NATS interview process
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Has anybody that sat their Stage 2 at CTC on the 20th April had their results yet? Needless to say its been a while so I just wanted to make sure that it wasnt just me still waiting... 
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mcgoo - I have mt stage 3 in a weeks time. Have prepared lots of examples for HR questions, team working, working under pressure and other compentancies i could think they would ask me.
But i just wanted to know if there was any questions or question topics they asked which threw you? Its just that its such a long interview they could cover a range of things. Also did you get a break? or was it a continuous hour and a half talking? and final questions is their still an ATCO present at the interview, dispite there being no technical questions?
But i just wanted to know if there was any questions or question topics they asked which threw you? Its just that its such a long interview they could cover a range of things. Also did you get a break? or was it a continuous hour and a half talking? and final questions is their still an ATCO present at the interview, dispite there being no technical questions?
Join Date: May 2009
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Hi everyone,
Went to Swanwick for my stage 1 today.
Further to earlier posts, it is made up of 5 tests - motivational based on the word document link you are sent in your confirmation email (make sure you check it, because two people today hadn't!), diagramming, spatial reasoning (cubes), numerical and a personality questionnaire at the end.
If you learn the booklet, you shouldn't have any problem with that section of the exams. The diagramming and spatial reasoning were a nightmare, but hey-ho, I tried my best. Numerical was pretty straightforward.
The entire process was 2.5 hours including a short break. There was no Q&A with an ATCO. It was a shame, because, being at Swanwick, there were a hell of a lot of ATCOs around.
Good luck to everyone who is awaiting results, and congratulations to those who are already through!
Went to Swanwick for my stage 1 today.
Further to earlier posts, it is made up of 5 tests - motivational based on the word document link you are sent in your confirmation email (make sure you check it, because two people today hadn't!), diagramming, spatial reasoning (cubes), numerical and a personality questionnaire at the end.
If you learn the booklet, you shouldn't have any problem with that section of the exams. The diagramming and spatial reasoning were a nightmare, but hey-ho, I tried my best. Numerical was pretty straightforward.
The entire process was 2.5 hours including a short break. There was no Q&A with an ATCO. It was a shame, because, being at Swanwick, there were a hell of a lot of ATCOs around.
Good luck to everyone who is awaiting results, and congratulations to those who are already through!
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Were you at Swanwick, or CTC in Whiteley (around the corner). Less ATCOs about at CTC.
So, you had a personality test at Stage 1 - I wonder if they still do the online one as well and compare the results!
So, you had a personality test at Stage 1 - I wonder if they still do the online one as well and compare the results!
Join Date: May 2009
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Sorry, meant CTC, but yes being round the corner sure they could have had someone round. Oh well, hopefully I'll get to arrange a visit to Swanwick and Gatwick/Heathrow and ask away!
Join Date: May 2009
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Everything you need to know...
Long post but hopefully useful.
1st stage at Swanwick today.. went very well for me.. and a few tips.. first if you get the train to Swanwick station and need to waste a couple of hours (I planned a couple of hours early just in case, there was supposed to be rail works today) there is 2 roads leading away from the station, a winding one and a straight one lined with trees.. take the straight one and there is a nice bistro pub 2mins at the top. There is usually always taxis on this road too.. and they are used to ferrying NATS hopefuls so they know were it is.. and its around £6-£7.
Next when you arrive you will be shown to a small area were other hopefuls will be doing last minute study. I found this time was very good to relax and get chatting with other people. Anyway you are shown to a small room and given a personality questionnaire.. (doesn't effect your scores, its just a trial thing for now)
1st test - motivation aviation knowledge test.. easy enough if you read that printout.. can you believe some people admitted to not even reading it!! don't worry too much about the aircraft details (just have a general sense of what kind of figures are normal, same for european city distances)
2nd test - spatial awarness boxes.. I managed to answer 43 but it seamed that most people attempted around 25-35..
3rd test - maths.. basic Speed = Distance/Time stuff.. to be honest it seamed like they accidentally gave us the test they give 12 year olds when they visit.
4th test - diagrammatic reasoning.. I really had a knack for these... and managed to finish the 50th question as the lady asked to put our pencils down.. most people said they answered again around 25-35.
They said there is a bit of a backlog and that the results would be available in 15 working days..
1st stage at Swanwick today.. went very well for me.. and a few tips.. first if you get the train to Swanwick station and need to waste a couple of hours (I planned a couple of hours early just in case, there was supposed to be rail works today) there is 2 roads leading away from the station, a winding one and a straight one lined with trees.. take the straight one and there is a nice bistro pub 2mins at the top. There is usually always taxis on this road too.. and they are used to ferrying NATS hopefuls so they know were it is.. and its around £6-£7.
