NATS interview process
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Scotland
Age: 40
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Emilie,
Look at p35 for Nokio's post on Stage 2 - that should be a good start. Read through the rest of this thread too - searching for Stage 2 will help find relevant posts - I know there isn't as much on here as there is for Stage 1, but there's still helpful stuff.
I flew to Southampton for my Stage 2 (driving was just too far) and stayed in the Fareham Premier Inn (this is where HR recommends). There was a discussion about getting to the CTC on here a little while back - have a look at my previous posts on the Premier Inn and you should find what other people wrote.
Hope this helps, and good luck
Look at p35 for Nokio's post on Stage 2 - that should be a good start. Read through the rest of this thread too - searching for Stage 2 will help find relevant posts - I know there isn't as much on here as there is for Stage 1, but there's still helpful stuff.
I flew to Southampton for my Stage 2 (driving was just too far) and stayed in the Fareham Premier Inn (this is where HR recommends). There was a discussion about getting to the CTC on here a little while back - have a look at my previous posts on the Premier Inn and you should find what other people wrote.
Hope this helps, and good luck
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Nothern Ireland
Age: 33
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Work exp
Hey guys
I have my work experince monday 6th april at belfast INT Airport. they only gave me a day with them because they say its mainly observation and theres not much i can do there. However i got 2 days in airport managment which should be interesting.
Any questions anyone wants answering by an ATCO i could ask her and post it on this!!!!!
Anyways cant wait lol very excited
I have my work experince monday 6th april at belfast INT Airport. they only gave me a day with them because they say its mainly observation and theres not much i can do there. However i got 2 days in airport managment which should be interesting.
Any questions anyone wants answering by an ATCO i could ask her and post it on this!!!!!
Anyways cant wait lol very excited
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Bristol
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
manchester am stage1
Don't know what the problem was with the manchester pm stage 1 on monday. The people doing the tests on the AM session were very good, in particular Jeff who was very helpful and friendly.
The tests were not too bad, the motivation paper was not too bad as i had looked thoughoughly through the booklet that we were provided with before the test. The data checking was also fairly easy and straight foreward. Although the ones that i found a bit harder were the command paper was bit harder, this is also much the case for cubes paper.
The ATCO who was planned to come did not turn up after due to work commitments, although luckily one of the candidates doing the tests whose dad had dropped him off was willing to do the ATCO presentation, he was a NATS watch manager at Cardiff and was really pleased to answer any questions and was very funny and informative and we all asked him lots of questions and he was happy to answer.
The tests were not too bad, the motivation paper was not too bad as i had looked thoughoughly through the booklet that we were provided with before the test. The data checking was also fairly easy and straight foreward. Although the ones that i found a bit harder were the command paper was bit harder, this is also much the case for cubes paper.
The ATCO who was planned to come did not turn up after due to work commitments, although luckily one of the candidates doing the tests whose dad had dropped him off was willing to do the ATCO presentation, he was a NATS watch manager at Cardiff and was really pleased to answer any questions and was very funny and informative and we all asked him lots of questions and he was happy to answer.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Wigan
Age: 34
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks very much for the advice paperclip810, ive just booked into the premier inn and i think im going to take my car down, a nice 4 and a half hour trip for me!
I've had a look at the pages u recommended and they were really useful so thankyou! Just want to make sure im as prepared as possible
I've had a look at the pages u recommended and they were really useful so thankyou! Just want to make sure im as prepared as possible
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Newcastle
Age: 46
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've just registered to say "Thanks" to everyone on here who has unwittingly helped me through the application process. I received a call yesterday to say that I'd passed my Stage 3, so to say I'm over the moon is a massive understatement.
I was at Manchester for my Stage 3 on 25th, so if anyone else from our little group of 6 was there as well then I hope you get the same good news that I have and I might see you in the college at Bournemouth.
So thanks everyone, it's been a long, hard (But enjoyable!) slog. Just one more trip needed to have the medical, and then I'm ready to go!
I was at Manchester for my Stage 3 on 25th, so if anyone else from our little group of 6 was there as well then I hope you get the same good news that I have and I might see you in the college at Bournemouth.
So thanks everyone, it's been a long, hard (But enjoyable!) slog. Just one more trip needed to have the medical, and then I'm ready to go!
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well done Chris R!
Pugwash (Jim) - Just to make you feel a little better, I'm mid 30s and have been running my own business for the last 7 years! I passed my Stage 1 sat on 13th March and am now waiting for a Stage 2 date.
I visited NATS (Swanwick) this morning and sat in on someone's Area shift. I also got an introduction to London Terminal. Both were incredibly interesting and have certainly galvanised my interest in the role.
Pugwash (Jim) - Just to make you feel a little better, I'm mid 30s and have been running my own business for the last 7 years! I passed my Stage 1 sat on 13th March and am now waiting for a Stage 2 date.
