NATS interview process
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NATS visit
Hello
Can anyone provide contact details for ATC at Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Scottish Area Control Centre at Prestwick? I am looking to arrange a visit prior to attending stage 3 of the selection process, but I can't find any contact numbers online. Any information much appreciated.
Thanks
Can anyone provide contact details for ATC at Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Scottish Area Control Centre at Prestwick? I am looking to arrange a visit prior to attending stage 3 of the selection process, but I can't find any contact numbers online. Any information much appreciated.
Thanks
Join Date: Jan 2001
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26th July test day - Manchester
Hey everyone - I was at the testing day on in manchester on the 26th... anyone else there?
Have you heard anything back yet?
This number is indicated on the recruitment application tracker page of the nats website: 01489 616090
Im not sure if its what you're looking for but it might be a lead for you to contact specific bases
Have you heard anything back yet?
This number is indicated on the recruitment application tracker page of the nats website: 01489 616090
Im not sure if its what you're looking for but it might be a lead for you to contact specific bases
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Nats Test Day
Hello Ian. Not the 26th, but I was there the day before. Had a message on my Nats application page to complete the online personality questionnaire today. 'Ve done so, so just waiting now
. Hope you did well
Let us know if you're asked to do it, best of luck.
. Hope you did well Let us know if you're asked to do it, best of luck.
Last edited by Nokio; 4th Aug 2007 at 10:34.
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Pah, damn... got an email of rejection today - I'm 110% sure that I knew everything on the motivational paper - must have crashed out on the shapes 
Good luck to you Nokio - keep us informed of the next stages
Good luck to you Nokio - keep us informed of the next stages
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Hard lines Ian, stick with it friend, lots of practise time tiil the next go. Ive read that many people at the college got through 2nd and 3rd time around. We can but try.
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Its so frustrating that they cant give feedback... just like pilot sponsorship!
Its weird, I have a friend who went to 6 of these things, each company dropping him at different stages. Eventually he got in on the 6th attempt, and another who got in on the 1st one... quite random selecting but worth keeping in mind when another rejection email is sent your way
Its weird, I have a friend who went to 6 of these things, each company dropping him at different stages. Eventually he got in on the 6th attempt, and another who got in on the 1st one... quite random selecting but worth keeping in mind when another rejection email is sent your way
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Hey Ian,
Like many people on here I know you're pain, I'm now preparing for next year. Was that your first attempt? Only got a year to wait eh!
It's frustrating not knowing where you went wrong, I think the shapes caught me out as well, but then everyone seems to struggle on that so it could be anything really. Would love to know how they mark these things!
Good luck next time.
Like many people on here I know you're pain, I'm now preparing for next year. Was that your first attempt? Only got a year to wait eh!
It's frustrating not knowing where you went wrong, I think the shapes caught me out as well, but then everyone seems to struggle on that so it could be anything really. Would love to know how they mark these things!
Good luck next time.
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I'd say it is better to go out in the 1st stage than at the personailty questionnaire because then you're just flummoxed and wonder how the hell you'll get further next year. Count it as a blessing. 
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Hey vic - yeah it was my 1st attempt. But.. not all hope lost, I went to a Flybe interview and failed the apptitude tests... went to a CTC interview a month later and passed the (much much harder) aptitude tests in the high band grade so I guess practice does make perfect....!
My words of wisdome haha
My words of wisdome haha
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Something Positive
To bring a bit of cheer back to this topic...
I've found out I'm through, and barring any medical problems, start on the September course.
This wasn't my first attempt, so keep at it; it could well happen for you too.
Wind was obviously blowing in the right direction that day, must have been our groups superb effort on the board game
PM me if you are a September bod
Anyone else got a thumping hangover today
I've found out I'm through, and barring any medical problems, start on the September course.
This wasn't my first attempt, so keep at it; it could well happen for you too.
Wind was obviously blowing in the right direction that day, must have been our groups superb effort on the board game
PM me if you are a September bod
Anyone else got a thumping hangover today
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So Ian, are you going to apply next year, or move on and do something else?
Also...
Does anyone know of any books that they feel helped them prepare for the aptitude tests in stage one? I think one with particularly emphasis on spatial reasoning, the cubes, would be best. I've been looking around but none seem to have enough examples of rotating 3D shapes mentally.
