NATS interview process
Join Date: Aug 2009
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Why do you want to become an ATC?
How do you handle pressure?
How do you work in a team?
Do you like having rules? etc... like the test you have to do in Stage 1 or 2.
They ask you examples about everything
How do you handle pressure?
How do you work in a team?
Do you like having rules? etc... like the test you have to do in Stage 1 or 2.
They ask you examples about everything
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Middlesex
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Stage 1 query
Hi all - I have my stage 1 assessment in less than 2 weeks, and have a question that I can't seem to find the answer to so hope someone can help.
I'm confused about the online SHL tests - the email I had said I had to complete these before I did my stage 1 assessments, yet reading other posts on here, noone else seems to have had this - one person said they didn't do any tests for stage 1, and other people talk about being asked to do tests after stage 1 - so has anyone who has recently done stage 1 done the SHL tests beforehand? Plus - if anyone has done them, are they the same as the practice tests on the SHL website - the only ones I could find were the tests where you have to say if statements are true/false/can't say, and numerical tests.
Sorry if I'm being a bit thick about this, but I'm blonde and my brain is frazzled!
Many thanks in advance!
Sauce
I'm confused about the online SHL tests - the email I had said I had to complete these before I did my stage 1 assessments, yet reading other posts on here, noone else seems to have had this - one person said they didn't do any tests for stage 1, and other people talk about being asked to do tests after stage 1 - so has anyone who has recently done stage 1 done the SHL tests beforehand? Plus - if anyone has done them, are they the same as the practice tests on the SHL website - the only ones I could find were the tests where you have to say if statements are true/false/can't say, and numerical tests.
Sorry if I'm being a bit thick about this, but I'm blonde and my brain is frazzled!
Many thanks in advance!
Sauce
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Hi Sauce,
Everyone now has to take the online SHL tests before stage 1 (this is what I was told by a lady from HR at my stage 1 at the beginning of September) so its nothing to worry about. When I did mine there were two online tests:
1. checking test - you are given a string of numbers or letters and have to pick that same string out of a list of similar multiple choice answers. This is timed and towards the end of the test you have to work very quickly (only a few seconds per questions).
2. maths test - fairly standard maths questions, involves rearranging equations to get the answer. Again this is timed and gets quite tight towards the end of the test.
Everyone now has to take the online SHL tests before stage 1 (this is what I was told by a lady from HR at my stage 1 at the beginning of September) so its nothing to worry about. When I did mine there were two online tests:
1. checking test - you are given a string of numbers or letters and have to pick that same string out of a list of similar multiple choice answers. This is timed and towards the end of the test you have to work very quickly (only a few seconds per questions).
2. maths test - fairly standard maths questions, involves rearranging equations to get the answer. Again this is timed and gets quite tight towards the end of the test.
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Thank you Pat42!
You have put my mind at rest a little bit - was having trouble with the practice tests on the SHL website, but what you have described sounds a little more straightforward
Join Date: Apr 2009
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PS82, lizplt, lotis88, mannequin
Hey guys, have any of you heard if you've passed stage 2 yet that we sat on the 30th? I am still waiting and people who took the tests after us already know, which i find kinda strange - good news or bad news, i can't stand not knowing lol! I saw mannequin found out yesterday he passed - congrats mannequin, hopefully the rest of us can share similar news in the near future!
Join Date: Aug 2009
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Hello guys!
Well done to everyone who has passed recently!!!
Just after a bit of advice really. I'm currently revising the motivation paper.... and just noticed it gives conflicting info. In one part it says that "Class C airspace replaced classes ADF&G airspace above FL 195 in the London and Scottish FIR/UIRS from....." But then later in the text it says " Airspace above FL 245 is classified now as class C airspace."
Which is right? Am I missing something here?
Also does anyone know where I can find a picture of the airways/airspace classifications?? etc.
Well done to everyone who has passed recently!!!
Just after a bit of advice really. I'm currently revising the motivation paper.... and just noticed it gives conflicting info. In one part it says that "Class C airspace replaced classes ADF&G airspace above FL 195 in the London and Scottish FIR/UIRS from....." But then later in the text it says " Airspace above FL 245 is classified now as class C airspace."
Which is right? Am I missing something here?
Also does anyone know where I can find a picture of the airways/airspace classifications?? etc.
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Mannequin, well done on passing and congratulations.
Adam28, no I haven't heard yet either mate so we're in the same boat.
Just hoping that no news is good news! Fingers crossed we get some good news soon though hey.
Regards
Peter
Adam28, no I haven't heard yet either mate so we're in the same boat.
