouthful of answers to our questions- I didn’t ask them any Q’s in the interview as I didn’t feel right to switch from the position of being grilled to being inquisitive… I did however ask about my stage2 results… I was denied, [they simply said- good enough to sit me down across the table from them and that’s all that was required] - I think the main justification would be that if they told me I might tell others [or even post on PRRuNe]- and then everyone with a pulse would demand to know... (I think that they are busy enoug as it is!) I wasn’t asked any technical or a/c recog Q’s. Having done a PPL, and the amount of research I had done in preparation meant it would have been a formality anyway. They were interested in my tower visit, and how I had arranged that. I was given a couple of scenarios to handle and they are looking for you to explore and exhaust all schemes and initiatives, not to fix on one solution adamantly if the situation develops and at least ACT like you are re-thinking the situation with the new information in mind. People say it time and time again: “don’t be easily led, be flexible in your position when new info comes in…. and with HR relate everything to ATCO qualities whilst providing examples”. However, the thing you may not realise is that when you are in the interview it will beckon on you that you don’t HAVE time to think too much and its better to just give an honest response. A short 3-second pause is all you feel is appropriate, a bit of ‘ummmmm’-ing and ‘errrr’-ing CAN help but it does not LOOK too good for your credibility when you say you make quick decisions without faffing around. Lastly, I think it’s important to be friendly with them before the ‘assessing’ starts, and at lunch because at the end (or rather- at the beginning) of the day they ARE nice people, human like us, and are obviously interested in improving the company and the quality of the people in their profession. They also appreciate that as long as you have skills for the job it does not mean that you are a pleasure to work with. Being an ATCO is a lifestyle and it might be useful if the people you work and socialise with are people that you can get along with. We know you are nervous, but try to say something interesting/ make a joke or just don’t sound completely dry- it IS easy to do that when you are nervous. PS: I went to the bathroom 4 times in the period of the 1st interview… so did the guy I was waiting with!.... mind you, at least we didn’t go together! Any PM’s?- feel free