NATS : Complaints and queries about time taken to recruit (Merged)
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Why Oh Why!!
Just a quick question and a public gripe!
Has anyone heard about courses starting in Jan 05? (or even better when they might be getting a medical?)
Tried to call HR but they no nothing short of....well anything really!
Any inside info about courses (dates, rumours!! etc) much appreciated!
2.5 years and counting! (and i have passed selection!)
Has anyone heard about courses starting in Jan 05? (or even better when they might be getting a medical?)
Tried to call HR but they no nothing short of....well anything really!
Any inside info about courses (dates, rumours!! etc) much appreciated!
2.5 years and counting! (and i have passed selection!)
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What date did you pass selection and what date did they give you in the letter?
I passed in March 04 and was informed that it will be 'sometime' in 2005. With no definate date yet.
Think patience is key here!! How come the recruit so far in advance?
I passed in March 04 and was informed that it will be 'sometime' in 2005. With no definate date yet.
Think patience is key here!! How come the recruit so far in advance?
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Passed selection sep 02, starting jun 04. Desperate to do the job so the wait was an exercise in frustration management rather than a cue to reconsider my career paths. That said, it does seem that the nats recruitment process would gain from being a little slicker.
Anyone in recruitment know why it 'works' as it does?
Anyone in recruitment know why it 'works' as it does?
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Hi.
Confused as to the question about "the medical".
Ignore me if I answer an already understood subject.
You need a class one medical to get a radar licence and a class 2 to do tower only. You need both medicals to get in with NATS. The medical is nothing new for your course, everyone has had to do it since the year dot, or somewhere abouts then anyway.
Hope I help.
Stay in there, I applied Sep 01, Offer letter in in Dec 02 and started in April 03.
Stick with it, stay patient and try to blend in.
Cheers
Bri.
Confused as to the question about "the medical".
Ignore me if I answer an already understood subject.
You need a class one medical to get a radar licence and a class 2 to do tower only. You need both medicals to get in with NATS. The medical is nothing new for your course, everyone has had to do it since the year dot, or somewhere abouts then anyway.
Hope I help.
Stay in there, I applied Sep 01, Offer letter in in Dec 02 and started in April 03.
Stick with it, stay patient and try to blend in.
Cheers
Bri.
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thanks guys
got my timing confused -
I applied in May 02,
first apps Jan 03,
second apps Feb 04
mps12 - got word about passing in March and was told Jan/Mar 05 for a course.
The reason i asked about a medical was: is this conducted before or during the six months notice they give you before your course commences???
Patience is a virtue but surely HR professionalism is keeping your candidates informed as to what is happening!!
I'm so frustrated as I'm an ex -mil controller who feels that his skills are very rapidly being lost (and contrary to popular belief (if you know me) i did have some!! honest!
)
Can't answer why they recruit so far in advance (prob something to do with holds, training backlog etc)
ps Why the statement about blending in??
All you produce are clones!!
got my timing confused -
I applied in May 02,
first apps Jan 03,
second apps Feb 04
mps12 - got word about passing in March and was told Jan/Mar 05 for a course.
The reason i asked about a medical was: is this conducted before or during the six months notice they give you before your course commences???
Patience is a virtue but surely HR professionalism is keeping your candidates informed as to what is happening!!
I'm so frustrated as I'm an ex -mil controller who feels that his skills are very rapidly being lost (and contrary to popular belief (if you know me) i did have some!! honest!
)Can't answer why they recruit so far in advance (prob something to do with holds, training backlog etc)
ps Why the statement about blending in??
All you produce are clones!!
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Hi,
I'm waiting too. In my interview they said that if i was successful the course was likely to be October 2005. I was told this in March at my London, interviews. My Congrats letter stated "sometime in 2005" as in mps12's letter... I applied May 03 1st tests feb 04 interview march 04, accepted april 04. Things seem to be speeding up.
i gotta find a job for the next 18months (+) to tide me over till i start ( i finish degree in 3 weeks aaaaargh!) still impatient tho!
hopefully, when the new course structure has taken root and everythings up and running, new atco's will be churned out by millions (well 20's
)
Chris
I'm waiting too. In my interview they said that if i was successful the course was likely to be October 2005. I was told this in March at my London, interviews. My Congrats letter stated "sometime in 2005" as in mps12's letter... I applied May 03 1st tests feb 04 interview march 04, accepted april 04. Things seem to be speeding up.
i gotta find a job for the next 18months (+) to tide me over till i start ( i finish degree in 3 weeks aaaaargh!) still impatient tho!
hopefully, when the new course structure has taken root and everythings up and running, new atco's will be churned out by millions (well 20's
) Chris
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tired-flyboy - Thanks for that, yeah I was told it was likely to be early 2005.
