NATS interview process
Join Date: Jul 2009
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adam28
Hi there,
Thank you very much for the info, I really apreciate it.
About your question, I completed all spatial reasoning & diagramming questions, with the last 5 of them by educated guessing as I didn't have time to figure them out.
NATS company policy does not allow any feedback whatsoever, at least last year they didn't, I don't know if anything has changed.
However, I contacted the HR department & they told me after I'd insisted on some feedback, that the fields in which I need to improve on are Spatial reasoning & Diagramming, which I thought I'd passed.
A controller trainee encouraged us after the tests by saying that, he knew about how difficult these questions were & that we weren't required to answer them all correctly in the time given, he had scored 27-28 out of 50 correct answers & he got through almost all tests with this kind of score. He's now posted at Heathrow Airport Tower.
Anyway, thanks again for the information, & I've got a gut feeling that you'll get through stage 1 mate, fingers crossed
, take care & keep posted.
Thank you very much for the info, I really apreciate it.
About your question, I completed all spatial reasoning & diagramming questions, with the last 5 of them by educated guessing as I didn't have time to figure them out.
NATS company policy does not allow any feedback whatsoever, at least last year they didn't, I don't know if anything has changed.
However, I contacted the HR department & they told me after I'd insisted on some feedback, that the fields in which I need to improve on are Spatial reasoning & Diagramming, which I thought I'd passed.
A controller trainee encouraged us after the tests by saying that, he knew about how difficult these questions were & that we weren't required to answer them all correctly in the time given, he had scored 27-28 out of 50 correct answers & he got through almost all tests with this kind of score. He's now posted at Heathrow Airport Tower.
Anyway, thanks again for the information, & I've got a gut feeling that you'll get through stage 1 mate, fingers crossed
, take care & keep posted.
Join Date: Mar 2009
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+1 on what JonhathenB said. At every stage you will struggle to practice anything- they are trying to test your innate abilities here, not your learnt abilities.
I thought i failed at every stage, and now that i'm waiting for my stage 3 results, i still think that i've failed!
No part of the application process is easy and you should not expect it to- alledgedly they had 55,000 applicants last year and they took 160 to college, of which 1/3 will fail, of the remainder 1/5 will fail to validate! So out of 55,000 people about 90 will actually become air traffic controllers.
I thought i failed at every stage, and now that i'm waiting for my stage 3 results, i still think that i've failed!
No part of the application process is easy and you should not expect it to- alledgedly they had 55,000 applicants last year and they took 160 to college, of which 1/3 will fail, of the remainder 1/5 will fail to validate! So out of 55,000 people about 90 will actually become air traffic controllers.
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Sandeep1221
Hi,
Thank you very much for the info. I guess I'll have to catch up with some research on the topics you advised me on, I really appreciate your help. Can you remember if you sat a personality questionaire at stage 1?
A previous post says that before starting the tests, some candidates were required to answer a P.Q of about 99 questions.
Thanks again, all the very best with your stage 1 results, take care & keep posted.
Thank you very much for the info. I guess I'll have to catch up with some research on the topics you advised me on, I really appreciate your help. Can you remember if you sat a personality questionaire at stage 1?
A previous post says that before starting the tests, some candidates were required to answer a P.Q of about 99 questions.
Thanks again, all the very best with your stage 1 results, take care & keep posted.
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from HR bods, but i think that was initial Stage 1 applicants. Sounded quite high, but not impossible looking at the hundreds of people who attend stage 1 every week. Is it unreasonable to think that one thousand people per week are tested? i woudln't have thought so.
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JonathanB
Hi,
Well, I guess you've got a point there mate, but what I mean is that, we are human aren't we, we're not machines to proccess all this info in such little time. Anyway, I'll work harder this time in order to be within their requirements. How about you mate, did you sit any tests recently?
Thanks for your reply.
Well, I guess you've got a point there mate, but what I mean is that, we are human aren't we, we're not machines to proccess all this info in such little time. Anyway, I'll work harder this time in order to be within their requirements. How about you mate, did you sit any tests recently?
Thanks for your reply.
