NATS interview process
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 15
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From: Newcastle
"I think the people that complete all the cube questions either got the majority wrong or are incredibly gifted. The two times I've done the cube(once for Eurocontrol and once for NATS) I don't think I got half way through them"
Mmmm I have to disagree DIAF I'm not especially gifted but have been trainning myself rotten on cubes and Operations and I'm impressed with my performance. I can answer 40 questions based on cubes with one minute to spare and my best result was 38/40 (95%)
Take heart and practice, get it wrong, practice, get it wrong, practice, get it right, practice, get it right, practice some more! If our test scores translate into a percentile mark based on say 50 candidates the difference just one or two marks can make is considerable. So don't think this is in the "hands of the gods" learn and practice and you will improve!
My test date is 11th Sept at 13.00 up in Prestwick. Anyone got the same time/place?
Mmmm I have to disagree DIAF I'm not especially gifted but have been trainning myself rotten on cubes and Operations and I'm impressed with my performance. I can answer 40 questions based on cubes with one minute to spare and my best result was 38/40 (95%)
Take heart and practice, get it wrong, practice, get it wrong, practice, get it right, practice, get it right, practice some more! If our test scores translate into a percentile mark based on say 50 candidates the difference just one or two marks can make is considerable. So don't think this is in the "hands of the gods" learn and practice and you will improve!
My test date is 11th Sept at 13.00 up in Prestwick. Anyone got the same time/place?
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 149
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From: Down south and up north
If our test scores translate into a percentile mark based on say 50 candidates the difference just one or two marks can make is considerable.
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Liverpool
Will be doing my stage 1 on the 30th September in fareham... i kno its ages away but just thought i would ask if anyone else is going for that date?
As i am heading down from Liverpool i will be doing so the day before and staying over... can anybody give me the names of good places to stay?
Much Appreciated
Ian
As i am heading down from Liverpool i will be doing so the day before and staying over... can anybody give me the names of good places to stay?
Much Appreciated
Ian
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: durham
Hello everyone.
I've recently booked my stage 3 and it's only now that I've joined the forum.
I don't know what everyone else thinks but there seems to be a lot of people searching for the answers for the early stages when that part of the process is designed to identify who is potentially capable of doing the job and eliminate those who aren't. In other words if your brain doesn't work that way then it doesn't work that way. If you learn the cube test "parrot fashion" for stage 1, then when they test you for the same ability in a different format at stage 2 you will most likely be caught out.
The best advice is to relax and enjoy the experience...
Anyone who is about to complete stage 2, I passed mine in July and although it was a very intensive day the biggest tip I can give is not to crack when you make a mistake or two. Take a second to regain your composure and get back on track. There is an exercise in the afternoon that you can't practice for - a simulation of being an ATC - so for all those people having nightmares involving cubes, like I said there will be a point where you can either do it or can't do it.
I've recently booked my stage 3 and it's only now that I've joined the forum.
I don't know what everyone else thinks but there seems to be a lot of people searching for the answers for the early stages when that part of the process is designed to identify who is potentially capable of doing the job and eliminate those who aren't. In other words if your brain doesn't work that way then it doesn't work that way. If you learn the cube test "parrot fashion" for stage 1, then when they test you for the same ability in a different format at stage 2 you will most likely be caught out.
The best advice is to relax and enjoy the experience...
Anyone who is about to complete stage 2, I passed mine in July and although it was a very intensive day the biggest tip I can give is not to crack when you make a mistake or two. Take a second to regain your composure and get back on track. There is an exercise in the afternoon that you can't practice for - a simulation of being an ATC - so for all those people having nightmares involving cubes, like I said there will be a point where you can either do it or can't do it.
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 66
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From: On the ground, looking skyward
Well I'm not blowing my own trumpet here but after doing very little preparation for the cubes I answered them all and got through stage 1. As many people have said, over practice and you're just kidding yourself, if you have practiced for hours for a 20 minute test, how long are you going to have to spend extra if you get through and go onto training?
I think it is important to know whats ahead of you but unlike GCSEs and A levels you're not working against a set curriculum as such and therefore it should be treat like that. I'm not saying don't prepare but hours and hours of practice may get you past stage one but its your time you're wasting when you don't get past S2, S3, training or validation.
All in all if NATS wanted you to practice, they would let you do so on the SHL website or their own.
You owe it to yourself to relax, get a good nights sleep and a good breakfast, and thats it! Thats certainly the mindset I'm taking in with me to S2 anyway!
