NATS interview process
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Wigan
Stage 2
To anyone who has recently gone through stage 2, i was just wondering how long it took for you to receive your results?
I had my stage 2 last week but i feel very impatient with the waiting game, and im sure most people feel the same!
I had my stage 2 last week but i feel very impatient with the waiting game, and im sure most people feel the same!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: London
stage 2 result
I had my stage 2 on 6th April, it was the new stage 2 (i think my group was one of the first if not the first to sit the new stage 2). I found out i passed today, so considering the bank holiday weekend was inbetween it only took 8 working days to find out (actually two weeks).
I found the tests very stressful, mainly because i hadn't known what to expect (apart from knowing there was no interview). The tests can be fun, although they would only be "fun" if not part of an application process.....as part of this process they are horrid. I came out of the tests feeling very drained as it is a long day and i didnt think i had passed.
It is very hard if not impossible to give advice on how to do well at stage 2. The only advice one can give is to try and relax as much as possible, sleep well the night before and when approaching the tests try not to think about it being a test situation in which your career depends. When you make mistakes just move your mind on as quickly as possible. If you dwell on mistakes you will find yourself failing or missing the next few questions, as on some of the tests you move onto the next question straight away. Also the main point of the nature of these tests is to see if you can work when under a lot of pressure/stress.
Once you've completed stage 2 just remember that no one can get every single thing right on all the computer tests, i would go as far as to say this would be humanly impossible. Therefore coming away knowing you got things wrong is normal.
I found the tests very stressful, mainly because i hadn't known what to expect (apart from knowing there was no interview). The tests can be fun, although they would only be "fun" if not part of an application process.....as part of this process they are horrid. I came out of the tests feeling very drained as it is a long day and i didnt think i had passed.
It is very hard if not impossible to give advice on how to do well at stage 2. The only advice one can give is to try and relax as much as possible, sleep well the night before and when approaching the tests try not to think about it being a test situation in which your career depends. When you make mistakes just move your mind on as quickly as possible. If you dwell on mistakes you will find yourself failing or missing the next few questions, as on some of the tests you move onto the next question straight away. Also the main point of the nature of these tests is to see if you can work when under a lot of pressure/stress.
Once you've completed stage 2 just remember that no one can get every single thing right on all the computer tests, i would go as far as to say this would be humanly impossible. Therefore coming away knowing you got things wrong is normal.
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Wigan
roar00 - well done on passing your stage 2! thanks for the info on how long you had to wait, im not going to work myself up too much about it now!
i agree with you, a very stressful and draining day, although some tests such as the flight strip making i thought was quite fun!
any idea when your stage 3 is?
i agree with you, a very stressful and draining day, although some tests such as the flight strip making i thought was quite fun!
any idea when your stage 3 is?
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Cookstown
i submitted my application form yesterday...waiting to hear back so i can book my stage 2! although i am a bit worried in that i have my final year uni exams coming up at the end of may, so i have started my revision for that and i think my stage 2 will fall round the height of my revision, bit of a distraction but i hope it doesnt do much damage....for both exams and stage 2!
still there's always the RAF which I'm applying for atm!
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Crewe
Hi.. I got my Stage 2 test results back yesterday (Monday).. and I only took my tests last Tuesday, so pretty quick! Stage 1 took longer to arrive, about ten days. The interview is now booked for the 20th may! Scary times!!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: UK
OK I'm slightly concerned now...I filled out my full application yesterday for S2, and obviously as I wear contact lenses I had to put down my prescription details. Now, the only report that I could actually find with this information on was from 2 years ago, but I thought to myself, well, perhaps my eyesight hasn't changed that much in 2 years. But I then had a look on the website after I submitted my application form, and I think (not 100% sure as I don't know the in's and out's of optometry) one of the figures I put down for spherical correction may fall outside the boundary.
My application is still under consideration so I don't know anything for definite yet, but I am just wondering if I could get a "no" based on the eyesight prescription I put down? At first I wouldn't have thought so, especially as I can imagine a fair amount of people put down "unknown" (due to not having any idea), and go through to the medical post-S3, but now I'm not sure. Furthermore, if I did get a "no" on these grounds, would I be able to plead my case pending up-to-date figures from my optometrist, or would that be the end of it?
Sorry for waffling, just a tad worried now and wondered what the thoughts were of people who had been through it?
Thanks
My application is still under consideration so I don't know anything for definite yet, but I am just wondering if I could get a "no" based on the eyesight prescription I put down? At first I wouldn't have thought so, especially as I can imagine a fair amount of people put down "unknown" (due to not having any idea), and go through to the medical post-S3, but now I'm not sure. Furthermore, if I did get a "no" on these grounds, would I be able to plead my case pending up-to-date figures from my optometrist, or would that be the end of it?
Sorry for waffling, just a tad worried now and wondered what the thoughts were of people who had been through it?
Thanks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: Berkshire, UK
Hey Bzz1,
I am having exactly the same worries at the same time- i have one eye that has spherical correction of -3.25, a tiny bit out of their range- everything else is fine and within their paramaters- hoping that they will asess individually on the grounds that i am over 26! My eyesight is better than 20/20 with correction.
let me know what happens please!
