NATS interview process
Maybe I was a little rude so I apologise. I had a hangover. Never the less, try and read the whole thread, I'll help you greatly with the application process. You could always try the search function if it's something quite specific.
Good luck and welcome to the forums.
S88
Good luck and welcome to the forums.
S88
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Never the less, try and read the whole thread, I'll help you greatly with the application process.
For guys like Dan who are keen I'd probably recommend reading the last 50 pages or so though - it might take an evening or two but you'll find it very educational
I know its a huge thread and can be a little daunting, but for those of us who have been posting on here for a while now it does start to wear when you answer the same question over and over again. I can almost garuantee that about 98% of the questions someone just starting out here will have have been answered on this forum at least once within the last 3 or 4 months. I can also promise that if you learn to use the "search" function you will find the answers to those questions a lot faster than we are able to answer them.
Perhaps we could start a condensed NATS interview thread with only the most up to date and comprehensive posts from this thread, or a "NATS interview FAQ" thread or something like that? That way those who are new would be able to find the answers to their questions much more easily without people having to get whiny at them or bite their faces off.
That's a great idea Pat. You're right, a lot of this is way past it's use by date. Maybe create 4 posts in the thread. The first relating to S1, then S2 and then S3 and maybe a misc post. That way all the up to date information will remain at the first 4 posts and any other info people want added can be added to the top 4 posts?
S88
S88
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Stage 3
I’ve been searching through this thread and have found alot of information about the questions asked in the stage 2 but now they don’t do interviews in stage 2. I have my stage 3 coming up and was wondering if anyone who recently did stage 3 has some example questions as what I have read so far just says technical questions but i think that was back when they had interviews in both stage 2 and 3. Many thanks oh and good look to anyone else who is going to Swanwick on the 19th feb :s
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stage 1 on 25th jan
has anyone heard back from them yet? - i know it is usually 15 days but on the day she said they were going to try and get the results to us by wednesday last week?!
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Re: Stage 3
There are no technical questions at stage 3 now. The interview is now just with HR and is a structured (competency based) interview. The questions will all be based around the competencies listed on the stage 3 prep document found on the NATS ATCO careers website:
http://atcocareers.co.uk/pdf/Hints-a...-Day-Three.pdf
You'll be asked two questions aiming to help you demonstrate each competency. For each question you will be expected to give a specific example of a scenario you have been in that has tested that competency in a certain way, and then they will grill you further on that example by asking you about why you did what you did, why you chose a certain course of action etc.
Good luck
http://atcocareers.co.uk/pdf/Hints-a...-Day-Three.pdf
You'll be asked two questions aiming to help you demonstrate each competency. For each question you will be expected to give a specific example of a scenario you have been in that has tested that competency in a certain way, and then they will grill you further on that example by asking you about why you did what you did, why you chose a certain course of action etc.
Good luck
Last edited by Pat42; 2nd Feb 2010 at 08:37.
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slbzx6,
Wouldn't worry - I was there 25/01 as well, also remember them saying they would get results out by the end of the week!
However, to be fair, they did have about 30 candidates just for the 1230, as well as other Stages that week so guess they are pretty busy with sorting through it all.
May have to wait the full 15 days, and its only been 5 as I think they state "working days"
Fingers crossed as ever! :-)
Wouldn't worry - I was there 25/01 as well, also remember them saying they would get results out by the end of the week!
However, to be fair, they did have about 30 candidates just for the 1230, as well as other Stages that week so guess they are pretty busy with sorting through it all.
May have to wait the full 15 days, and its only been 5 as I think they state "working days"
Fingers crossed as ever! :-)
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CaptJayJay,
Thats about double the amount compared to the morning session although i think there were a few no-shows.
We'll just have to wait and fingers crossed as you said! 15 days is going to drag though!
Cheers
Sophie
Thats about double the amount compared to the morning session although i think there were a few no-shows.
We'll just have to wait and fingers crossed as you said! 15 days is going to drag though!
Cheers
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Thanks!
Hi guys,
I was at Stage 3 on the 29th Jan and I have just found out i passed
Fingers crossed for the other guys who were with me, some good guys in there who deserved to pass. I know a couple didn't make it but for anyone who has failed Stage 3 recently for the first time I'd 100% recommend them try again and not to give up. I failed over a year ago but the extra year you get to build up experience really does make the difference.
Thanks to everyone that posts especially Pat42.
Good luck to everyone.
P.S Thanks to Kev who helped cure the nerves while i waited to get interviewed and maybe see you around Feltham!
I was at Stage 3 on the 29th Jan and I have just found out i passed
Fingers crossed for the other guys who were with me, some good guys in there who deserved to pass. I know a couple didn't make it but for anyone who has failed Stage 3 recently for the first time I'd 100% recommend them try again and not to give up. I failed over a year ago but the extra year you get to build up experience really does make the difference.
Thanks to everyone that posts especially Pat42.
Good luck to everyone.
P.S Thanks to Kev who helped cure the nerves while i waited to get interviewed and maybe see you around Feltham!
