NATS interview process
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Here's a cheeky one. Please take with a pinch of salt.
Does NATS look good on a CV to an Airline employer ?
And is it common to see ATCOs with a commercial licence jumping ship off to a flying job ?
Ta
h.h.
Does NATS look good on a CV to an Airline employer ?
And is it common to see ATCOs with a commercial licence jumping ship off to a flying job ?
Ta
h.h.
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On the flip side to the question above, does anyone know what NATS thinks of applicants who have a PPL and maybe were going on to do futher training to gain their Commercial licence/ATPL but then decided it was not for them? And instead wanted to be a ATCO?
Ed
Ed
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Swanwick / West Drayton
Hi AK5294,
In response to your question last week, I'd recommend visiting both Swanwick & West Drayton if you possibly can as I found they were both very useful but different. It was good having seen the area control in Swanwick, to then see the approach controllers at work. I had very different experiences at both and I think that the more you try to see on your own, the better bit looks as it shows you've put the effort in and really have the interest. I now just hope I can go and visit a tower soon!
In response to your question last week, I'd recommend visiting both Swanwick & West Drayton if you possibly can as I found they were both very useful but different. It was good having seen the area control in Swanwick, to then see the approach controllers at work. I had very different experiences at both and I think that the more you try to see on your own, the better bit looks as it shows you've put the effort in and really have the interest. I now just hope I can go and visit a tower soon!
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Just a note for anyone reading regarding unit visits.....definitely try to get one. Ideally, like billy girl, go on a few to get an idea of the different types of ATC. But bear in mind that it doesn't have to be a NATS unit.....so billy girl, if you're struggling perhaps Oxford might be an idea (hope I'm not teaching you to suck eggs!)
And of course, for my area ATCO colleagues who are no doubt reading, as soon as you step into a tower you'll see that that's where the proper ATC is done....
And of course, for my area ATCO colleagues who are no doubt reading, as soon as you step into a tower you'll see that that's where the proper ATC is done....
Join Date: Jun 2007
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That's great thanks! I actually live in Oxford and am heading to Brize Norton in a couple of weeks so I'm hoping that will help too!
On another note, do you know where I could find any sample questions to practice things like "If an aircraft runs out of fuel 60 miles from an airport..."? I know I passed that bit before but not due to my answers on those questions and could do with doing a couple before I take part 2 again!
On another note, do you know where I could find any sample questions to practice things like "If an aircraft runs out of fuel 60 miles from an airport..."? I know I passed that bit before but not due to my answers on those questions and could do with doing a couple before I take part 2 again!
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Has anyone ever heard of anyone not getting past stage one and getting an email a few months down the line inviting them to re-apply? I know this can happen with people who fail at stage two so was just wondering. I don't want to wait a year....
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From A New Recruit!
On the flip side to the question above, does anyone know what NATS thinks of applicants who have a PPL and maybe were going on to do futher training to gain their Commercial licence/ATPL but then decided it was not for them? And instead wanted to be a ATCO?
I was part way sponosred by a major helicopter company 5 years ago, the first JAA CPL course in fact so doing the ATPL exams. Had half the flying and half the exams out of the way when I had to return home due to an illness in the family, which in turn developed into my own personal struggle against anxiety when flying (according to the medical folks as a result of the stress I had gone through). Had already got a fixed wing PPL too. Spent the last few years trying to get back in the cockpit then realised I wanted to persue a career in another interest of mine, so applied to NATS at the start of this year, and after going to Belfast last week for stage 3, got a call last Friday saying I was in, should be on the september course. So to answer your question, I don't see why you (if it's you you refer to) should not be considered. At my interview last week the fact I'd passed 6 ATPL exams wasn't even mentioned
On another note, thanks to all those who provided useful info on the recruitment process here. Every time I've needed input or advice over the last few years I've always found some great stuff and professionals to pass down their experteese, though we have to ignore some people's stuff now and again........ Medical permitting, looking forward to working with you all who are already there, and maybe shout you a beer if our paths come together! (and well done to Gastra who had the stage 3 experience with me!!)
