NATS interview process
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That's truly bizarre - I'm curious how anybody can possibly "fail" an OPQ??? A personality questionnaire can be a useful tool during a recruitment process, but primarily to illustrate a line of questioning as opposed to an individual's ability to do a job.
Now I am concerned!
Now I am concerned!
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Its not necessarily 'failing' the OPQ, it is that however you answered it created an impression that was not suitable/compatible with what NATS wanted, this may have been due to you lying outright, deliberately, or simply that you do not fit the bill that NATS has set out in what it wants from its candidates.
So its not necessarily 'failing', it is simply that the OPQ has ruled you unfavourable or uncompatible if you like for the role of trainee ATCO. Obviously some (maybe the majority) of candidates are likely to be found uncompatible and therefore their application rejected and further progression denied. If it wasn't possible to 'fail' or be found unsuitable upon the basis of the OPQ then what would justify its inclusion in the process? Simply to gauge your character??
So its not necessarily 'failing', it is simply that the OPQ has ruled you unfavourable or uncompatible if you like for the role of trainee ATCO. Obviously some (maybe the majority) of candidates are likely to be found uncompatible and therefore their application rejected and further progression denied. If it wasn't possible to 'fail' or be found unsuitable upon the basis of the OPQ then what would justify its inclusion in the process? Simply to gauge your character??
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Yeah, I agree. It's really very frustrating to fail because i apparently have the wrong personailty.
But I don't think it's as simple as that. Although I have no connection to NATS so I don't know how their process works, I think the personality questionnaire si used to determine if you are successful if you are borderline on any of the other tests at stage 2.
So in my case, I am confident that i passed the aptitude tests (I did many of these to get my current job with a huge multinational corporation and did very well in them). But I am sure I could have done much better in the motivational paper. So, I think if my personiilty was a strong match for what they're looking for, perhaps I would have got through.
So i think the strength of my personality results weren't good enough to make up for the poor mark in the motivational paper.
I doubt my personality will change significantly in the next year until i reapply, but I know I can do better in the motivational paper, and hopefully that will be enough.
I hope that makes sense.
<<Edit>>
I agree with above, I don't think it's strictly about "passing" or "failing" a personality test. I think the PQ assesses how strongly you match to their ideal. They obviously don't employ just one type of person.
I believe, having read this entire thread that they used to only ask people who were borderline passing the stage one tests to complete the PQ, but have since decided to get eveyone to complete it.
I think if you are borderline on any of the tests but strongly match their personilty ideal, you may still get through.
But, as with all of this... there is so much speculation from all the candidates, all anyone can do is their best..if it's meant to be, it's meant to be.
But I don't think it's as simple as that. Although I have no connection to NATS so I don't know how their process works, I think the personality questionnaire si used to determine if you are successful if you are borderline on any of the other tests at stage 2.
So in my case, I am confident that i passed the aptitude tests (I did many of these to get my current job with a huge multinational corporation and did very well in them). But I am sure I could have done much better in the motivational paper. So, I think if my personiilty was a strong match for what they're looking for, perhaps I would have got through.
So i think the strength of my personality results weren't good enough to make up for the poor mark in the motivational paper.
I doubt my personality will change significantly in the next year until i reapply, but I know I can do better in the motivational paper, and hopefully that will be enough.
I hope that makes sense.
<<Edit>>
I agree with above, I don't think it's strictly about "passing" or "failing" a personality test. I think the PQ assesses how strongly you match to their ideal. They obviously don't employ just one type of person.
I believe, having read this entire thread that they used to only ask people who were borderline passing the stage one tests to complete the PQ, but have since decided to get eveyone to complete it.
I think if you are borderline on any of the tests but strongly match their personilty ideal, you may still get through.
But, as with all of this... there is so much speculation from all the candidates, all anyone can do is their best..if it's meant to be, it's meant to be.
Last edited by kudos_ni; 6th Apr 2009 at 16:15.