Just hoping that no news is good news! Fingers crossed we get some good news soon though hey.
Regards
Peter
Join Date: Aug 2009
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Thanks Peter & Adam! 
Odd that you guys haven't heard? Maybe try dropping HR a line? I know they've been having problems with their email systems recently.
Hope you get some good news soon! The waiting is torturous!
Odd that you guys haven't heard? Maybe try dropping HR a line? I know they've been having problems with their email systems recently.
Hope you get some good news soon! The waiting is torturous!
Join Date: Oct 2009
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just got the dreaded 'we regret to inform you' email 
...never good when you see those lines..oh well back to the drawing board and hopefully apply next year..
for those waiting to hear any news, I had my stage 1 on Oct. 1st so hopefully you should hear soon in and around those dates and good luck!
...never good when you see those lines..oh well back to the drawing board and hopefully apply next year..for those waiting to hear any news, I had my stage 1 on Oct. 1st so hopefully you should hear soon in and around those dates and good luck!
Join Date: Apr 2009
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I passed!
Woohoo! Just got the email telling me i passed stage 2! I'm so happy! Only one more stage to go lol...
Hopefully you'll hear soon ps82, lotis88, lizplt.
Sorry to hear your news philontour, best of luck for next year...
Hopefully you'll hear soon ps82, lotis88, lizplt.
Sorry to hear your news philontour, best of luck for next year...
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Hi all, well like many folks on here I've just come through weeks of agonising waiting, constantly checking emails, bouncing out of bed in the morning and logging on to see whether there's any news from NATS. Even though it's painful there's a kind of warped excitement about it.
The Stage 1 results email finally came through today. There it was sitting on the top of my inbox sandwiched in between a confirmation email from my motor insurance company and a bargain viagra offer from the online pharmacy. I'm still not sure how they got my address. I thought I'd open this one first, leaving the NATS email 'till last, just to build the suspense a bit more and because I was curious as to what offers the online pharmacy might have today. I opened it. A free penis pump with every order. You'd never see such a generous offer in Boots.
Anyway, the time has come. Let's open the email and end this suffering. It'd been that long (or at least felt it) since I'd taken the tests that I'd forgotton if I was confident or not. Motivation paper - like everyone I found it pretty simple, you learn the booklet - you know the answers. Cubes, I remember finding it hard to concentrate in that one because all you could here around the room during the test was a chorus of tuts, groans and sighs. This actually boosted my confidence a little knowing that everyone was getting a headache looking at them. Still I managed 40 out of 50. Diagramming - again, did 40. I was fairly confident that I'd done ok there. The DST paper, I only managed 13 out of the 20 but was fairly sure I'd got those 13 correct.
I failed.
I can't even blame it on the wobbly desk because the desk didn't wobble and the chair was very comfy.
I might demand to have it re-marked like you could in A-levels. My brother did that in his Physics A-level exam and went up 2 grades. 2 Grades!! The examiner must have forgotton to mark half the paper.
Either that or I'll just accept it, crack on and re-apply next year. Congrats to everyone that passed and made it to stage 2 and beyond, you guys must be really proud especially as the failure rate for S1 is reportedly 90%. I guess you can't blame NATS for only wanting the best people with the right skills to do the job. They'd never allow a controller to talk chat to his girlfriend about a dead cat while a plane in his sector ploughs into a helicopter. That's why NATS are the best.
Good look everyone, and see you next year
Ed
The Stage 1 results email finally came through today. There it was sitting on the top of my inbox sandwiched in between a confirmation email from my motor insurance company and a bargain viagra offer from the online pharmacy. I'm still not sure how they got my address. I thought I'd open this one first, leaving the NATS email 'till last, just to build the suspense a bit more and because I was curious as to what offers the online pharmacy might have today. I opened it. A free penis pump with every order. You'd never see such a generous offer in Boots.
Anyway, the time has come. Let's open the email and end this suffering. It'd been that long (or at least felt it) since I'd taken the tests that I'd forgotton if I was confident or not. Motivation paper - like everyone I found it pretty simple, you learn the booklet - you know the answers. Cubes, I remember finding it hard to concentrate in that one because all you could here around the room during the test was a chorus of tuts, groans and sighs. This actually boosted my confidence a little knowing that everyone was getting a headache looking at them. Still I managed 40 out of 50. Diagramming - again, did 40. I was fairly confident that I'd done ok there. The DST paper, I only managed 13 out of the 20 but was fairly sure I'd got those 13 correct.
I failed.
I can't even blame it on the wobbly desk because the desk didn't wobble and the chair was very comfy.
