ATC email with assessment

[LearningAllTheTime]

Hey Guys,

I got an email finally from nats! I am worried because my book still has not come from Amazon and library book still has not come in.

I am really not sure what to expect on this assessment?Tips please!?! This will not involve the same questions as: spatial awareness, Basic checking and self report questionnaire, because I will not be ready I am trying to get a valid link so I practice things like this.

The email said "assessment" not test but I do not want to click on it and this makes it so I cannot click on it again. I like to be prepared, with a cup of coffee.ss
..................................................[])

Although I know it determines if you are suitable, but i want to be ready.

Cheers!

[Crazy Voyager]

My tip is to go to the top of the page and read a few pages in the huuuge stycky thread abot the nats assesment process.

[NDW]

Have a look at the top thread in this forum. It's all about NATS and their selection process including assessments and aptitude testing.

[LearningAllTheTime]

I have been to them an read them all.

Tiscali one for exam is dead, all tests seem to happen on the day you meet them, i want to know what is in the assessment email link, im not to sure.

thanks

[LearningAllTheTime]

Bump^ question above ^

[kiwi chick]

My sugggestion would be to brush up on your spelling and grammar first :ok:

I'm only half being cheeky too... nothing screams "uneducated" more than bad grammar.

I apologise if English is not your first language, but I'm sure you'd rather hear suggestions (before the assessment) than "thanks but no thanks" (after the assessment) ;)

[Louloza]

I´v just received the same email to do the test on-line but I don´t know exactly what it is? please let me know if you have more information.
Thanks

[stevep64]

To add to what Kiwichick said. In my experience, the people that stress out about preparing as much as possible are usually the ones that don't get accepted. Those that do manage to scrape through as a result of their preparation don't make it through the training.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, because no-one listens :ugh: You either have it or you don't. If you have what it takes you'll get in. If you don't, and you get in because you bought books, courses, etc to get you through the selection, then more fool you, because you're going to spend money to move to where ever your training course is, maybe take a huge cut in pay to follow your dream, and then bomb out.

I'm not saying don't follow your dream, but get the job on your merits, your personality, your innate abilities, not those you manufactured from getting coaching from someone else.

Ask yourself, what are you going to lose if you don't get the job? Then ask yourself, what are you going to lose if you get the job under false pretenses and fail?

[kiwi chick]

^ Exactly what he said ^

:)

Funny Steve I said those exact words:

You either have it or you don't.

on an almost exact post last week, and that's from my limited view at the stage I'm at - so I'm glad to hear you feel the same :}

[benh2142]

The test is available for you to take for 7 days, so your book should come with plenty of time to spare. What book did you buy?

[The Fat Controller]

I joined NATS in 1986 on 62 Course.

After starting our training, we were sent to do the RAF selection tests.

At our graduation we were shown how we had done in these tests.

One of the highest marks was achieved by the first person to fail a course.

I would not have been selected :sad:

A statistical analysis of all the factors only showed ONE strong correlation.

The YOUNGER you start a course the better chance you have of passing.

NATS have spent millions trying to identify "IT" but like all ANSPs have seemingly yet to succeed.

I have been lucky, managed to validate all of my ratings and still enjoying my job to this day.

[LearningAllTheTime]

All I wanted to know was what the assessment link went to, ie will i need a couple of hours or less. I know that I will only get in based on if I am suitable for the role.

You would not turn up for an interview naked, you come in a suit. I have been in a job that does not require me to have good grammar or know mathematics, so if I do go over these things rather than not then I will be brushing up not deceiving. Trying to be prepared does not mean I am stressing out, I would not want to be handling peoples lives if i was not suited for the role. I even have a contingency plan if I am not suitable, that is the type of person I am.

[GAPSTER]

Excellent GM potential right there:E

[sambatc]

LearningAllTheTime

You say you have been to and read all of the NATS interview process thread.
If you had, you would have spotted confirmation (quite a few times) that the first online assessment is simply a very quick (5 minutes? It's been a while since I did it) basic checking test. Can you spot the difference in strings of letters and numbers?
You would also have seen that before you take the test, you're able to spend a bit of time doing practice tests, of the same format.