I think it is important to know whats ahead of you but unlike GCSEs and A levels you're not working against a set curriculum as such and therefore it should be treat like that. I'm not saying don't prepare but hours and hours of practice may get you past stage one but its your time you're wasting when you don't get past S2, S3, training or validation.
All in all if NATS wanted you to practice, they would let you do so on the SHL website or their own.
You owe it to yourself to relax, get a good nights sleep and a good breakfast, and thats it! Thats certainly the mindset I'm taking in with me to S2 anyway!
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: World
Having passed all three stages and been given my start date for the college I completely agree with the previous two statements. The best thing to do is relax, sleep well, and eat well the day of the testing.
The most studying I did when I was going in for my testing was read the information NATS sent me(several times) and took down some notes on the main things and abbreviations.
Aside from that I got a good nights sleep, a huge breakfast, and went in with a positive attitude.
The most studying I did when I was going in for my testing was read the information NATS sent me(several times) and took down some notes on the main things and abbreviations.
Aside from that I got a good nights sleep, a huge breakfast, and went in with a positive attitude.
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 177
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From: Home
Inchy,
This question comes up a lot, so well worth reading back through the thread a bit for more advice, but here's my two pence...
I recently sat my S1 and made a point of trying to memorise all of that data (though I must admit that there are a few details I probably couldn't recall perfectly). NATS include it in their document, so in theory they can ask you any of it. In my test, and I get the impression this is fairly standard, there were only two or three questions on this stuff... but you don't know which aircraft those two or three questions are going to be on (and I don't think it would be appropriate for me to tell you) so if you don't know it all then you risk throwing away a few marks here if you aren't lucky about which details they quiz you on.
The above said, if you are struggling then here are a few pointers:
Firstly, remember that all the tests are multiple choice, so if learning the exact details of every aircraft are a little too much then try to learn a few ballpark figures (e.g. x group of aircraft all fly within +/-20kts of speed y). This should hopefully give you enough to work out the correct answer from the selection on offer.
Secondly, I found quite a useful technique was to try and understand the relationships between the different aircraft. For example I know that, with the exception of the 747 (which is the big daddy), the boeing aircraft generally get bigger, fly further and fly higher as the numbers get bigger. Based upon this knowledge and given a multiple choice of answers you should be able to make a reasonably educated guess as to the specific details of any of the boeing aircraft based upon the details of one or two others. This means that if, for example, you know the stats for the 737 and the 777, then even if you can't remember the stats for the 757 or the 767 you should be able to guess these with a reasonable degree of accuracy.
Memorising operators is a bit harder. I found it easier to approach this by learning which aircraft the main operators (as listed in the NATS document) fly, rather than learning a list of operators for each specific aircraft. For example I know that British Airways fly a predominantly Boeing fleet - thus I just remember one fact to recall a common operator of every single type of boeing aircraft (except the 737NG) rather than learning this as one fact for each aircraft... the end result is the same, but it is a different way of looking at the problem which I found simplified it a lot.
Hope this helps.
This question comes up a lot, so well worth reading back through the thread a bit for more advice, but here's my two pence...
I recently sat my S1 and made a point of trying to memorise all of that data (though I must admit that there are a few details I probably couldn't recall perfectly). NATS include it in their document, so in theory they can ask you any of it. In my test, and I get the impression this is fairly standard, there were only two or three questions on this stuff... but you don't know which aircraft those two or three questions are going to be on (and I don't think it would be appropriate for me to tell you) so if you don't know it all then you risk throwing away a few marks here if you aren't lucky about which details they quiz you on.
The above said, if you are struggling then here are a few pointers:
Firstly, remember that all the tests are multiple choice, so if learning the exact details of every aircraft are a little too much then try to learn a few ballpark figures (e.g. x group of aircraft all fly within +/-20kts of speed y). This should hopefully give you enough to work out the correct answer from the selection on offer.
Secondly, I found quite a useful technique was to try and understand the relationships between the different aircraft. For example I know that, with the exception of the 747 (which is the big daddy), the boeing aircraft generally get bigger, fly further and fly higher as the numbers get bigger. Based upon this knowledge and given a multiple choice of answers you should be able to make a reasonably educated guess as to the specific details of any of the boeing aircraft based upon the details of one or two others. This means that if, for example, you know the stats for the 737 and the 777, then even if you can't remember the stats for the 757 or the 767 you should be able to guess these with a reasonable degree of accuracy.
Memorising operators is a bit harder. I found it easier to approach this by learning which aircraft the main operators (as listed in the NATS document) fly, rather than learning a list of operators for each specific aircraft. For example I know that British Airways fly a predominantly Boeing fleet - thus I just remember one fact to recall a common operator of every single type of boeing aircraft (except the 737NG) rather than learning this as one fact for each aircraft... the end result is the same, but it is a different way of looking at the problem which I found simplified it a lot.