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Hey guys...
go my stage 1 end of the month..
and was wondering..
what tips can you give me? what advice etc...
and what happens? as the email just says read this.. and take a look at that..
if you get me..
thanks
go my stage 1 end of the month..
and was wondering..
what tips can you give me? what advice etc...
and what happens? as the email just says read this.. and take a look at that..
if you get me..
thanks
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So read the document, and take a look at the examples - They're not trying to suprise you on the day - whatever they've told you you need to do in preparation that's it. It is that simple.
Also... as you're here y ou might as well read this forum too. It is very very long - but well worth it.
Learn the document, and make sure you have a look at the example aptitude tests so you have an idea what to expect.
When I did my tests the guy next to me was shocked at them - but they were just like the examples (only more of them, and more difficult obviously).
What pages? Read just a few pages back from here and you'll see messages pinpointing specific posts.
Why do people expect stuff handed to them on a plate? Think about it - if you want to succeed in the ATC training course and become a great ATC,you can't just ask someone what page is covered in each test - you have to find and learn this stuff for yourself. So start practicing that now.
Sorry if that's a bit blunt.
Also... as you're here y ou might as well read this forum too. It is very very long - but well worth it.
Learn the document, and make sure you have a look at the example aptitude tests so you have an idea what to expect.
When I did my tests the guy next to me was shocked at them - but they were just like the examples (only more of them, and more difficult obviously).
What pages? Read just a few pages back from here and you'll see messages pinpointing specific posts.
Why do people expect stuff handed to them on a plate? Think about it - if you want to succeed in the ATC training course and become a great ATC,you can't just ask someone what page is covered in each test - you have to find and learn this stuff for yourself. So start practicing that now.
Sorry if that's a bit blunt.
Join Date: Feb 2009
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Hi all,
Just got email saying passed stage 1, took nearly all 15 working days but who cares, i Passed.
Now just have to do the online test to see if i personality !!!
Anyone else heard from the 18th March how they did, jonathonb etc....
Just got email saying passed stage 1, took nearly all 15 working days but who cares, i Passed.
Now just have to do the online test to see if i personality !!!
Anyone else heard from the 18th March how they did, jonathonb etc....
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Yep, got stage 1 email and passed. 
Just done the personality test......
Nasty. 104 questions and I felt like I was contradicting myself all the time - I really hope it's not just based on that, but they take into account achievement in the stage 1 tests as well as kudos_ni suggests! 
Just done the personality test......
Nasty. 104 questions and I felt like I was contradicting myself all the time - I really hope it's not just based on that, but they take into account achievement in the stage 1 tests as well as kudos_ni suggests!
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T250 - OPQs, as I stated are used as an interviewing tool. They throw up suggestions for lines of questioning, I would be very surprised if NATS decided you didn't fit in the right box. They can also be manipulated.
I say this from the perspective of 12 years in recruitment and some experience administering SHL tests.
I say this from the perspective of 12 years in recruitment and some experience administering SHL tests.
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YES! Got in my results from my Stage 1 on the 18th in London, and passed!
I just took the online questionnaire and it really is a killer. I sat the test with an open mind and no distractions and really did do my best to answer as honestly as possible, but I still felt on occasion that I contradicted myself because there were some tough questions really. I found it hard to make decisions such as "Am I more ambitious, or do I enjoy an intellectual conversation more?", stuff like this tripped me up. I just hope they don't think I was being dishonest at any point...
There's also questions I think are unfair too. Mainly the ones to do with working with others and being sociable and outgoing. I know I am not a very talkative person and I am not brilliant in social situations, nor do I consider myself a good team leader, but I love to discuss problems, give orders and help others. It just felt on occasion that they would think I was lying, because in some questions I feel i'm making myself seem like a total recluse, and in others I seem like someone who loves to deal with peoples problems, but I strongly feel it is possible to be both those things. I just hope they can tell the difference between being sociable, and being simply interested in people.
I just took the online questionnaire and it really is a killer. I sat the test with an open mind and no distractions and really did do my best to answer as honestly as possible, but I still felt on occasion that I contradicted myself because there were some tough questions really. I found it hard to make decisions such as "Am I more ambitious, or do I enjoy an intellectual conversation more?", stuff like this tripped me up. I just hope they don't think I was being dishonest at any point...