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NATS Stage 1 CHANGED!!!!?????????????
Hi everyone… I wonder if you lot can answer a little question of mine….
Just under two years ago… I applied for NATS and I made it to Stage 3 and got turned down for having too much interest in the RAF and was asked to come back in a year if NATS was the path I wished to follow.
Sooooo several years later… I started up my application again. Got the same emails with the same preparation material… except for a few bits of information having been changed on the revision booklet due to the new restructuring Air Space.
So just like before… got my head stuck in and practiced for the following tests:
· Basic Checking
· Diagramming
· Spatial Reasoning
· Aviation Info Test
Obviously you can’t study for the personality test… but that was a test that would be given.
So… I travel down to Fareham after some hardcore studying… Firstly we were all squeezed into a spare room with a member of HR who says “sorry if you hear typing but I have work to do during your tests”
secondly… the tests were different!!! 
· Diagramming
· Spatial Reasoning
· “Aviation Test” which had about 6 questions about the booklet you had been given to “study carefully” and the remaining questions were to do with Maths.
· Maths test
I know this sounds stupid but…. I haven’t had to do any sort of equations since I left education about 4-5 years ago and only ever did financial figures so to me… the heads up on the change of tests would have been really good!
!! But no… all the info they get your studying is absolutely pointless!!! It would have been best to do maths and scrape out with the 70% mark on the Aviation test and just hope you did well on the other questions relating to the booklet!
Then after the tests we were quickly shooed out of the building…. No presentation… nowt.
I found that the old approach that SHL took for conducting the tests were a lot more professional as NATS had supplied old practice material which DID NOT correspond with the tests on the actual day. I know there is cut backs all over but… come on! The standards should not slip especially not for the recruitment processes as first impression ALWAYS shape the perception people have and if you get a bad approach like that from round one… you may be left thinking that… is it like this ALLLLL the way through????
So basically one is left feeling that… she may not actually make it through to the second stage this time round never mind the third
and I am left feeling extremely cheated. Obviously I have only 1 more shot at this baby and Lets face it... how can I prepare myself when these things are not brought to our attention!!!
Has this happened to anyone else?????? If you have just sat the tests recently but it was your first time… did you feel that the supplied practice material lacked relevance to the tests on the day?
Just under two years ago… I applied for NATS and I made it to Stage 3 and got turned down for having too much interest in the RAF and was asked to come back in a year if NATS was the path I wished to follow.
Sooooo several years later… I started up my application again. Got the same emails with the same preparation material… except for a few bits of information having been changed on the revision booklet due to the new restructuring Air Space.
So just like before… got my head stuck in and practiced for the following tests:
· Basic Checking
· Diagramming
· Spatial Reasoning
· Aviation Info Test
Obviously you can’t study for the personality test… but that was a test that would be given.
So… I travel down to Fareham after some hardcore studying… Firstly we were all squeezed into a spare room with a member of HR who says “sorry if you hear typing but I have work to do during your tests”
secondly… the tests were different!!! · Diagramming
· Spatial Reasoning
· “Aviation Test” which had about 6 questions about the booklet you had been given to “study carefully” and the remaining questions were to do with Maths.
· Maths test
I know this sounds stupid but…. I haven’t had to do any sort of equations since I left education about 4-5 years ago and only ever did financial figures so to me… the heads up on the change of tests would have been really good!
!! But no… all the info they get your studying is absolutely pointless!!! It would have been best to do maths and scrape out with the 70% mark on the Aviation test and just hope you did well on the other questions relating to the booklet! Then after the tests we were quickly shooed out of the building…. No presentation… nowt.
I found that the old approach that SHL took for conducting the tests were a lot more professional as NATS had supplied old practice material which DID NOT correspond with the tests on the actual day. I know there is cut backs all over but… come on! The standards should not slip especially not for the recruitment processes as first impression ALWAYS shape the perception people have and if you get a bad approach like that from round one… you may be left thinking that… is it like this ALLLLL the way through????
So basically one is left feeling that… she may not actually make it through to the second stage this time round never mind the third
and I am left feeling extremely cheated. Obviously I have only 1 more shot at this baby and Lets face it... how can I prepare myself when these things are not brought to our attention!!! Has this happened to anyone else?????? If you have just sat the tests recently but it was your first time… did you feel that the supplied practice material lacked relevance to the tests on the day?
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Hi Watching the Skies,
Sounds like they must have very recently changed the structure of stage one, particularly this "aviation test", because that's the first I've heard about it on these forums. The basic checking hasn't been a part of stage 1 for a while now, it was replaced with the maths test quite some time ago, but otherwise the latest I'd heard is that the tests were all as you were expecting.
Sorry to hear that you feel you weren't treated very well. My experience over the past few months going through the selection process is that NATS have been nothing but professional throughout.
Sounds like they must have very recently changed the structure of stage one, particularly this "aviation test", because that's the first I've heard about it on these forums. The basic checking hasn't been a part of stage 1 for a while now, it was replaced with the maths test quite some time ago, but otherwise the latest I'd heard is that the tests were all as you were expecting.