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Hello all,
I wish i'd been told about this site a couple of weeks ago, I've just done the stage 1 tests in Manchester today and it would have been a real help. Never mind I think/hope I did OK. Although, like a few people before me have said, I ran out of time before finishing the 3 aptitude tests, I was thinking I rather get the ones I did do correct rather than rush through and mess it up.
One thing thats slightly worrying me is that most the people posting on this thread seem to be graduates, and I'm not! Do many non-graduates get through the selection process or am I too stoopid!?
Also does anyone know the best way to go about organising a visit to the tower at Birmingham Airport?
I wish i'd been told about this site a couple of weeks ago, I've just done the stage 1 tests in Manchester today and it would have been a real help. Never mind I think/hope I did OK. Although, like a few people before me have said, I ran out of time before finishing the 3 aptitude tests, I was thinking I rather get the ones I did do correct rather than rush through and mess it up.
One thing thats slightly worrying me is that most the people posting on this thread seem to be graduates, and I'm not! Do many non-graduates get through the selection process or am I too stoopid!?
Also does anyone know the best way to go about organising a visit to the tower at Birmingham Airport?
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Hi There,
Just wanted to say a big thanks for all the advice that people have provided me with on this forum.
I have got through my stage three and providing i pass the medical i start in September.Im really excited
Thanks Simfly...well done to you too.I had fun in Belfast with you and the other candidate.
If anyone needs any advice on anything related tothe process i will try and help if i can...just pm me.
The best of luck to everyone who has stages looming.
Just wanted to say a big thanks for all the advice that people have provided me with on this forum.
I have got through my stage three and providing i pass the medical i start in September.Im really excited
Thanks Simfly...well done to you too.I had fun in Belfast with you and the other candidate.
If anyone needs any advice on anything related tothe process i will try and help if i can...just pm me.
The best of luck to everyone who has stages looming.
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Hi there,
I recently applied for NATS and have kinda been following this thread from the word go. Recently had Stage 1 in ManC and have since been informed I've not cut the mustard.
Im gutted. Absolutely gutted. I'm kind of at a bit of a loss too coz i naively thought I'd breeze stage 1, did loads of prep for it, yet, depsite my efforts and subtle confidence i have apparently crashed and burned. What is most frustrating is i have no idea where or how i went wrong.
I came out feeling like i may have blown it purely down to the diagrammatical reasoning test. I felt all the other tests, including the cubes, went well (i think?? but will never truely know as its not like i can get feedback...) but i only managed 33 out of 50 on the diagrammatic reasoning Qs.
I just feel really quite lost. I have no idea whether i may have blown it purely because i didnt manage enough of the Diagrammatic Qs; irrelevant of how accurate i was with my answers. Or whether perhaps i did well in all of it but was let down on my response to the personality Qs, or whether i actually just screwed up everything??! I understand NATS' policy on not giving feedback but invariably right now, i have no idea what happened.
The fact i crashed'n burned at Stage 1... i dont know whether to be embarrassed, ashamed... I mean, what is the pass rate at Stage 1, anyone know? I mean jeez, im just at a loss.
So, in light of my lack of success, I would just like to wish anyone and everyone who has a stage anytime soon, the very, very best of luck.
I recently applied for NATS and have kinda been following this thread from the word go. Recently had Stage 1 in ManC and have since been informed I've not cut the mustard.
Im gutted. Absolutely gutted. I'm kind of at a bit of a loss too coz i naively thought I'd breeze stage 1, did loads of prep for it, yet, depsite my efforts and subtle confidence i have apparently crashed and burned. What is most frustrating is i have no idea where or how i went wrong.
I came out feeling like i may have blown it purely down to the diagrammatical reasoning test. I felt all the other tests, including the cubes, went well (i think?? but will never truely know as its not like i can get feedback...) but i only managed 33 out of 50 on the diagrammatic reasoning Qs.
I just feel really quite lost. I have no idea whether i may have blown it purely because i didnt manage enough of the Diagrammatic Qs; irrelevant of how accurate i was with my answers. Or whether perhaps i did well in all of it but was let down on my response to the personality Qs, or whether i actually just screwed up everything??! I understand NATS' policy on not giving feedback but invariably right now, i have no idea what happened.
