NATS Interviews
Guest
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NKOTB,
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Sorry you didnt get through, 3rd time lucky....definately!!
Thank you for the advice you have offered on this thread though....most helpful...you have given me an insight as to what is involved in the interviews.
WHAT DID YOU FAIL ON?!
WHAT DID THE LETTER SAY?!
Keep in touch,
Mch2k.
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Sorry you didnt get through, 3rd time lucky....definately!!
Thank you for the advice you have offered on this thread though....most helpful...you have given me an insight as to what is involved in the interviews.
WHAT DID YOU FAIL ON?!
WHAT DID THE LETTER SAY?!
Keep in touch,
Mch2k.
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Guest
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Well it's about time I threw in my threepenneth for what it's worth. for the tech interview brush up on your time distance maths, you will be asked one. look out for the odd trick question, it's only a trick if you didn't LISTEN properly. They aren't trying to fail you they just want to see what you've got. The best source of information I found was the Ian Allen ATC book, if it isn't in there you don't need to know it. Forget about aircraft recognition, they want to make you a controller not recruit ready made ones. The spotters have an early advantage at the college but they soon have to buckle down with the rest of us ! Worry about that **** at the end of aerodrome 2 when you get in !!!!! The personnel interview is just plain wierd and if you are going to lie then you'll need a good memory as you get the same questions over and over but in a slightly different way. The computer tests..........
well just do what you can, I don't know anybody who thinks they passed them (actually only one but he's a lying tosser !) but they all did. It was one of the most daunting days of my life all of thirteen months ago but I promise you that if ATC is really what you want to do then you wont be disappointed. I can't believe they pay me all this money to play aeroplanes ! Good luck the lot of you and see you at CATC soon. If you want to hear any more drivel then mail me, I can go on for hours. 114 RULES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
well just do what you can, I don't know anybody who thinks they passed them (actually only one but he's a lying tosser !) but they all did. It was one of the most daunting days of my life all of thirteen months ago but I promise you that if ATC is really what you want to do then you wont be disappointed. I can't believe they pay me all this money to play aeroplanes ! Good luck the lot of you and see you at CATC soon. If you want to hear any more drivel then mail me, I can go on for hours. 114 RULES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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As previously stated, the Ian Allen book is the business with spangly bits on top (we should be on commission!). The 'Yes/No' questions are bit strange, you can only answer yes or no to a series of questions the interviewer puts to you and they will cut you off at the slightest hint of 'ummm sort of, but not all the time, erm...only on tuesdays..'. Top tip - the correct answer to the question 'Would you consider yourself to be a spotter?' is probably 'no'. You might think it would be in your favour, but it has a few negative connotations (however misplaced those may be!!!!) and as my colleague Vlad points out above, it matters very little when you get to the college. Everyone's a spotter after a few months here anyway. 
The computer tests are a complete bitch. I have a theory that they are looking for perseverence in the face of extreme stress and anxiety, since much gnashing of teeth is involved, as much as your ability to actually 'do' the swines. Any advice I could offer to relax and not worry is a bit like p***ing in the wind, but do try - everybody thinks they failed them. Same goes for the initial written tests - if the chap(ess) next to you has finished within the time limit, chances are they got it wrong. Accuracy is the key.
If you can get through it all, then Vlad is right, you will have a cracking time in Bournemouth, and I'm sure (I hope?!)afterwards as well. Please tell me it's good afterwards? It is, isn't it? Guys? Huh?
The computer tests are a complete bitch. I have a theory that they are looking for perseverence in the face of extreme stress and anxiety, since much gnashing of teeth is involved, as much as your ability to actually 'do' the swines. Any advice I could offer to relax and not worry is a bit like p***ing in the wind, but do try - everybody thinks they failed them. Same goes for the initial written tests - if the chap(ess) next to you has finished within the time limit, chances are they got it wrong. Accuracy is the key.
If you can get through it all, then Vlad is right, you will have a cracking time in Bournemouth, and I'm sure (I hope?!)afterwards as well. Please tell me it's good afterwards? It is, isn't it? Guys? Huh?
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Let me chuck in my two penneth again. Sorry if you saw them on an earlier thread...
As for aircraft recog. be able to distinguish the major airliner types, 747 from 737, DC10 from 777 that sort of thing, if you can do A320 from 737's so much the better.
And as for the aptitude tests, yes you do get the results in the personality interview (well I did) and I have to say that I consider them to be pretty poo. I have a letter from NATS from my first application stating that I lack the aptitude to be a controller. My subsequent application I JUST passed them, yet, without wishing to blow my own trumpet, I managed to pass through CATC without failing anything and manage to (just) hold on to my Heathrow validation....my point being if you fail first time, if you want it keep applying, many controller's I know didn't get in first time. Besides the more people that get in the nearer I am to a posting...O well back to the Telegraph Employment section!!!
As for aircraft recog. be able to distinguish the major airliner types, 747 from 737, DC10 from 777 that sort of thing, if you can do A320 from 737's so much the better.
And as for the aptitude tests, yes you do get the results in the personality interview (well I did) and I have to say that I consider them to be pretty poo. I have a letter from NATS from my first application stating that I lack the aptitude to be a controller. My subsequent application I JUST passed them, yet, without wishing to blow my own trumpet, I managed to pass through CATC without failing anything and manage to (just) hold on to my Heathrow validation....my point being if you fail first time, if you want it keep applying, many controller's I know didn't get in first time. Besides the more people that get in the nearer I am to a posting...O well back to the Telegraph Employment section!!!