Sorry to hear that you feel you weren't treated very well. My experience over the past few months going through the selection process is that NATS have been nothing but professional throughout.
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Hi Pat42,
Everything I was given this time around was identical to that of last time (like I said minus the new airways structures etc) but the last test I did on NATS was morely based on... NATS (mind that was when they were still using the slogan... "to become world leader in Air Traffic Management") and this information provided (mock tests and revision paper) were pretty much nothing to do with the tests they do now. It seems like they have forgotten to update it as much as they should.
Mind it hasn't particulary put me off going for it but when you only get three chances with the company and its your dreams on a knife edge... its a bit of a kick in thee old crown jewels lets put it.
Hmmmm.... well heres hoping the next time round they don't do it so differently next time without a slight thumbs up on the different tests!
Well all the best for your next stage. Out of curiousity where have you gotten to? Are they still doing the computer test on Stage 2 or has that changed also?
Thanks
Everything I was given this time around was identical to that of last time (like I said minus the new airways structures etc) but the last test I did on NATS was morely based on... NATS (mind that was when they were still using the slogan... "to become world leader in Air Traffic Management") and this information provided (mock tests and revision paper) were pretty much nothing to do with the tests they do now. It seems like they have forgotten to update it as much as they should.
Mind it hasn't particulary put me off going for it but when you only get three chances with the company and its your dreams on a knife edge... its a bit of a kick in thee old crown jewels lets put it.
Hmmmm.... well heres hoping the next time round they don't do it so differently next time without a slight thumbs up on the different tests!
Well all the best for your next stage. Out of curiousity where have you gotten to? Are they still doing the computer test on Stage 2 or has that changed also?
Thanks
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The Aviation paper was very simple, all the questions were drawn from the information supplied in the Stage 1 preparation booklet. In addition, there were a couple of basic questions about the principle of flight (if you don't know the answer to these, perhaps you don't really have an interest in ATC anyway).
Yes, the aviation paper was also made up of Maths. But calculating the distance travelled in 10 minutes for a 747 cruising at 500mph is hardly A-level maths, especially when you get a choice of 4 answers.
You certainly don't need knowledge of equations (I still don't know how to transpose formula and still worked out every question without a struggle).
The preparation booklet certainly wasn't useless and the maths not difficult - that's coming from someone with a lowly B grade at GCSE!
Yes, the aviation paper was also made up of Maths. But calculating the distance travelled in 10 minutes for a 747 cruising at 500mph is hardly A-level maths, especially when you get a choice of 4 answers.
You certainly don't need knowledge of equations (I still don't know how to transpose formula and still worked out every question without a struggle).
The preparation booklet certainly wasn't useless and the maths not difficult - that's coming from someone with a lowly B grade at GCSE!
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Wow, my eyes are about to pop out...
I should be reading the EUROCONTROL thread, as I'm about to do the FEAST 1 stage here in Serbia, and from the looks of it, apart from the infamous CUBES, everything is different from the NATS FEAST. But I just had to "read" you guys first, and I must say that I'm impressed by the people posting here and the overall atmosphere. I've read the entire thread and should I say, my imagination is like I've met some of you guys...like Nokio, Jimmy780, Paperclip, Whitelighter, Pat42, local "denis the menace" Zooker...and of course, last, but not least- our big brother GONZO.
It's been a great ride, lots of info, but I do have some questions:
1. I can't open this Jimmy780's ATC thingy, as I would like to practice some more. Dunno if I should download that client, or smth else, but if some of you guys could just reupload it on rapidshare or megaUp, I would be grateful.
2. Also, if anyone knows anything similar to Psychometric Testing | Aptitude Tests | Free Aptitude Test | Psychometric Test | Abstract Reasoning, please PM me. Any other websites, practice places...
3. Any "personal" trics and tips about the cubes, please PM.
All in all, thanks for some great advices and keep up the good work & good luck to all new aplicants.
Regards from Serbia.
I should be reading the EUROCONTROL thread, as I'm about to do the FEAST 1 stage here in Serbia, and from the looks of it, apart from the infamous CUBES, everything is different from the NATS FEAST. But I just had to "read" you guys first, and I must say that I'm impressed by the people posting here and the overall atmosphere. I've read the entire thread and should I say, my imagination is like I've met some of you guys...like Nokio, Jimmy780, Paperclip, Whitelighter, Pat42, local "denis the menace" Zooker...and of course, last, but not least- our big brother GONZO.
It's been a great ride, lots of info, but I do have some questions:
1. I can't open this Jimmy780's ATC thingy, as I would like to practice some more. Dunno if I should download that client, or smth else, but if some of you guys could just reupload it on rapidshare or megaUp, I would be grateful.
2. Also, if anyone knows anything similar to Psychometric Testing | Aptitude Tests | Free Aptitude Test | Psychometric Test | Abstract Reasoning, please PM me. Any other websites, practice places...
3. Any "personal" trics and tips about the cubes, please PM.
All in all, thanks for some great advices and keep up the good work & good luck to all new aplicants.
Regards from Serbia.