There's also questions I think are unfair too. Mainly the ones to do with working with others and being sociable and outgoing. I know I am not a very talkative person and I am not brilliant in social situations, nor do I consider myself a good team leader, but I love to discuss problems, give orders and help others. It just felt on occasion that they would think I was lying, because in some questions I feel i'm making myself seem like a total recluse, and in others I seem like someone who loves to deal with peoples problems, but I strongly feel it is possible to be both those things. I just hope they can tell the difference between being sociable, and being simply interested in people.
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OPQ
I strongly agree with your statement Lozzo87
There are certain PQ which really stretch one's personality to the maximum, and I'm sure NATS' OPQ will not be an exception! Hence if I pass S1, I am already dreading that moment of having to sit at the pc to take it.
I have done many of these types of questionnaire, and there are many 'test yourself questionnaires' out there on the net, but what I find in most of them, is the entwined way in which they formulate their questions. Many times the same question being asked twice, or even three times throughout the PQ but constructed in totally different ways or from different points of view. I guess the only way of 'doing well' in these tests is being as honest as possible, and at times answering questions in the most intuitive possible way - but yes, this is all easier said than done... especially when you're trying to make a career out of it and we’re supposed to be able to make quick and accurate statements!
Last but not least, from what I have read on previous posts on this thread, I do agree that there is very little one can prepare for and ‘study’ as such for a PQ, but I do think it always will be advantageous to take a few of the many mock PQ which are out there on the net, as they will give a broad view of the type of questions typically asked and a little feedback on how one is assessed.
I took my S1 on the 30th of March, and still awaiting results patiently. But I hear some of you who took it on the 18th have already received your results! Nerve racking stuff! Gluck
Nick
There are certain PQ which really stretch one's personality to the maximum, and I'm sure NATS' OPQ will not be an exception! Hence if I pass S1, I am already dreading that moment of having to sit at the pc to take it.
I have done many of these types of questionnaire, and there are many 'test yourself questionnaires' out there on the net, but what I find in most of them, is the entwined way in which they formulate their questions. Many times the same question being asked twice, or even three times throughout the PQ but constructed in totally different ways or from different points of view. I guess the only way of 'doing well' in these tests is being as honest as possible, and at times answering questions in the most intuitive possible way - but yes, this is all easier said than done... especially when you're trying to make a career out of it and we’re supposed to be able to make quick and accurate statements!
Last but not least, from what I have read on previous posts on this thread, I do agree that there is very little one can prepare for and ‘study’ as such for a PQ, but I do think it always will be advantageous to take a few of the many mock PQ which are out there on the net, as they will give a broad view of the type of questions typically asked and a little feedback on how one is assessed.
I took my S1 on the 30th of March, and still awaiting results patiently. But I hear some of you who took it on the 18th have already received your results! Nerve racking stuff! Gluck
Nick
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Originally Posted by Mia Donna
When you say scrape by how did you do overall ?
ie .. each test ?? Did you feel as though you excelled at one and did poorly in another ?
Just wondering as i hear that you have to pass each section of the test at a pass rate of 70% in order to even have the slightest chance ??
ie .. each test ?? Did you feel as though you excelled at one and did poorly in another ?
Just wondering as i hear that you have to pass each section of the test at a pass rate of 70% in order to even have the slightest chance ??
Got the e-mail yesterday evening (18:00) saying I've passed the personality questionnaire.
I'm really really surprised to pass this stage as I've applied for the retail assistant jobs, McDonald's crew, cleaning jobs which some give a personality test in the application process and getting rejected for every single one of them.
Next hurdle is passing Stage 2, as I don't have much work life examples of the key 'attributes', e.g. working under pressure, etc.
All my job applications so far where I have had an interview (getting a job interview is rare in my case), I've always failed as I wasn't good enough as the other candidates.
Sorry to those whose reading all this negativity, I haven't had much of a career at the age of 26, but am now trying to catch up with my (similarly aged) peers.
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So much for my recruitment experience - I just had the access denied email following my OPQ. I fail to see the point in getting me to complete an OPQ when there is no interview forthcoming unless they are simply putting people in boxes. Strange.
Oh well, back to the drawing board - Good luck to all!
Oh well, back to the drawing board - Good luck to all!