I visited NATS (Swanwick) this morning and sat in on someone's Area shift. I also got an introduction to London Terminal. Both were incredibly interesting and have certainly galvanised my interest in the role.
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Berkshire, UK
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey Tobiwan, thanks for reply and reassurance, it does make me feel a bit better knowing that i'm not totally crazy!
Just got back from Stage 1- as has been mentioned thought that a large % of the applicants were totally unfriendly/excessively nervous/ there to pass the time.
However i did meet Kt from on here (hi Kt hope you got home ok- sorry you didn't have time for a bite to eat! hope you didn't think i was getting rid of you!) and a couple of other people that we had a good natter to and a bit of a laugh!
Day was.....interesting.
Initial session was Q&A with a non-validated ATCO- which i thought was a bit of a shame- would have been nice to have someone with some experience! Found myself asking a LOT of questions because no one else seemed interested. Honestly guys when you go for your stage 1 cut the guy some slack and have the balls to stand up and ask some questions.
Then came the multiple guess motivation paper.
if you have learnt the info they send you then you will pass. A knowledge of general aviation will help with a couple of questions, but only 2 i think. Practice SDT equations as a few of those came up- also spend sme timefinding out the distances between cities (not necessarily around the world- UK and Europe would be a good start), its a pity i know how far away syndey is (10,554 miles), but don't actually know how far away cities in Scotland are
Anyway then onto the tests themselves- one tip here, i would have been much much happier to do the tests first- they are far harder than the motivational paper (which isn't hard- as long as you know your stuff!) and the Q&A- in that case when they do the initial welcome, make sure that you get into the room early and sat down as they seem to leave those people sitting to start the tests.
As for the tests themselves- found the checking tests silly easy, with enough time on both the numbers and letters to check all the way through at least once.
At this point i was brimming with overconfidence and sheer arrogance
the next 2 tests soon sort me out.
Spatial awareness- as has been said these are the cubes- you have to do 40 different choices in 20 minutes- with 3 different cubes. If you don't know what i'm talking about then you defintely need to practice. I don't consider myself stupid by any means and i was very upset not to finish these- doing just 34 out of 40 - these are hard, and like all the test get harder as you go along! the last ones are really very very difficult- i strongly suggest you start to practice early.
The diagramming isn't impossible, but it is slow and helps if you are on the ball (i'd have been much quick if i could have remembered what all the symbols meant!)
Out of these i finished just 43 out of 50 (again you haev 20 minutes)
i have no idea what the pass mark is, and i "might" just scrape it (fingers crossed) but it is by no means easy.
Just got back from Stage 1- as has been mentioned thought that a large % of the applicants were totally unfriendly/excessively nervous/ there to pass the time.
However i did meet Kt from on here (hi Kt hope you got home ok- sorry you didn't have time for a bite to eat! hope you didn't think i was getting rid of you!) and a couple of other people that we had a good natter to and a bit of a laugh!
Day was.....interesting.
Initial session was Q&A with a non-validated ATCO- which i thought was a bit of a shame- would have been nice to have someone with some experience! Found myself asking a LOT of questions because no one else seemed interested. Honestly guys when you go for your stage 1 cut the guy some slack and have the balls to stand up and ask some questions.
Then came the multiple guess motivation paper.
if you have learnt the info they send you then you will pass. A knowledge of general aviation will help with a couple of questions, but only 2 i think. Practice SDT equations as a few of those came up- also spend sme timefinding out the distances between cities (not necessarily around the world- UK and Europe would be a good start), its a pity i know how far away syndey is (10,554 miles), but don't actually know how far away cities in Scotland are
Anyway then onto the tests themselves- one tip here, i would have been much much happier to do the tests first- they are far harder than the motivational paper (which isn't hard- as long as you know your stuff!) and the Q&A- in that case when they do the initial welcome, make sure that you get into the room early and sat down as they seem to leave those people sitting to start the tests.
As for the tests themselves- found the checking tests silly easy, with enough time on both the numbers and letters to check all the way through at least once.
At this point i was brimming with overconfidence and sheer arrogance
the next 2 tests soon sort me out.
Spatial awareness- as has been said these are the cubes- you have to do 40 different choices in 20 minutes- with 3 different cubes. If you don't know what i'm talking about then you defintely need to practice. I don't consider myself stupid by any means and i was very upset not to finish these- doing just 34 out of 40
- these are hard, and like all the test get harder as you go along! the last ones are really very very difficult- i strongly suggest you start to practice early. The diagramming isn't impossible, but it is slow and helps if you are on the ball (i'd have been much quick if i could have remembered what all the symbols meant!)
Out of these i finished just 43 out of 50 (again you haev 20 minutes)
i have no idea what the pass mark is, and i "might" just scrape it (fingers crossed) but it is by no means easy.
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Southampton
Age: 39
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Stage 1 today
Hiya,
Jim,
Yes most of them were quite unsociable, but we had a laugh!!!
I got home fine, fell aslepp on the train, so it was a good job i didnt drive up!!!