Next when you arrive you will be shown to a small area were other hopefuls will be doing last minute study. I found this time was very good to relax and get chatting with other people. Anyway you are shown to a small room and given a personality questionnaire.. (doesn't effect your scores, its just a trial thing for now)
1st test - motivation aviation knowledge test.. easy enough if you read that printout.. can you believe some people admitted to not even reading it!! don't worry too much about the aircraft details (just have a general sense of what kind of figures are normal, same for european city distances)
2nd test - spatial awarness boxes.. I managed to answer 43 but it seamed that most people attempted around 25-35..
3rd test - maths.. basic Speed = Distance/Time stuff.. to be honest it seamed like they accidentally gave us the test they give 12 year olds when they visit.
4th test - diagrammatic reasoning.. I really had a knack for these... and managed to finish the 50th question as the lady asked to put our pencils down.. most people said they answered again around 25-35.
They said there is a bit of a backlog and that the results would be available in 15 working days..
Join Date: Oct 2005
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roar00, I don't know when things changed but like I said earlier my stage 3 was at the end of March and there was an ATCO present and my interview was mainly technical, just over an hour I think it was and very relaxed, the time flies by and it isn't the 'grilling' I was expecting, the ATCO admitted he had given me more scenarios than most because I am a pilot, whether thats normal and is the reason my interview was mostly technical I don't know, but overall I enjoyed it and I hate interviews normally.
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Stage 1 preperation
Hi all,
Ive been asked a few times for the "top trumps" mentioned a few pages back, hope they were useful. Ive uploaded some diagram test, cube tests, psycometric test, top trumps and the various MP3 files (these are a conversion of the NATS stage 1 document i was given) onto a download webpage for you to download as you wish.
/files/ATC/ - -
Hope they help
Ive been asked a few times for the "top trumps" mentioned a few pages back, hope they were useful. Ive uploaded some diagram test, cube tests, psycometric test, top trumps and the various MP3 files (these are a conversion of the NATS stage 1 document i was given) onto a download webpage for you to download as you wish.
/files/ATC/ - -
Hope they help
Join Date: Nov 2008
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Sauceball,
If it's the NATS medical, appointments are scheduled every hour or so every Friday at Swanwick. All in, it takes about 90 minutes from start to finish.
CAA Medical - appointment times available all day every day at Gatwick. Took me about 2-2.5 hours, but it was busy and they had to double check a few things for me.
Hope that helps....
If it's the NATS medical, appointments are scheduled every hour or so every Friday at Swanwick. All in, it takes about 90 minutes from start to finish.
CAA Medical - appointment times available all day every day at Gatwick. Took me about 2-2.5 hours, but it was busy and they had to double check a few things for me.
Hope that helps....
Join Date: Feb 2004
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Stage 2
Hi all!
Well I recently did my stage 2. How depressing! I left feeling like I've failed miserably
Just hoping my fate works out like Whitelighter! Although I wouldn't be at all surprised if I hadn't actually passed.
So just for everyone who's going to do it, the other posts are right in that there is nothing really you can do in advance to prepare. Although I would suggest trying to find any sort of online tests that only give you a few seconds to answer. This was the case with the stage 2 tests. So if you're used to using your brain as quickly as you can, then that should probably help.
Good luck to anyone taking theirs soon! I wait with bated breath for my results!
Well I recently did my stage 2. How depressing! I left feeling like I've failed miserably
Just hoping my fate works out like Whitelighter! Although I wouldn't be at all surprised if I hadn't actually passed.
So just for everyone who's going to do it, the other posts are right in that there is nothing really you can do in advance to prepare. Although I would suggest trying to find any sort of online tests that only give you a few seconds to answer. This was the case with the stage 2 tests. So if you're used to using your brain as quickly as you can, then that should probably help.
Good luck to anyone taking theirs soon! I wait with bated breath for my results!
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hey guys, thanks for all the recommendations for the books!! much appreciated. one more question to those whove done S3... what does the group exercise consist of? And any idea what they're looking for in that?
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The group exercise is a board game type thing - think Ludo but with airplanes. You play as individuals but the objective at the end requires everyone to work together as a team to reach it.
Nothing you can do to prepare - rules, etc are all explained when you get there. Takes about an hour from what I recall.
Nothing you can do to prepare - rules, etc are all explained when you get there. Takes about an hour from what I recall.