I am in the same boat at Chrisf - about to finish my degree and wondering what I can do for 'x' amount of months.
The problem being that if the course starts in March 05 say, it leaves me ~8 months for a job. Ive just been offered a job but now theybe thrown me a minimum 12month contract - so theres that one out the window.
Its difficult since the course could end up starting later in 2005 and I could have done the 12month contracted job!
Somebody help me please!!!
I am in the same boat at Chrisf - about to finish my degree and wondering what I can do for 'x' amount of months.
The problem being that if the course starts in March 05 say, it leaves me ~8 months for a job. Ive just been offered a job but now theybe thrown me a minimum 12month contract - so theres that one out the window.
Its difficult since the course could end up starting later in 2005 and I could have done the 12month contracted job!
Somebody help me please!!!
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mps12
Why not take the 12 month contract and let NATS know that you can't start before 12 months? - It's one option anyway - probably a better job than working at Tesco's!
It's so frustrating waiting, at least this way you wouldn't feel like you were putting everything on hold with a fair chance of waiting the 12 months anyway. Good luck with what you decide - maybe something even better will come along in the meantime with no minimum contract!
Why not take the 12 month contract and let NATS know that you can't start before 12 months? - It's one option anyway - probably a better job than working at Tesco's!
It's so frustrating waiting, at least this way you wouldn't feel like you were putting everything on hold with a fair chance of waiting the 12 months anyway. Good luck with what you decide - maybe something even better will come along in the meantime with no minimum contract!
As humble employees of NATS involved in your - probable - future, may I say how we share your frustration. I know that you are in an awkward situation, but it really does need some of you to go to the top of NATS and tell them that it is not acceptable to be b*ggered about to this extent.
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2 Sheds,
I think we would all like to say something, but as we're all on the first rung of the ladder, i personally dont wanna P**s them off in any way shape or form. I dont know how the management would respond to such a complaint..... application put on hold perhaps?? I've waited long enough as it is...
just gotta sit it out, then do a bloody good job at college to make sure i pass and haven't wasted the last 3 years of application! 
Chris
I think we would all like to say something, but as we're all on the first rung of the ladder, i personally dont wanna P**s them off in any way shape or form. I dont know how the management would respond to such a complaint..... application put on hold perhaps?? I've waited long enough as it is...
just gotta sit it out, then do a bloody good job at college to make sure i pass and haven't wasted the last 3 years of application! Chris
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2 sheds,
I'm not sure it's the place of applicants to be complaining to the upper echelons about the recruitment process; I wouldn't fancy sticking my head above the parapet until i've got a secure job!
If there is a steady flow into and more importantly out of the College then the recruitment/training system is doing its job. It's true that the wait's a git but i'd rather be sat on my hands looking forward to starting than be johnny-no-stars down at my local mac's.
n.b. no offence intended to anyone by the name of johnny who doesn't have any stars.
I'm not sure it's the place of applicants to be complaining to the upper echelons about the recruitment process; I wouldn't fancy sticking my head above the parapet until i've got a secure job!
If there is a steady flow into and more importantly out of the College then the recruitment/training system is doing its job. It's true that the wait's a git but i'd rather be sat on my hands looking forward to starting than be johnny-no-stars down at my local mac's.
n.b. no offence intended to anyone by the name of johnny who doesn't have any stars.
Chris and Alfie
I appreciate your point entirely. I was not suggesting that you should put your own name, rank, number and address on any complaint, but the fact remains that what many people are apparently describing ought to be quite unacceptable. You are too generous to suggest that the only important factor is the flow of people in and out of the college, you have your lives to organise as well.
I appreciate your point entirely. I was not suggesting that you should put your own name, rank, number and address on any complaint, but the fact remains that what many people are apparently describing ought to be quite unacceptable. You are too generous to suggest that the only important factor is the flow of people in and out of the college, you have your lives to organise as well.
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No problem 2 sheds,
I couldnt agree more.... i'm free to start in three weeks time if needs be, if we were given a definite date it would be fine, and as you say we can get on with our lives...I just dont get why they constantly recruit for jobs when the waiting list must already be nearly 2 years long! The RAF did a similar thing to me on a flying scholarship. other way round tho... I had to travel from london all the way to fife, (they did scholarships at southend so god knows why i didn't go there) arrived and was told they were 3 weeks behind schedule. and there was a back log of cadets. i was there for 7 weeks and only flew 9 hours of my allocated 20. Gave up in the end.... got sponsorship and finished my PPL on my own
The wait continues (but stiil glad i'm goin to the college sometime! )
Chris
I couldnt agree more.... i'm free to start in three weeks time if needs be, if we were given a definite date it would be fine, and as you say we can get on with our lives...I just dont get why they constantly recruit for jobs when the waiting list must already be nearly 2 years long! The RAF did a similar thing to me on a flying scholarship. other way round tho... I had to travel from london all the way to fife, (they did scholarships at southend so god knows why i didn't go there) arrived and was told they were 3 weeks behind schedule. and there was a back log of cadets. i was there for 7 weeks and only flew 9 hours of my allocated 20. Gave up in the end.... got sponsorship and finished my PPL on my own
The wait continues (but stiil glad i'm goin to the college sometime! )
Chris
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Eek!