I didnt think you were trying to get rid of me, i was hungry when I got home tho!!
I only just got on the train, and finding a seat, well three coaches later, I finally found one!!
I don't think I did as well as Jim, but the aptitude tests were good, although I didnt finish them! I think I got to about 35/40 on those three, but the motivation test didnt go too well, so I will be surprised if I pass to Stage two but we will have to wait and see!!! fingers crossed eh!?
Nice to meet you today Jim, thanks for the company back to Waterloo and showing me an easier way back! very grateful!
Now the waiting game, whoop fun!!
Ktxx
Jim,
Yes most of them were quite unsociable, but we had a laugh!!!
I got home fine, fell aslepp on the train, so it was a good job i didnt drive up!!!
I didnt think you were trying to get rid of me, i was hungry when I got home tho!!
I only just got on the train, and finding a seat, well three coaches later, I finally found one!!
I don't think I did as well as Jim, but the aptitude tests were good, although I didnt finish them! I think I got to about 35/40 on those three, but the motivation test didnt go too well, so I will be surprised if I pass to Stage two but we will have to wait and see!!! fingers crossed eh!?
Nice to meet you today Jim, thanks for the company back to Waterloo and showing me an easier way back!
very grateful!Now the waiting game, whoop fun!!
Ktxx
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Crewe
Age: 33
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well pugwash if you dont think you got through then i doubt i had! like i mentioned earlier in the thread i only managed to complete about 26/40 for cubes and about 32/50 for diagramming and i thought i was doing pretty good. How have other people done on the tests in the past if they cal still recall ow many the managed to complete?
I am prepared for the worst now
but good luck to all other candidates
I am prepared for the worst now
but good luck to all other candidates
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Newcastle
Age: 46
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pugwash:
By the sounds of things and from my memory of it you completed about the same percentage of the Stage 1 papers as I did and I got through fine, so don't worry overly. I don't think they expect you to answer all the questions, and if you got everything right that you answered then you should be OK.
By the sounds of things and from my memory of it you completed about the same percentage of the Stage 1 papers as I did and I got through fine, so don't worry overly. I don't think they expect you to answer all the questions, and if you got everything right that you answered then you should be OK.
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jim - Sounds like you did very well to me. I had a similar situation in the Q&A - I asked 5/6 questions and one other person asked one!
As for the tests - I got nowhere near as far through the cubes. I had been warned by an ATCO beforehand that I wouldn't complete it. He told me just to make sure I got the answers right as they can work on speed but not so much on ability.
Now for the wait...
As for the tests - I got nowhere near as far through the cubes. I had been warned by an ATCO beforehand that I wouldn't complete it. He told me just to make sure I got the answers right as they can work on speed but not so much on ability.
Now for the wait...
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Berkshire, UK
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I really don't think i did well on these tests, but i REALLY want to progress to stage 2, so i guess i have a couple of weeks of nervousness waiting for the results!
anyone know what the pass mark is?
anyone know what the pass mark is?
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Newcastle
Age: 46
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
anyone know what the pass mark is?
Or at the very least, nobody's telling what it is.
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Newcastle
Age: 46
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
CJayne - Why so negative? (I'm assuming you're thinking negative, you might be massively confident!)
I came out of Stage 3 with some serious reservations about how well I'd done. Whilst I knew I'd done a lot well and felt the group excercise went well for me, I know got a fair bit wrong on the technical side of the interview. Some of it I corrected myself about at the time in the interview and some of it I didn't realise until I was halfway back up the motorway like when I realised I'd misidentified a plane. One question they asked me I couldn't answer at all, and just had to admit as much.
I also thought that some of the examples I used in the HR part of the interview could have been a lot stronger or showed me in a negative light. But I still got the call to say I'm through, so don't despair just yet.
I think after events like this we're our own harshest critics. Probably harsher than the people who are actually marking us!
I came out of Stage 3 with some serious reservations about how well I'd done. Whilst I knew I'd done a lot well and felt the group excercise went well for me, I know got a fair bit wrong on the technical side of the interview. Some of it I corrected myself about at the time in the interview and some of it I didn't realise until I was halfway back up the motorway like when I realised I'd misidentified a plane. One question they asked me I couldn't answer at all, and just had to admit as much.
I also thought that some of the examples I used in the HR part of the interview could have been a lot stronger or showed me in a negative light. But I still got the call to say I'm through, so don't despair just yet.
I think after events like this we're our own harshest critics. Probably harsher than the people who are actually marking us!
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Scotland
Age: 40
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
CJayne,
It sounds odd and I can't explain it, but it seems those who come out of Stage 3 very confident don't get through, and it's those who walk out feeling worse than they went in that do seem to pass. Fingers crossed - hopefully you should know soon...
It sounds odd and I can't explain it, but it seems those who come out of Stage 3 very confident don't get through, and it's those who walk out feeling worse than they went in that do seem to pass. Fingers crossed - hopefully you should know soon...