Any recommendations would be appreciated!
Also...
Does anyone know of any books that they feel helped them prepare for the aptitude tests in stage one? I think one with particularly emphasis on spatial reasoning, the cubes, would be best. I've been looking around but none seem to have enough examples of rotating 3D shapes mentally.
Any recommendations would be appreciated!
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You might find it funny, but the best I can recommend is practising 11+ papers
. My sister sat hers as I took my aptitude tests and they had almost anything you will encounter on the NATS tests in them, bar the aviation specific stuff. As far as numerical and spatial reasoning can go I found them excellent.
As for books, a quick search of amazon revealed these-
Mechanical & Spatial Aptitude by Learning Express - "cubes"
The Aptitude Test Workbook: Over 400 Practice Questions by Jim Barrett
Air Traffic Control Test Prep by Patrick Mattson - I bought this one before I applied, it's quite expensive and not even based on UK ATC so don't take any technical info out of it. However it is a prep for the FAA ATC entry exam and has some really good spacial awareness and numerical memory exercises in there.
Good Luck
. My sister sat hers as I took my aptitude tests and they had almost anything you will encounter on the NATS tests in them, bar the aviation specific stuff. As far as numerical and spatial reasoning can go I found them excellent. As for books, a quick search of amazon revealed these-
Mechanical & Spatial Aptitude by Learning Express - "cubes"
The Aptitude Test Workbook: Over 400 Practice Questions by Jim Barrett
Air Traffic Control Test Prep by Patrick Mattson - I bought this one before I applied, it's quite expensive and not even based on UK ATC so don't take any technical info out of it. However it is a prep for the FAA ATC entry exam and has some really good spacial awareness and numerical memory exercises in there.
Good Luck
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Hi there.
Just an introduction first: I'm currently doing a degree but I really want to be an ATCO. I'm planning on applying to NATS either this coming january or the next, depending on whether I want to do a masters degree or just finish my BSc and try and get into NATS asap(That's what I really want to do, but the fear of not getting accepted is worrying me - that maybe I should keep my options as wide open as possible and do the masters).
Anyway, I'm into programming as a hobby and this has given me an idea for something to work on in my free time - designing a simple game-like training program for the NATS entrance exams - it would be good if someone could let me know more specifically the details of the various tests - especially details like what sort of designs are on the cubes... are they complex random blotches or fairly simple patterns. Any details about any of the tests would be great - any Simple drawings would be useful as well... to try and make it look more like the real thing.
And also it would be good if someone/a few people who have taken the tests recently could have a look and tell me how similar it is to the real thing... however, that will be in some time when I've actually started the project.
Of course, it would be free (as in beer).
Anyway, just an idea - if anyone wants to give me details or help out with the software, let me know
Thanks
Just an introduction first: I'm currently doing a degree but I really want to be an ATCO. I'm planning on applying to NATS either this coming january or the next, depending on whether I want to do a masters degree or just finish my BSc and try and get into NATS asap(That's what I really want to do, but the fear of not getting accepted is worrying me - that maybe I should keep my options as wide open as possible and do the masters).
Anyway, I'm into programming as a hobby and this has given me an idea for something to work on in my free time - designing a simple game-like training program for the NATS entrance exams - it would be good if someone could let me know more specifically the details of the various tests - especially details like what sort of designs are on the cubes... are they complex random blotches or fairly simple patterns. Any details about any of the tests would be great - any Simple drawings would be useful as well... to try and make it look more like the real thing.
And also it would be good if someone/a few people who have taken the tests recently could have a look and tell me how similar it is to the real thing... however, that will be in some time when I've actually started the project.
Of course, it would be free (as in beer).
Anyway, just an idea - if anyone wants to give me details or help out with the software, let me know
Thanks
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Hi,
First of all I know my English is not perfect-perfect, but my natural accent is just like exactly the same as we have to artificially pronounciate the numbers in aviation, so I think this is even an advantage. And subsequently I'd like to apologize if there are written mistakes here. (especially for the commas all around the wrong places)
I'd really like to ask something and I wish someone like Gonzo -who has a role in the selection process and really knows the ropes- to answer if its possible. I've recently got axed on stage two, so I rang the centre and they called me back in a few hour to let me know that I completed the computer test and the problem was the interview and that is all they are allowed to say.