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Stage 3
Hey everyone,
I have my Stage 3 interview at the end of this week. Having read through all the information on here and on the various NATS websites I am a little stuck with my preparation. Can anybody help?
The info on Welcome to NATS - Jobs and careers at NATS contains a list of topics that will be covered by the interview (plus others I'm sure) where you need to provide examples from your experience to demonstrate you possess those particular qualities. That's fair enough but I am really struggling with a couple of them. In particular the following:
How do you demonstrate an example of numerical awareness in an interview situation? Apart from completing a test there and then or just saying "I'm good with numbers". Same goes for Error Awareness. These are the kind of subjects I would have thought the first two stages were supposed to demonstrate.
Can you see what I'm getting at?
As for other prep I have read the ATC book by Graham Duke (available at most libraries for anyone else trying to source it) and took a visit to the Swanwick control centre (a trip worth it's weight in gold in my honest opinion as it really gives you an insight into what you could possibly end up doing for the next 20 years!) so overall things are good.
I do not generally have issues with interview questions....just the ones mentioned above have completely thrown me. Any help would be great!
Cheers,
Jochi
I have my Stage 3 interview at the end of this week. Having read through all the information on here and on the various NATS websites I am a little stuck with my preparation. Can anybody help?
The info on Welcome to NATS - Jobs and careers at NATS contains a list of topics that will be covered by the interview (plus others I'm sure) where you need to provide examples from your experience to demonstrate you possess those particular qualities. That's fair enough but I am really struggling with a couple of them. In particular the following:
- Numerical Awareness
- Error Awareness
How do you demonstrate an example of numerical awareness in an interview situation? Apart from completing a test there and then or just saying "I'm good with numbers". Same goes for Error Awareness. These are the kind of subjects I would have thought the first two stages were supposed to demonstrate.
Can you see what I'm getting at?
As for other prep I have read the ATC book by Graham Duke (available at most libraries for anyone else trying to source it) and took a visit to the Swanwick control centre (a trip worth it's weight in gold in my honest opinion as it really gives you an insight into what you could possibly end up doing for the next 20 years!) so overall things are good.
I do not generally have issues with interview questions....just the ones mentioned above have completely thrown me. Any help would be great!
Cheers,
Jochi
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Tim91
Hi,
I'd just like to ask if the Graham Duke ATC book you're talking about is of any help at stage 1,2,3 if yes, I'd like to have a copy too mate,
Thanks in advance!
I'd just like to ask if the Graham Duke ATC book you're talking about is of any help at stage 1,2,3 if yes, I'd like to have a copy too mate,
Thanks in advance!
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The book used to be essential reading to get past stage 3 interviews, but stage 3 is entirely competency based now so you don't need to know anything about ATC.
It may help in general with stage 1 and stage 2, and will certainly give you a better depth of knowledge, which is extremely helpful when you tour units as you know what you are doing, and come to realise whether or not being an ATC is a job you REALLY want or not. Also very good to have a general knowledge of the job when you talk to other ATCOs as you never know when one of them might be interviewing you or training you!
It may help in general with stage 1 and stage 2, and will certainly give you a better depth of knowledge, which is extremely helpful when you tour units as you know what you are doing, and come to realise whether or not being an ATC is a job you REALLY want or not. Also very good to have a general knowledge of the job when you talk to other ATCOs as you never know when one of them might be interviewing you or training you!
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Jochi
I know exactly what you're saying, I was trying to think the same before my S3.
I can't remember any out of the ordinary questions that I hadn't heard before or at least heard very similar, so I wouldn't worry too much about those 2 competencies.
The main advice I could give is to be prepared for the amount of questions, there was 16 competency questions in total which is a lot of examples to think of, I would just ensure you have answers regarding resolving errors, learning from errors etc.
Hope this helps and good luck.
I can't remember any out of the ordinary questions that I hadn't heard before or at least heard very similar, so I wouldn't worry too much about those 2 competencies.
The main advice I could give is to be prepared for the amount of questions, there was 16 competency questions in total which is a lot of examples to think of, I would just ensure you have answers regarding resolving errors, learning from errors etc.
Hope this helps and good luck.
