NATS interview process

[paperclip810]

sauceball,

As far as I know, Stage 1 and Stage 2 are just there to decide whether you should reach Stage 3 and they don't count directly towards the decision.

However, I know they can ask you about things which you might have got wrong in the motivation papers, or the results of the personality tests so Stage 3 is not totally devoid of previous stuff!

Good luck - feel free to PM me if you have any random questions.

[shugs]

Hi sauceball
think paperclip810's right. if you had done something majorly wrong in earlier stages you wouldn't have made it this far. They may ask you questions just to check you are still answering the same as you did in the on-line personality test and stuff.
good luck

[sauceball]

Thanks for the replies. I guess what I meant was, if you performed really well at stage 2 but maybe struggled in the final interview, would they take that into account compared with someone who scraped through the computer tests but gave a better impression at stage 3? Or am I thinking about this too much?!

[shugs]

I think maybe you are thinking about it too much sauceball, but the honest answer is I have no idea.

I would suspect they only look at stage three, and they make their decision in the 10 minutes after you walk out of the room. Even if you aced stage two, i don't think this would help you if you didn't perform at stage three, as this is the only time they actually speak to you/interview you properly, so need to make a good impression.

[Gonzo]

• Think of the selection process as a hurdle race: Once over one hurdle, you move on to the next, with your performance at the previous hurdle having no bearing on the outcome of the next.
• Current split between Area:Aerodrome is about 40:12
• MaggiesFarmer, yes, sounds like you're correct.

[student88]

So you really want to become an airline p i l o t? I'd suggest you think of other ways of saving the money. Not having a serious interest in a profession can lead to boredom, boredom can kill.

You may also off NATS in the process!

Just my 2 cents.

[Russell Bell]

Maggiesfarmer, I also failed on the interview. It was the first interview i'd ever taken so I was nervous and gave silly answers and couldn't give examples to some questions when asked to. Ill be back next year, although I have just applied to EUROCONTROL but don't really want to leave the UK. I think it will be a good experience to have a go at their selection process anyway.

[Bzz1]

Have any Stage 1 attendees (London, Mancs and Glasgow) from the 10th of March heard anything back yet?

I know they said within 15 working days but I thought that they didn't normally take that long.

Is it a case of, no news is good news?

[paperclip810]

Bzz1,

It takes almost 15 working days - I'd guess you'll hear next Wednesday or so...

No news is just that - no news! It seems everyone gets emailed at the same time for Stage 1, although not for the other stages.

[Arrows2100]

Originally Posted by Bzz1

Have any Stage 1 attendees (London, Mancs and Glasgow) from the 10th of March heard anything back yet?

I know they said within 15 working days but I thought that they didn't normally take that long.

Is it a case of, no news is good news?

Hey man,

Even for my Stage 3 results (where there was only 5 people who attended) the results still took 15 days to get back to me. Take early notification as luck on your behalf :P

Best of luck!

[rossbrereton18]

Why have NATS changed the places to do the stages?

Ive got to travel to Swanwick now! I think i will probably fly to southampton and get a train there.

But anyway, ive got all my stuff for stage 1, ive read the main text part, i found alot of it to be quite straight forward, stuff i know about already.

Im at the last part, where all the airfact code stuff is. what do i have to do with that? will i get tested on any of that stuff, as i dont quite understand why i would need to know something like that for stage 1!

[T250]

Why have NATS changed the places to do the stages?

Maybe because of the current economic climate?? Before, stage 1's were held at hotels at London, Manchester and Glasgow = expense for NATS!

Same reason why they aren't paying travel expenses for any candidates attending stage 2's any longer.

Im at the last part, where all the airfact code stuff is. what do i have to do with that? will i get tested on any of that stuff,

Learn it? I'd expect to get tested on anything that appears in the stage 1 materials!

[rossbrereton18]

Ye, i thought after writing it, they would probably ask me a question like a B737-800 is departing out of manchester, where could it be travelling to. Answer would be something like going to popular European destinations by carriers such as Ryanair, KLM, BA etc

[Abz217]

Hi

Are there more popular aircrafts that they will ask you about or will they pick one at random.

I have the pre-preparation material but was just wondering if i need to learn it all. I will learn it all but will give the popular ones more time and MAKE SURE i no it off by heart. Any tips????????

[newb]

Got my stage 1 in Glasgow tomorrow. Been hectic with my final few weeks at uni, this interview overlaps with my dissertation hand in (15,000 words, not good!) but have still managed to pay a lot of attention to this, so hopefully done enough. Really want to get through.

[medgar20]

Abz - Just learn all of it, there's not that much to cover if you give yourself enough time. If it doesn't come up in the test it'll still be useful for the future. Learn a couple of planes a day and keep re-writing the info out until you're confident you know it well. No idea how random the test is as I've only done it once.

[Abz217]

No idea how random the test is as I've only done it

Has anyone passed the first stage their first time?????? and what age were you then????
And has anyone passed all three stages their first time at the age of 18???????????????????

Cuz all i have heard is that people that went it for their stage 1 always fail their first time........... just want to know the possibilities lol

thanks

[AJ7]

it definitely can be done at 18, i know a few people who have started at the college less than 6 months after their 18th birthday. some people do get all the way through first time, but by the same token a lot of people get through second or third time around and it has no effect on their chances of making it through to being a valid controller.

i know some people say that the first time they applied it was all a bit of a step into the unknown and as such felt they didnt do as well as they could, and as such were more ready for it the next time around.

my advice would be to take on board what people say and opinions, but then remember that its YOU against the standard, not anybody else. if you have the ability on the day, you will get through, regardless if everyone else there gets 100% or 1%.

[shugs]

Calm down Abz217

There seems to be a myth going about that NATS fail youngsters (18-20) first time round just to see if they come back and they are genuinely interested.

If you meet the minimum requirements, and pass the interviews, you are in, regardless of age. If NATS wouldn't consider employing 18 year old's they wouldn't advertise for them.

I'm certain there are many people on here who have applied whilst still at school and gone on be great controllers. In my personal opinion, I would have found the interviews difficult, especially stage three, if I had not gone to uni and had a job before applying though.
shugs

[rossbrereton18]

I should hope not that they fail people 1st time around who are 18! I am having to fork out nearly £200 for a flight and hotel to go to my initial testing, if i didnt want to do this career, i wouldnt bother going.

Are NATS good at spotting enthusiastic candidates and does this have a high postive effect on getting through each stage?