I might demand to have it re-marked like you could in A-levels. My brother did that in his Physics A-level exam and went up 2 grades. 2 Grades!! The examiner must have forgotton to mark half the paper.
Either that or I'll just accept it, crack on and re-apply next year. Congrats to everyone that passed and made it to stage 2 and beyond, you guys must be really proud especially as the failure rate for S1 is reportedly 90%. I guess you can't blame NATS for only wanting the best people with the right skills to do the job. They'd never allow a controller to talk chat to his girlfriend about a dead cat while a plane in his sector ploughs into a helicopter. That's why NATS are the best.
Good look everyone, and see you next year
Ed
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KitKat 86
Kitkat86 - All airspace in the UK over FL195 is now class C (Controlled).
(Although TRA's generally extend class G rules into Class C airspace upto FL245 - But that is wayyyyy too much to get into at this stage of your application)
Good luck to all applying, anyone going to the college on Area in November ? PM me.
PDF
(Although TRA's generally extend class G rules into Class C airspace upto FL245 - But that is wayyyyy too much to get into at this stage of your application)
Good luck to all applying, anyone going to the college on Area in November ? PM me.
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Good news
Cheers adam28 and mannequin. I have also passed Stage 2, got the email today. Certainly is a good feeling!
Also got an email asking me to do an Occupational Personality Questionnaire, anyone else get this?
Sorry to those that have failed, better luck next time and good luck to those still waiting.
Peter.
Also got an email asking me to do an Occupational Personality Questionnaire, anyone else get this?
Sorry to those that have failed, better luck next time and good luck to those still waiting.
Peter.
Join Date: Dec 2008
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Well Ed, if you dont make it as a controller, Im pretty sure there would be a career for you as a writer.
That is by far the most enetertaining rejection post by a considerable margin. Its good you havent given up (or plumped for the penis pump btw) - I failed on my first attempt and am starting on the Aero course in January, so it is possible.
Read, learn, practise and come back next year ready to knock their socks off.
That is by far the most enetertaining rejection post by a considerable margin. Its good you havent given up (or plumped for the penis pump btw) - I failed on my first attempt and am starting on the Aero course in January, so it is possible.
Read, learn, practise and come back next year ready to knock their socks off.
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Ed, really sorry to hear you were unsuccessful this time around. My words will do little to console you so i'll just say I laughed hard, out loud, several times reading your post (not at the bit about failing). Please re-apply because you sound like the kind of bloke who, when not browsing penile enlargement implements, (they apparently do nothing I hasten to add........apparently. I couldn't say for sure of course) is a good laugh to work with!
Whitelighter, starting in Jan huh? Me too. Have you started looking into digs yet? Did you get the ammended 4th Jan start date email?
Whitelighter, starting in Jan huh? Me too. Have you started looking into digs yet? Did you get the ammended 4th Jan start date email?
Join Date: Dec 2008
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Hey CA,
No, not started to look at digs yet. Still having to work hard in the current job to pay for everything
- one of the negetives of doing this late with wife/mortgage/kids etc etc.
Planning on probably going down once the contracts and everything are out and signed, maybe end of November/early December.
Any ideas? PM me with an email address and we can share some ideas maybe.
No, not started to look at digs yet. Still having to work hard in the current job to pay for everything
- one of the negetives of doing this late with wife/mortgage/kids etc etc.Planning on probably going down once the contracts and everything are out and signed, maybe end of November/early December.
Any ideas? PM me with an email address and we can share some ideas maybe.
Join Date: Jul 2008
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I passed stage 2 too!!!!
Currently in Australia though which makes booking my stage 3 interview quite tricky as I need to organise time off work and a tower visit before I get back.
Being the forward thinking kinda gal that I am I actually brought my Radio Navigation book with me to revise. Not your usual beach reading material though so I look quite strange.
So excited though. Going to drop Clare an email at some point to see when I can visit a tower/enroute centre.
Well done to everyone else who passed S2!!! If you didn't pass please please try again next year. I failed stage 2 last year and obviously it worked out better the second time round for me so don't lose heart.
Liz x
Currently in Australia though which makes booking my stage 3 interview quite tricky as I need to organise time off work and a tower visit before I get back.
Being the forward thinking kinda gal that I am I actually brought my Radio Navigation book with me to revise. Not your usual beach reading material though so I look quite strange.
So excited though. Going to drop Clare an email at some point to see when I can visit a tower/enroute centre.
Well done to everyone else who passed S2!!! If you didn't pass please please try again next year. I failed stage 2 last year and obviously it worked out better the second time round for me so don't lose heart.
Liz x