So here is my problem:
What I know about NATS-es priorities during the selection, it is expected the future employee to stay for long term in employment, once the company invested so much in the training and so on. I know this is a vital point, since it was mentioned just here on this forums at least three times and furthermore they said on the RADAR2001 site as well.
So I took the time and recalled more than 50 questions out of the 60-ish they asked, and I found that although I gave more or less ok answers generally, there was on occasion when I completely misunderstood the question. It was something like "Do you mind changing your plans?"
Now there was already 3-4 question about the "ability to focus", "resisting distraction" and so on, so this one mustn't have been about the short term plans for the next hour, one day or week, but I'm sure it was about the long term, especially since there wasn't any other question related to this.
The problem was when they asked this, I still thought that we are talking about short term plans, I thought they want to know if I'm willing/able to change my course of action, in the case my manager tells me to do something else instead or something, so I said "no I don't mind to change my plans" and I started "babble" about this kind of stuff, instead of convincing NATS that I determined to plan for long term.
Obviously, this specific answer was also in contradiction with the one I gave about plans in the on line questionnaire...
So what I'm trying to ask, Is there any point to send a polite letter to the NATS Human Resources and explain all this?
Am I right, when I think it would be a waste to fail on things like these, when I invested so much to learn the motivation material, I succeed on the on line personality test and I was even eligible on the computer tests?
I blame only myself, so I really don't have grudges and I also have a job, so I'm not desperate, I just would like to do a job which I think is really important, where I feel it really counts what I do.
I would appreciate any kind of advice on this, thank you in advance!
Janos
First of all I know my English is not perfect-perfect, but my natural accent is just like exactly the same as we have to artificially pronounciate the numbers in aviation, so I think this is even an advantage. And subsequently I'd like to apologize if there are written mistakes here. (especially for the commas all around the wrong places
)I'd really like to ask something and I wish someone like Gonzo -who has a role in the selection process and really knows the ropes- to answer if its possible. I've recently got axed on stage two, so I rang the centre and they called me back in a few hour to let me know that I completed the computer test and the problem was the interview and that is all they are allowed to say.
So here is my problem:
What I know about NATS-es priorities during the selection, it is expected the future employee to stay for long term in employment, once the company invested so much in the training and so on. I know this is a vital point, since it was mentioned just here on this forums at least three times and furthermore they said on the RADAR2001 site as well.
So I took the time and recalled more than 50 questions out of the 60-ish they asked, and I found that although I gave more or less ok answers generally, there was on occasion when I completely misunderstood the question. It was something like "Do you mind changing your plans?"
Now there was already 3-4 question about the "ability to focus", "resisting distraction" and so on, so this one mustn't have been about the short term plans for the next hour, one day or week, but I'm sure it was about the long term, especially since there wasn't any other question related to this.
The problem was when they asked this, I still thought that we are talking about short term plans, I thought they want to know if I'm willing/able to change my course of action, in the case my manager tells me to do something else instead or something, so I said "no I don't mind to change my plans" and I started "babble" about this kind of stuff, instead of convincing NATS that I determined to plan for long term.
Obviously, this specific answer was also in contradiction with the one I gave about plans in the on line questionnaire...
So what I'm trying to ask, Is there any point to send a polite letter to the NATS Human Resources and explain all this?
Am I right, when I think it would be a waste to fail on things like these, when I invested so much to learn the motivation material, I succeed on the on line personality test and I was even eligible on the computer tests?
I blame only myself, so I really don't have grudges and I also have a job, so I'm not desperate, I just would like to do a job which I think is really important, where I feel it really counts what I do.
I would appreciate any kind of advice on this, thank you in advance!
Janos
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Hi Janos,
I recently had stage 2 and interpreted that question in the same way. I also answered that I didn't mind changing my plans and got through to stage 3. If you are planning to write to NATS' HR then I'd have a few more examples available before submitting the letter, especially as the policy is not to give any feedback. I know how disappointing it is, especially when you were successful at the other components of stage 2. Best of luck!
I recently had stage 2 and interpreted that question in the same way. I also answered that I didn't mind changing my plans and got through to stage 3. If you are planning to write to NATS' HR then I'd have a few more examples available before submitting the letter, especially as the policy is not to give any feedback. I know how disappointing it is, especially when you were successful at the other components of stage 2. Best of luck!