The fact i crashed'n burned at Stage 1... i dont know whether to be embarrassed, ashamed... I mean, what is the pass rate at Stage 1, anyone know? I mean jeez, im just at a loss.
So, in light of my lack of success, I would just like to wish anyone and everyone who has a stage anytime soon, the very, very best of luck.
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Buzz,
I know your pain. I suffered the same last week as had stage one in London. I thought I did ok, and I too got to question 33 on the diagrammatic tests! 33 is quite reasonable I believe, so you did ok there. In the first number matching one I got to 30, and in the letter matching I go to 32. The cube one I don't how many I did, most of the first section and only a few of the second, that was hard!
Where I think I fell down is on the personality test. I've spoken to people who have got through stage one and told them the answers I gave for the personality test, and they were always like, ah you shouldn't have put that, so I think it was the personlity and motivation paper that messed me up. It could be the same for you.
I am still absolutely gutted as I also felt I had a decent chance of getting through at least to stage two, and knowing people who are on the course, I feel I'd have a good chance of passing if selected....fingers crossed one day it happens.
I emailed NATS to see if they would at least tell me the areas I need to work on but I got a flat NO, but haven't tried ringing them so that might be worth a go.
I just want to say I know how you feel, ATC is the only career I want to do, so I'm not going to give up. 12 months will hopefully fly by...
If want to discuss it feel free to PM me, and we might conclude something, might be interesting to see what answers you gave for the personality test, as if we both put the same answers that could be where we went wrong!
Best of luck for the future,
Vic
I know your pain. I suffered the same last week as had stage one in London. I thought I did ok, and I too got to question 33 on the diagrammatic tests! 33 is quite reasonable I believe, so you did ok there. In the first number matching one I got to 30, and in the letter matching I go to 32. The cube one I don't how many I did, most of the first section and only a few of the second, that was hard!
Where I think I fell down is on the personality test. I've spoken to people who have got through stage one and told them the answers I gave for the personality test, and they were always like, ah you shouldn't have put that, so I think it was the personlity and motivation paper that messed me up. It could be the same for you.
I am still absolutely gutted as I also felt I had a decent chance of getting through at least to stage two, and knowing people who are on the course, I feel I'd have a good chance of passing if selected....fingers crossed one day it happens.
I emailed NATS to see if they would at least tell me the areas I need to work on but I got a flat NO, but haven't tried ringing them so that might be worth a go.
I just want to say I know how you feel, ATC is the only career I want to do, so I'm not going to give up. 12 months will hopefully fly by...
If want to discuss it feel free to PM me, and we might conclude something, might be interesting to see what answers you gave for the personality test, as if we both put the same answers that could be where we went wrong!
Best of luck for the future,
Vic
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Hello friendly people,
I've been lurking on this site for a day or two now and i'd like to say its been extremely helpful and i'd like to thank you all. I've recently been invited for a stage 2 assessement for the 25th of June....smack bang in the middle of my A-levels....nice. I'm a little nervous but also excited. Look forward to hearing how you all get on with your applications etc.
Luke x
I've been lurking on this site for a day or two now and i'd like to say its been extremely helpful and i'd like to thank you all. I've recently been invited for a stage 2 assessement for the 25th of June....smack bang in the middle of my A-levels....nice. I'm a little nervous but also excited. Look forward to hearing how you all get on with your applications etc.
Luke x
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Cheers Vic,
Yeah thats my other concern; granted i will never know if i did badly on the Ap tests but im fairly confident my accuracy was not my downfall. Thus, i concluded it must either be the Personality test or the lack of Qs answered on diagrammatical reasoning.
Im not here to have a pop at any part of the tests as i genuinely believe they all have their usage - however...
if i didnt get thru cos of that bleedin personality test... hmmm, i know they've already been talked about on this thread so will keep my rantings brief, but what annoys me most is you never get the opportunity to justify your answers. I mean i felt that so many statements were true; take the old 'leader or follower' example, i'll lead a group if it needs direction but in all fairness theres also times when i'll follow someone elses lead. Or, 'take the advice of experts?' well, if i know nothin about a subject, then yes, i would invariably take the advice of an expert without question and probably would never question him until i had expanded my own knowledge sufficiently?