Hope this helps.
Last edited by Pat42; 5th September 2009 at 08:16. Reason: Spelling
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: Cheshire, UK
With regards to the info that NATS send to you, how well do you need to know it?
Obviously theyve sent it to you for a reason, but, are you really expected to know how many seats a Boeing 747 has?
Obviously theyve sent it to you for a reason, but, are you really expected to know how many seats a Boeing 747 has?
It beggars belief how many times this question has been asked!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: england
Well I'm not blowing my own trumpet here but after doing very little preparation for the cubes I answered them all and got through stage 1. As many people have said, over practice and you're just kidding yourself, if you have practiced for hours for a 20 minute test, how long are you going to have to spend extra if you get through and go onto training?
I think it is important to know whats ahead of you but unlike GCSEs and A levels you're not working against a set curriculum as such and therefore it should be treat like that. I'm not saying don't prepare but hours and hours of practice may get you past stage one but its your time you're wasting when you don't get past S2, S3, training or validation.
All in all if NATS wanted you to practice, they would let you do so on the SHL website or their own.
You owe it to yourself to relax, get a good nights sleep and a good breakfast, and thats it! Thats certainly the mindset I'm taking in with me to S2 anyway!
I think it is important to know whats ahead of you but unlike GCSEs and A levels you're not working against a set curriculum as such and therefore it should be treat like that. I'm not saying don't prepare but hours and hours of practice may get you past stage one but its your time you're wasting when you don't get past S2, S3, training or validation.
All in all if NATS wanted you to practice, they would let you do so on the SHL website or their own.
You owe it to yourself to relax, get a good nights sleep and a good breakfast, and thats it! Thats certainly the mindset I'm taking in with me to S2 anyway!
I dont agree with these comments at all. If you cant do the cubes, then practise like mad until you can. Being able to the the cubes straight away is absolutely no indication of wether you are going to become a valid ATCO. I couldn't do the cubes, I made cubes and practised for hours, and I still struggled on the test day. How can you say people are wasting there time by practising for hours and hours, its a crazy statement to make.
Like I said, I practised for hours and hours. I did the same for my interviews, and when I got to college, I revised for hours and hours each night, and when I got to Swanwick, I revised for hours and hours. I validated, some others who validated might have revised and practised for less time, some for more time, some might have sussed the cubes straight away, others after hours of practise. I still cant do the cubes now, but I have my ticket.
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 559
Likes: 33
From: looking out of the window
I dont fancy your chances much if you are already looking at ways to cut corners.
If a prospective employer sends you something, bloody read it, learn it. DOnt look forr ways to get round learning parts of it. That will not stand you in good stead when/if you do get through to training.
If a prospective employer sends you something, bloody read it, learn it. DOnt look forr ways to get round learning parts of it. That will not stand you in good stead when/if you do get through to training.
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Colchester
Hi all!
Just got back home after a 3 and a half hour drive from Portsmouth having sat my Stage 2. An email was sitting there waiting for me saying i had passed!! WOOP WOOP
An intense day, but by no means boring. They test your ability to multi task to the limit lol. Cubes at this stage are easier!!!! You can not prepare and don't try. Turn up, relax and enjoy it all!! I met some great people and best of luck to them.
I am booked in for Stage 3 Oct 7th...thats the earliest!
Seb
Just got back home after a 3 and a half hour drive from Portsmouth having sat my Stage 2. An email was sitting there waiting for me saying i had passed!! WOOP WOOP
An intense day, but by no means boring. They test your ability to multi task to the limit lol. Cubes at this stage are easier!!!! You can not prepare and don't try. Turn up, relax and enjoy it all!! I met some great people and best of luck to them.
I am booked in for Stage 3 Oct 7th...thats the earliest!
Seb
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Colchester
We all basically pleaded with the lady (Jo) to send us the results as soon as possible as she found out the results instantly anyway. So she said ok 
Best of luck mate, all i can say is you either have what it takes or you don't....nothing else can be done. Just relax and have fun! They brought a graduate from the college in at lunch to speak to us, he was very helpfull and basically made me want the job more...luckily i got through! Just one more stage to go but have to wait a month!
Seb
Best of luck mate, all i can say is you either have what it takes or you don't....nothing else can be done. Just relax and have fun! They brought a graduate from the college in at lunch to speak to us, he was very helpfull and basically made me want the job more...luckily i got through! Just one more stage to go but have to wait a month!Seb
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 66
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From: On the ground, looking skyward