Cheers
I am having exactly the same worries at the same time- i have one eye that has spherical correction of -3.25, a tiny bit out of their range- everything else is fine and within their paramaters- hoping that they will asess individually on the grounds that i am over 26! My eyesight is better than 20/20 with correction.
let me know what happens please!
Cheers
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Woking, Surrey
Best thing is probably to get an up-to-date eye test (they'll want it within 2 years anyway I should think!) and let them know asap!
pugwash, they say they assess individually if you're over 26, but I don't know what that means if you're outside the limits - they may be more restrictive! The official limits from the CAA for the medical are detailed via the links here but NATS do seem to be more restrictive. (CAA only quote the JAR Class 1 here, though say the CAA Class 1 limits are similar)
pugwash, they say they assess individually if you're over 26, but I don't know what that means if you're outside the limits - they may be more restrictive! The official limits from the CAA for the medical are detailed via the links here but NATS do seem to be more restrictive. (CAA only quote the JAR Class 1 here, though say the CAA Class 1 limits are similar)
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 235
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From: Scotland
The NATS requirements are indeed more restrictive since they want to be sure that you can hold a CAA Class 1 for the duration of your career. If they set their limits to be tougher than the CAA, even if your eyesight does deteriorate with age (likely), you'll still be ok to work.
Hopefully HR will get back to you once they've looked at your application - otherwise you'll need to contact them or the medical centre at NATS I think.
Hopefully HR will get back to you once they've looked at your application - otherwise you'll need to contact them or the medical centre at NATS I think.
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: UK
Thanks guys - I will get on the phone to my optometrist and get the most recent figures he has. I'm quite annoyed, mainly because if people can put down "unknown" and still get through to the medical, I don't see why you can be rejected automatically on the somewhat insubstantial basis of what you as the applicant (not optometrist) puts down. Hypothetically, someone with absolutely terrible eyesight could get through on the basis of writing "unknown". Hopefully you can see what I'm going on about!
I'm also quite surprised as I've passed RAF & RN medicals for the same job fine, and I would have thought they would be more stringent than NATS, but clearly not.
pugwash - Unfortunately I'm only 18, so the "over 26" card is one less leg for me stand on! But I'll let you know how mine goes. Best of luck with yours!
Cheers
I'm also quite surprised as I've passed RAF & RN medicals for the same job fine, and I would have thought they would be more stringent than NATS, but clearly not.
pugwash - Unfortunately I'm only 18, so the "over 26" card is one less leg for me stand on! But I'll let you know how mine goes. Best of luck with yours!
Cheers
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
Bzz1,
Would you rather jump through every hoop and get through Stage 3 only to find, when you get to the medical, that NATS won't employ you, or find out now without having to go through everything first? I know which I would prefer... perhaps there isn't an advantage writing 'unknown'.
I don't think NATS will 'automatically' reject you - most people get sent for an eyesight assessment. As for RN/RAF, you are a officer/soldier first and an air traffic controller second, so there are differences there, and also, they don't expect you to work for them for the next 30+ years.
Good luck with HR/your optometrist.
Would you rather jump through every hoop and get through Stage 3 only to find, when you get to the medical, that NATS won't employ you, or find out now without having to go through everything first? I know which I would prefer... perhaps there isn't an advantage writing 'unknown'.
I don't think NATS will 'automatically' reject you - most people get sent for an eyesight assessment. As for RN/RAF, you are a officer/soldier first and an air traffic controller second, so there are differences there, and also, they don't expect you to work for them for the next 30+ years.
Good luck with HR/your optometrist.
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Glasgow
Application form
Hi guys,
this is my first post...this forum is a great place and I want to thank everybody for the selfless help!!
I would appreciate it if someone can pleaseeee help me with this... passed stage 1 and OPQ, I was asked to completed the full application form which I submitted last thursday, however I still haven't heard anything back...when I checked on the website it appears "your full application form has been received and it is under consideration"... is this not too long?... it seems to me from what I read that it usually takes less time to hear back ...
could anyone please let me know if this time elapsed is normal?
Cheers guys!
this is my first post...this forum is a great place and I want to thank everybody for the selfless help!!
I would appreciate it if someone can pleaseeee help me with this... passed stage 1 and OPQ, I was asked to completed the full application form which I submitted last thursday, however I still haven't heard anything back...when I checked on the website it appears "your full application form has been received and it is under consideration"... is this not too long?... it seems to me from what I read that it usually takes less time to hear back ...
could anyone please let me know if this time elapsed is normal?
Cheers guys!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Woking, Surrey
I submitted the application form on Tuesday night last week, it was routed via medical and then I got the invitation to book a stage 2 date yesterday late afternoon. So perhaps wait another day or two...
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Glasgow
JonathanB,....
thanks I will wait a couple of days more if I haven't heard by thursday I will contact then...
I read in one of your post that sent them a message asking for confirmation that they had received your questionnaire?... is there any e-mail address to contact them (apart from the one that appears on the emails) or only by phone?
anyway, if there is/was anyone else in the same situation... could you please tell me
Cheers!
thanks I will wait a couple of days more if I haven't heard by thursday I will contact then...
I read in one of your post that sent them a message asking for confirmation that they had received your questionnaire?... is there any e-mail address to contact them (apart from the one that appears on the emails) or only by phone?
anyway, if there is/was anyone else in the same situation... could you please tell me
Cheers!