And of course for every person that says "just be honest" someone else says "jeez why on earth did you put that??"...
Tis all experience, i'll make my notes as it were and busy myself for a yr until i get another crack when, hopefully, ...they'll have ditched the personality Qs... hehe na only kiddin ...when hopefully I will be successful
Buzz
Yeah thats my other concern; granted i will never know if i did badly on the Ap tests but im fairly confident my accuracy was not my downfall. Thus, i concluded it must either be the Personality test or the lack of Qs answered on diagrammatical reasoning.
Im not here to have a pop at any part of the tests as i genuinely believe they all have their usage - however...
if i didnt get thru cos of that bleedin personality test... hmmm, i know they've already been talked about on this thread so will keep my rantings brief, but what annoys me most is you never get the opportunity to justify your answers. I mean i felt that so many statements were true; take the old 'leader or follower' example, i'll lead a group if it needs direction but in all fairness theres also times when i'll follow someone elses lead. Or, 'take the advice of experts?' well, if i know nothin about a subject, then yes, i would invariably take the advice of an expert without question and probably would never question him until i had expanded my own knowledge sufficiently?And of course for every person that says "just be honest" someone else says "jeez why on earth did you put that??"...
Tis all experience, i'll make my notes as it were and busy myself for a yr until i get another crack when, hopefully, ...they'll have ditched the personality Qs... hehe na only kiddin ...when hopefully I will be successful
Buzz
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What are your plans?
For those that were unsuccessful for whatever reason, what are your plans for the next 12 months?
I have just finished the personality test and like others, I agree that most of the times, it is hard to pick one least one when they all apply. Or simply that certain tasks requires different approaches.
I have just finished the personality test and like others, I agree that most of the times, it is hard to pick one least one when they all apply. Or simply that certain tasks requires different approaches.
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course212, about to start CATC were given a Meyers-Briggs [sp] test with 80-something questions, don't know if its the same one as they give after stage 1, but at THIS stage the results are used for you to know a little bit more about yourself and your styles.
Its not so much a learning style questionnaire as we had one of those separately.
and one of the questions on this latest test was a right good-un:
"would you...
a) like to argue the meaning of most of the questions asked
b) say that they are mostly straight-forward!"
not too sure on the exact wording but i was in the 'I'm contradicting myself' stage, and that Q felt like it balanced it all out!
anyway its possible that the personality quiz after stage one is also given/should be given to people that have already failed. that way they can see what profile WOULDN'T pass the tests etc.
kind of like card-counting... you would be MORE sure of your assumption if you knew the cards you HADNT seen yet... and thereby not eliminating anyone in those mutually inclusive sets
Its not so much a learning style questionnaire as we had one of those separately.
and one of the questions on this latest test was a right good-un:
"would you...
a) like to argue the meaning of most of the questions asked
b) say that they are mostly straight-forward!"
not too sure on the exact wording but i was in the 'I'm contradicting myself' stage, and that Q felt like it balanced it all out!
anyway its possible that the personality quiz after stage one is also given/should be given to people that have already failed. that way they can see what profile WOULDN'T pass the tests etc.
kind of like card-counting... you would be MORE sure of your assumption if you knew the cards you HADNT seen yet
... and thereby not eliminating anyone in those mutually inclusive sets
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stage 2
Hello, I've got my stage 2 assessment in 2 weeks time and was wondering if the test on the motivational document is computer based or is it like the motivational test at stage 1. Also, for the DST calculation questions are you allowed pencil and rough paper for calculations?
BTW for those who were asking for a source of practice DST Q's the book
Air Traffic Control, Career Prep. by Patrick Mattson has about 30 or so such questions and also some more on the accompanying CD-ROM.
BTW for those who were asking for a source of practice DST Q's the book
Air Traffic Control, Career Prep. by Patrick Mattson has about 30 or so such questions and also some more on the accompanying CD-ROM.