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Let me jump into the foray.....
I think the interviews were the most nerve-wracking thing I've ever had to go through, but a bit of learning and a real desire to do the job is what got me through, I think. And I do agree with Vlad, I don't know anyone either who thought that they passed the computer tests, I certainly didn't think I had!!
But to answer Dog on Wheels, yes, the college is a great place to be and I think we'll all have a special place for Bournemouth forever in our hearts, but it gets even better!!
Being out in "the real world" is better than you'll ever imagine. Well it is for me!!!
And although it may seem like a real uphill slog at first, to coin a phrase....
"It really is all worth it in the end"
The buzz you get from shifting the traffic is not like anything else!!!
I think the interviews were the most nerve-wracking thing I've ever had to go through, but a bit of learning and a real desire to do the job is what got me through, I think. And I do agree with Vlad, I don't know anyone either who thought that they passed the computer tests, I certainly didn't think I had!!
But to answer Dog on Wheels, yes, the college is a great place to be and I think we'll all have a special place for Bournemouth forever in our hearts, but it gets even better!!
Being out in "the real world" is better than you'll ever imagine. Well it is for me!!!
And although it may seem like a real uphill slog at first, to coin a phrase....
"It really is all worth it in the end"
The buzz you get from shifting the traffic is not like anything else!!!
?!Guest
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Evil Jethro: You *Really* thing you're gonna get a posting out of that cramped little tower you work at?
Mch2K: As for techincal interview questions, I've had the experience twice and was asked very similar questions.
Good ones are scenarios where for example you get an aircraft with a problem on the end of the runway and you can't shift it off whilst you have another couple on final approach - what do you do?
I also got a lot of stuff about transatlantic flights - levels - speeds - time scale for a flight say LHR-JFK, that sort of thing.
Good luck anyway.
Mch2K: As for techincal interview questions, I've had the experience twice and was asked very similar questions.
Good ones are scenarios where for example you get an aircraft with a problem on the end of the runway and you can't shift it off whilst you have another couple on final approach - what do you do?
I also got a lot of stuff about transatlantic flights - levels - speeds - time scale for a flight say LHR-JFK, that sort of thing.
Good luck anyway.
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Hi again,
MCH 2000:
The letter just states that you have not reached the required standards and not much else. I have written for further feedback and am waiting for it to drop through the letterbox any day now.
Don't get into a panic about the tech interviews, you are getting a lot of very useful advice from everyone - 'driver 8' (above) has it pretty well summed up.
Brown Trousers:
Psycho tests basically give them a personal profile about you. You can ask for your test results if they haven't already told you at the start of the interview.
Take 5:
Thanks for the support!!! Let me know how you application goes, either through Pprune or through Nick if you want. Good luck with it all.
NKOTB
MCH 2000:
The letter just states that you have not reached the required standards and not much else. I have written for further feedback and am waiting for it to drop through the letterbox any day now.
Don't get into a panic about the tech interviews, you are getting a lot of very useful advice from everyone - 'driver 8' (above) has it pretty well summed up.
Brown Trousers:
Psycho tests basically give them a personal profile about you. You can ask for your test results if they haven't already told you at the start of the interview.
Take 5:
Thanks for the support!!! Let me know how you application goes, either through Pprune or through Nick if you want. Good luck with it all.
NKOTB
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I would recommend the Graham Duke book - abc of Air Traffic Control - ISBN No. 0-7110-2569-X
I would not recommend United Kingdom ATC by Dave Graves - it is badly written and very repetitive. The only thing in it's favour is the section about Heathrow - once he has explained how this works, he just repeats the same things for every other airport.
I would not recommend United Kingdom ATC by Dave Graves - it is badly written and very repetitive. The only thing in it's favour is the section about Heathrow - once he has explained how this works, he just repeats the same things for every other airport.
Guest
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And can anyone tell me
a) how quickly they actually get back to you after the tests if they want to call you for interview (I assume the 10 days is when the negative results go out)
b) How much notice they give you of the interview date when they do get back to you?
a) how quickly they actually get back to you after the tests if they want to call you for interview (I assume the 10 days is when the negative results go out)
b) How much notice they give you of the interview date when they do get back to you?
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The official word that I got was:
Due to the introduction of the second runway and the demands placed on staff with training etc no visits are possible during February....(unless someone will sneak me in!)
BT.
[This message has been edited by brown trousers (edited 30 January 2001).]
Due to the introduction of the second runway and the demands placed on staff with training etc no visits are possible during February....(unless someone will sneak me in!)
BT.
[This message has been edited by brown trousers (edited 30 January 2001).]
Guest
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BT,
I guess this is something of a very strong hint to anyone at Manchester ATCC?!
WELL, If any very nice person wishes to *sneak* BT in, can they please *sneak* me in too?!?!?!?!
.....MCH2k
[email protected]
I guess this is something of a very strong hint to anyone at Manchester ATCC?!
WELL, If any very nice person wishes to *sneak* BT in, can they please *sneak* me in too?!?!?!?!
.....MCH2k
[email protected]
Guest
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Can anyone please tell me, after training, is there a clause which says you have to stay with NATS for x-years until they have recovered the cost of training you?
Also, is the recruitment proccess on-going all year, or do I have to rush and get my application form in before a set date??
Thanks
Also, is the recruitment proccess on-going all year, or do I have to rush and get my application form in before a set date??
Thanks