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I have my stage 1 next week and i did a practice spatial awarness test
http://www.psychometric-success.com/...20Test%201.pdf
Answered 44/45 before running out of time and got 80% in the test. Is this a good mark or are they expecting higher like 90%?
Seb
http://www.psychometric-success.com/...20Test%201.pdf
Answered 44/45 before running out of time and got 80% in the test. Is this a good mark or are they expecting higher like 90%?
Seb
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Nobody really knows what the pass marks are, but if you get a result such as that I think you will be fine.
Check out the first post on page 131 of this thread for links to several other places to get some practice in for stage one and two
Check out the first post on page 131 of this thread for links to several other places to get some practice in for stage one and two
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I arrived at CTC at approx. 1300 where I introduced myself at the reception. I was given a thinking styles questionnaire consisting of 99 questions. I was required to complete this before registering for the tests, if not, then stay behind after the four tests to complete. I eagerly await the results from my performance.
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when did you do that? today?
Can you remind me what the 4 tests are again please..
Is it:
Checking
Spatial awareness (is it just cubes, or other stuff like putting shapes together to make one big one)
Motivation paper
Mathematical?
Can you remind me what the 4 tests are again please..
Is it:
Checking
Spatial awareness (is it just cubes, or other stuff like putting shapes together to make one big one)
Motivation paper
Mathematical?
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Originally Posted by CAVOKAY7
Well, I guess you've got a point there mate, but what I mean is that, we are human aren't we, we're not machines to proccess all this info in such little time. Anyway, I'll work harder this time in order to be within their requirements. How about you mate, did you sit any tests recently?
Thanks for your reply.
Thanks for your reply.
Just read, digest and think logically!
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STAGE 2
Hey guys, sat my stage 2 yesterday, it was really tough!
All I can advise anyone is practice cubes, as there is another test, but other than that just make sure you are really awake! The whole day consisted of lots of computer tests,which were quite difficult and really put you under pressure, but I met some really nice people who I hope all make it through.
I can't really advise anyone on what comes up as you cant really practice them, they are just general aviation aptitude tests, but from 8.45 till 4, you are sat at the same computer, with a few 10 minute comfort breaks and an hour for lunch.
So a good nights sleep prior is a must!
Good Luck to anyone going for stage 2 soon!
All I can advise anyone is practice cubes, as there is another test, but other than that just make sure you are really awake! The whole day consisted of lots of computer tests,which were quite difficult and really put you under pressure, but I met some really nice people who I hope all make it through.
I can't really advise anyone on what comes up as you cant really practice them, they are just general aviation aptitude tests, but from 8.45 till 4, you are sat at the same computer, with a few 10 minute comfort breaks and an hour for lunch.
So a good nights sleep prior is a must!
Good Luck to anyone going for stage 2 soon!
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JonathanB
Thank you JonathanB,
I'm aware of the doc you're talking about, as I've received it last year when I had applied for the first time. Anyway, thanks for your reply. I hope I get through this time, all the best of luck for you too in whatever you're doing.
I'm aware of the doc you're talking about, as I've received it last year when I had applied for the first time. Anyway, thanks for your reply. I hope I get through this time, all the best of luck for you too in whatever you're doing.
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aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
its been a week since my stage 3 interview and i'm so nervous (which is exceedingly rare for me) that i can't stand it anymore.
PLEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEE put me out of my misery- i'm certain i've failed so they might as well phone up to confirm.
i thought waiting for stage 2 was bad, but the tensions is killing me- i'm not getting anything done!
PLEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEE put me out of my misery- i'm certain i've failed so they might as well phone up to confirm.
i thought waiting for stage 2 was bad, but the tensions is killing me- i'm not getting anything done!
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Pugwash4x4
I know the wait is horrible, im sure you've done well. I couldnt concentrate on work or anything for 2 weeks until i found out, but unfortunately it was a no.
To those doing stage 3 soon, one thing to keep in mind, read up on Body Language, apparently mine was saying something different to what i felt. Bit miffed by this but it cant be changed.
Good luck everyone
To those doing stage 3 soon, one thing to keep in mind, read up on Body Language, apparently mine was saying something different to what i felt. Bit miffed by this but it cant be changed.
Good luck everyone