NATS interview process
Join Date: Apr 2009
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Shocker
Mate just found out i've passed too, which considering one of the activities i used the wrong key on the computer therefore got 0 marks I cant believe it!!!
Join Date: Feb 2009
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Well done all those who passed the new stage 2, there is some hope for us all !!!
I guess as all of you said it was very hard and thought you failed, the object is to keep going as you never know !!!
Bring on the 1st may !!!
I guess as all of you said it was very hard and thought you failed, the object is to keep going as you never know !!!
Bring on the 1st may !!!
Join Date: Apr 2008
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yey well done to all of us who went to stage 2 on 15th april and passed, and anyone else who has recently passed too!
Hope to see you all at stage 3!
If anyone happens to know how i can get in contact with Manchester Control i would be really grateful, i spoke to HR today and they were no help at all!
Hope to see you all at stage 3!
If anyone happens to know how i can get in contact with Manchester Control i would be really grateful, i spoke to HR today and they were no help at all!
Join Date: Nov 2008
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Hi Marco,
Out of interest, when was your Stage 3? I really believe that everyone's Stage 3 is different - in mine we did spend a good bit of time on the HR stuff, but perhaps because of my age and past education/employment experience, we didn't spend that much time discussing my skills.
However, I must have spent at least 30-40 minutes going through technical stuff (beginning with an ATC scenario, and following on to things to do with a tower visit I had made) in great detail which I was pushed hard on and challenged continuously. I don't have a PPL/ATPL or any other type of aviation background (I'm a scientist by trade) but I was still asked loads of technical stuff.
Advice to others: Although there is a list of questions that the interviewers can choose from, especially for the HR stuff, what you say in return will dictate what the interview is like and where it goes from there. Everyone is different, and therefore everyone's interview will be different. Be unprepared for either the HR or the technical stuff, and you may find the interview more difficult than you'd like. If they don't ask you everything you've prepared, consider yourself well prepared for the interview, and that maybe you've saved yourself a bit of learning for when you get to college - it's not a bad thing, and definitely not time wasted!
Out of interest, when was your Stage 3? I really believe that everyone's Stage 3 is different - in mine we did spend a good bit of time on the HR stuff, but perhaps because of my age and past education/employment experience, we didn't spend that much time discussing my skills.
However, I must have spent at least 30-40 minutes going through technical stuff (beginning with an ATC scenario, and following on to things to do with a tower visit I had made) in great detail which I was pushed hard on and challenged continuously. I don't have a PPL/ATPL or any other type of aviation background (I'm a scientist by trade) but I was still asked loads of technical stuff.
Advice to others: Although there is a list of questions that the interviewers can choose from, especially for the HR stuff, what you say in return will dictate what the interview is like and where it goes from there. Everyone is different, and therefore everyone's interview will be different. Be unprepared for either the HR or the technical stuff, and you may find the interview more difficult than you'd like. If they don't ask you everything you've prepared, consider yourself well prepared for the interview, and that maybe you've saved yourself a bit of learning for when you get to college - it's not a bad thing, and definitely not time wasted!
Join Date: May 2008
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once again I have to concur with paperclip.
I did my S3 in February, and even before I did it back then, there were people posting on here saying their S3 had all been HR. IMO, the reason mine was more technical was because I already work in an occasionally demanding environment, but also i had read from a lot of sources prior to the interview, and so they wanted to make sure i had actually done my stuff, rather that just saying i had.
it would have been different if for example i had come straight from school, and had no uni or real work experience, then they may have been more concerned that i was not prepared mentally.
in short, revise both bits, you will hate yourself for failing if its because you tried to second guess what will be asked.
shugs
I did my S3 in February, and even before I did it back then, there were people posting on here saying their S3 had all been HR. IMO, the reason mine was more technical was because I already work in an occasionally demanding environment, but also i had read from a lot of sources prior to the interview, and so they wanted to make sure i had actually done my stuff, rather that just saying i had.
it would have been different if for example i had come straight from school, and had no uni or real work experience, then they may have been more concerned that i was not prepared mentally.
in short, revise both bits, you will hate yourself for failing if its because you tried to second guess what will be asked.
shugs
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it would have been different if for example i had come straight from school, and had no uni or real work experience, then they may have been more concerned that i was not prepared mentally.