Good luck.

[LearningAllTheTime]

FOR NON-WINDOWS USERS MUST READ BEFORE NATS FIRST EMAIL TEST:

FIRST:

If you come from IT, here is some hints, if you are using a non-commercial version of Unix (they assume all use mac browser or IE). The email you get from them that has no mention of the word "confirmation" means it is the first email with a test, not confirmation of stage 2.

SECOND:

You cannot use Linux while doing the test! I installed windows vista in a VM, if you do not have enough RAM, you will lagg big time, this made me click slow, you get 9 seconds per question.

THIRD:

I left it to last minute trying to get answers from this forum, thinking if I click the assessment link it is a one time session link this is not the case! You can go to it more than once its a login link.

I could have installed windows days ago on a partition but this means using Gparted (means all together a 2 hrs installing for me if you lack the RAM and I have work soon), this contributed to me failing the test i would not have time to install i have work, but now you will have time :). :ok:

I hope anyone from IT background, reads this please sticky it is very important, otherwise like me they may make the assumption that the nats link in the email is a one tiome click link, when they finally click it they will realise that it is not, but it is too late.

For anyone in IT to read before the test, it is helpful I wish I knew, got all flustered before test began LOL.

TIPS:

Install windows the day before, even if you do not believe in proprietary software :P The Download time does not exactly help. The Windows OS just ensures your compatible.

If you have a touchpad on your laptop, you can also go and get a mouse haha. Aww the vendor lock-in of the OS's i really did not see that coming, Richard Stallman would cry well only for GNU/Linux LOL. Could have maybe used IE in Wine but the test seems to pick up the Operating System, which I did not have time to test.

Good Luck, do not make same mistake! I Would love to have actually put myself to the test with better circumstances, also any kind of matching game will help you out!

Olly North

[GAPSTER]

F**k me,I'm glad I read that!

Wasn't going to comment on the spelling/grammar but...:E

..."I have been in a job that does not require me to have good grammar..."

How about being at large in society mate...keep your (or should that be you're??) fingers crossed you're (your???) not going to end up one day as my trainee.

[LearningAllTheTime]

Yeh, my grammar sucks. The joke is I actually compare codes a lot of the time in my job.

On the positive: I have a year to brush up on my Mathematics and English then have a fair shot, to see if I can make it. I wish I just plucked up the courage to click the link, instead of the premise that it was a session that would only last up until it expired. I told my mates was kicking myself!lol

Im going to make a program in Java, so that I can practice matching sets of codes, it will give me a chance to catch up on coding too.

I might start a log, so others can use it to practice too. It will be interesting if after a year if I will be ready or not. Good or bad idea?

olly

[kiwi chick]

Gapster, you made me Laugh Out Loud, you old thing ;)

Learning All The Time.

*takes a deep breath*

Please take this as constructive criticism.

I'm finding your attitude to be one that is not really conducive to passing selection as an Air Traffic Contoller (trainee).

(Anyone else, please feel free to step in and correct me here if I'm out of line?)

Whilst I am a mere Trainee-to-be myself, I have passed all the selection process and have a slight idea what they're looking for.

However, there are people on here far more advanced than I... ie years of experience, who are trying to help you as well yet you seem to be obtuse and a little obstinate.

My advice would be to forget what you think you know, read through all these posts, listen to what the elders are telling you, and try and apply it if and when you get to the next stage.

Good luck. :ok:

[GAPSTER]

@flightless bird...less of the old if you don't mind!

Apart from your less than respectful attitude to us venerable 40 somethings I have to say I'm in tune with your comments.I generally try and take a constructive point of view myself believe it or not but occasionally have to let off steam:}

All the best with your prospective career,keep us posted.

[kiwi chick]

Hahaha!! My sincerest apologies for inferring you are of vintage. Have you seen my manufacture date?!

Thanks for your well wishes - I start in a week and have to admit I'm quietly crapping myself. The Air Force training is now looking pretty cruisy compared to what I'm about to face me thinks. :}