Im up for interviews/comp tests tomorrow at Birmingham!
The lovely lady from EGBB told us at our initial tests which were last month (30-Apr) that our predicted intake all things going well would be June 2005!
Im a little confused as to why our group has evidently been speeded up through to the next round when those down south and up north have had there interview dates slashed due to unforeseen circumstances?
Also, I have a CAA class1 so will I need to do it again, surely not?
If im succesful I intend to work and live a life of leisure. Probably HGV1, some dirty agency work trunking frozen food to johnny one star (he will be on one star by this point) and try and enjoy life before Im back into the slog until I retire!
Remember, If things go well we'll be at this game for a long time and will look back occasionally thinking, it'd be good to be young free and single again
Im up for interviews/comp tests tomorrow at Birmingham!
The lovely lady from EGBB told us at our initial tests which were last month (30-Apr) that our predicted intake all things going well would be June 2005!
Im a little confused as to why our group has evidently been speeded up through to the next round when those down south and up north have had there interview dates slashed due to unforeseen circumstances?
Also, I have a CAA class1 so will I need to do it again, surely not?
If im succesful I intend to work and live a life of leisure. Probably HGV1, some dirty agency work trunking frozen food to johnny one star (he will be on one star by this point) and try and enjoy life before Im back into the slog until I retire!
Remember, If things go well we'll be at this game for a long time and will look back occasionally thinking, it'd be good to be young free and single again
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I dont think (well hope!) that any area will get preferential treatment re a start date. if they do i'll be on the phone straight away... i noticed a step up in pace during selection.
As per your class 1, they'll probably do one again to make sure you have the full 12 months cover, so you dont have to leave your course to have one done again...
I've heard they give you 6 months notice of a start date... but again, i think this may fluctuate.
Ask at the interview tomoz when the start date will likely be..... in your personal interview that is
Plz report back, lets see what the latest is! Best of luck tommorrow! be yourself and you'll be fine!
Chris
As per your class 1, they'll probably do one again to make sure you have the full 12 months cover, so you dont have to leave your course to have one done again...
I've heard they give you 6 months notice of a start date... but again, i think this may fluctuate.
Ask at the interview tomoz when the start date will likely be..... in your personal interview that is
Plz report back, lets see what the latest is! Best of luck tommorrow! be yourself and you'll be fine!
Chris
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Good luck tomorrow!
Bad news if your CAA class 1 is for flying, apparantly (spelling!
it) you will require to do another one for ATC!
Don't know why but it seems to be the way -the CAA way then the NATS way!
GOD i sound like a cinic and i've not even started yet!
Ah well good luck anyhow!
Bad news if your CAA class 1 is for flying, apparantly (spelling!
it) you will require to do another one for ATC!Don't know why but it seems to be the way -the CAA way then the NATS way!
GOD i sound like a cinic and i've not even started yet!
Ah well good luck anyhow!
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Cheers guys
Indeed obviously no preferential treatment to your geographical background
My class1 is a bloody flying one Thought a CAA class1 was a CAA class1. At stage one the wench seemed to brag that they had exactly the same medical as flightcrew so it should be the same.
Although, my initial was at Gatwick and they seem to do theres at Heathrow? So maybe your right?
You only need to renew medicals not do the whole thing again. Initial cost me £400 and then its about £90 a year at your local CAA docca man
Anyway, im off to bed, early start and my brain is saturated with crap ill likely not need!
Say a prayer
'53
Indeed obviously no preferential treatment to your geographical background
My class1 is a bloody flying one
Thought a CAA class1 was a CAA class1. At stage one the wench seemed to brag that they had exactly the same medical as flightcrew so it should be the same.Although, my initial was at Gatwick and they seem to do theres at Heathrow? So maybe your right?
You only need to renew medicals not do the whole thing again. Initial cost me £400 and then its about £90 a year at your local CAA docca man
Anyway, im off to bed, early start and my brain is saturated with crap ill likely not need!
Say a prayer
'53
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3 days and no reply...i wonder if their e-mail is full???
no wait maybe the person i sent it to is off and haven't got an out of office auto mail....
maybe even they've got soo much mail they can't respond....
ah well still counting!!
no wait maybe the person i sent it to is off and haven't got an out of office auto mail....
maybe even they've got soo much mail they can't respond....
ah well still counting!!