Join Date: May 2008
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T250, no I wasn't implying that, apologies if it looks that way.
all i meant was it may have been different, ie wholly an HR interview, because if i had come straight from school, depending on grades i suppose, i would already have shown the ability to study etc. age alone doesn't affect the outcome.
I havent asked for feedback but think i 'ticked enough boxes' in relation to ability and mental maturity and so perhaps thats why they then chose to concentrate more on my motivation and knowledge.
all i meant was it may have been different, ie wholly an HR interview, because if i had come straight from school, depending on grades i suppose, i would already have shown the ability to study etc. age alone doesn't affect the outcome.
I havent asked for feedback but think i 'ticked enough boxes' in relation to ability and mental maturity and so perhaps thats why they then chose to concentrate more on my motivation and knowledge.
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And I'll concur with shugs.... I felt I didn't get many questions about the ability to study, work effectively in a team or any of the other 'qualities' they see as important since I've got good exam results from school, several uni degrees and a good set of experience that provides good examples of these sorts of skills as far as team working, practical learning etc goes.
I did get lots of questions about why I was pursuing this career now, why I hadn't done anything about it before (at other times in my adult life when I could have applied), and was asked whether I thought scientists could be any good at being ATCOs! Are we too theoretical and stuck in our ways - do we know how to adapt and change?! It was one of those experiences when I think they wanted to see how I dealt with being pushed over and over again, and if I would break...
And then I was asked loads of technical stuff, I think to gauge my commitment, interest, knowledge, and especially for them to see how I apply knowledge I have, how I 'think' about things and deal with ever changing scenarios (see above). Some simple questions with straightforward knowledge-based answers, but other open-ended questions too which required good problem solving skills.
Who knows if this'll help anyone, but they were my experiences.
I did get lots of questions about why I was pursuing this career now, why I hadn't done anything about it before (at other times in my adult life when I could have applied), and was asked whether I thought scientists could be any good at being ATCOs! Are we too theoretical and stuck in our ways - do we know how to adapt and change?! It was one of those experiences when I think they wanted to see how I dealt with being pushed over and over again, and if I would break...
And then I was asked loads of technical stuff, I think to gauge my commitment, interest, knowledge, and especially for them to see how I apply knowledge I have, how I 'think' about things and deal with ever changing scenarios (see above). Some simple questions with straightforward knowledge-based answers, but other open-ended questions too which required good problem solving skills.
Who knows if this'll help anyone, but they were my experiences.
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From Zooker
Gogz87
Dress code for an initial ATC medical, Jeans T-shirt and trainers?
Initial medical, future employer, planning to spend at least £100,000 to train you.
Suggest a lightweight summer suit.
OOOHHH, SUITS YOU SIR!
This is a pile of arse - firstly, whatever you wear you are out of very quickly and into your undies! Wear whatever is comfortable, I wore jeans and t-shirt.
Secondly, having spoken to one of the training\HR head honchos, it takes approx £800,000 to fully train an ATCO (including continuos training)
Always take what people say on forums with a pinch of salt, 99% of people are genuinely helpful, 1% are quite the opposite!
Good luck to all currently applying.
Gogz87
Dress code for an initial ATC medical, Jeans T-shirt and trainers?
Initial medical, future employer, planning to spend at least £100,000 to train you.
Suggest a lightweight summer suit.
OOOHHH, SUITS YOU SIR!
This is a pile of arse - firstly, whatever you wear you are out of very quickly and into your undies! Wear whatever is comfortable, I wore jeans and t-shirt.
Secondly, having spoken to one of the training\HR head honchos, it takes approx £800,000 to fully train an ATCO (including continuos training)
Always take what people say on forums with a pinch of salt, 99% of people are genuinely helpful, 1% are quite the opposite!
Good luck to all currently applying.
