Squibbler, I didn't claim to be special (but my mother says I'm great...), just that I may have said please and thank you at the right moments!
In general though, all those who dealth with the manager of the experienced controller recruitment programme found her to be helpful and friendly.
The recruiting of ab-initios may be subcontracted to a specialist recruitment firm, and if your application heads their way by mistake, they won't have a clue what to do with you!