Last edited by PDF; 23rd Apr 2009 at 18:47. Reason: Fat fingers! doh
Join Date: Dec 2008
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Contact numbers for Swanick and Heathrow Tower?
Now I have passed Stage 2, I really want (need?) to visit at least Swanick and preferably Heathrow Tower as well. I have spoken to HR who were a bit funny and said they couldnt arrange it, but would pass on my request to the centres and someone would call me. Apparently this should be done directly but they seemed unable to give me a contact number.
Can anyone tell me if they have had similar difficulties arranging visits, and if anyone has any numbers for Swanick/Heathrow that would be great.
Can anyone tell me if they have had similar difficulties arranging visits, and if anyone has any numbers for Swanick/Heathrow that would be great.
Join Date: Mar 2008
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S2
Submitted OPQ and received this email.
"Once we have received you completed application form we will invite you to the 2nd stage of the process - the computer tests and structured interview. "
Are they ever going to update their automated email system?! We concluded that the interview at S2 has been removed, right? And just a lengthy day full of computer based tests.
Now to fill in this app form. By what you're all suggesting, its probably going to take me a couple of days to decide to write! lol
"Once we have received you completed application form we will invite you to the 2nd stage of the process - the computer tests and structured interview. "
Are they ever going to update their automated email system?! We concluded that the interview at S2 has been removed, right? And just a lengthy day full of computer based tests.
Now to fill in this app form. By what you're all suggesting, its probably going to take me a couple of days to decide to write! lol
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DJ Nick,
In short, probably not unless someone alerts them to the fact that their emails are wrong.
When I was applying, everything about the expense system was incorrect and inconsistent, but HR didn't realise until I spoke to someone about it. Probably worth sending them a polite email - for those not on PPRuNe, it could be very confusing to get that email!
In short, probably not unless someone alerts them to the fact that their emails are wrong.
When I was applying, everything about the expense system was incorrect and inconsistent, but HR didn't realise until I spoke to someone about it. Probably worth sending them a polite email - for those not on PPRuNe, it could be very confusing to get that email!
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Medical???!!
Hi
I completed my pre 2nd stage application form a few days ago and I've received a reply today saying my details have been forwarded to the medical department for assesment
Is this normal? I've never saw this on the forum before!!
My eyes are both -1.75 but this is well within the limits.
Thanks
I completed my pre 2nd stage application form a few days ago and I've received a reply today saying my details have been forwarded to the medical department for assesment
Is this normal? I've never saw this on the forum before!!
My eyes are both -1.75 but this is well within the limits.
Thanks
Join Date: Dec 2005
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Now I have passed Stage 2, I really want (need?) to visit at least Swanick and preferably Heathrow Tower as well. I have spoken to HR who were a bit funny and said they couldnt arrange it, but would pass on my request to the centres and someone would call me. Apparently this should be done directly but they seemed unable to give me a contact number.
Can anyone tell me if they have had similar difficulties arranging visits, and if anyone has any numbers for Swanick/Heathrow that would be great.
Can anyone tell me if they have had similar difficulties arranging visits, and if anyone has any numbers for Swanick/Heathrow that would be great.
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Congrats to those who passed the new Stage 2 assessment.
I've also joined the 'party'; booked my Stage 3 for mid May as I want to get through these assessments ASAP. Dunno how I passed, given my computer decided to have a mind of its own during the flight progress strips test and myself crashing planes on the collision test.
The S3 HR interview is going to be hardest since I won't have much to offer on the table for the typical HR Qs.
Have asked HR to send me details of Heathrow tower and Swanwick but want Swanwick to be optional as its costs >£30 for me to travel there and broke at the moment! Right choice?
I've also joined the 'party'; booked my Stage 3 for mid May as I want to get through these assessments ASAP. Dunno how I passed, given my computer decided to have a mind of its own during the flight progress strips test and myself crashing planes on the collision test.
The S3 HR interview is going to be hardest since I won't have much to offer on the table for the typical HR Qs.
Have asked HR to send me details of Heathrow tower and Swanwick but want Swanwick to be optional as its costs >£30 for me to travel there and broke at the moment! Right choice?