NATS interview process
Join Date: Oct 2007
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It is definately important to study the information about the aircraft provided in the motivation document. There is no need to know all of that information off by heart but a general understanding of the aircraft that are in use, the airlines that use them, the routes they are likely to fly, their speed etc will definately be of use.
At the end of the day you should expect to be questioned on any of the material that has been provided.
Good luck on Monday!
At the end of the day you should expect to be questioned on any of the material that has been provided.
Good luck on Monday!
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Many thanks Atcowannabe,
Regarding the diagramming test. I've seen so far two main types:
The ones that you need to follow a pattern given: 1,3,5,7...11
Or the ones with "operators": "x" changes colour, "Y" changes shape, etc...
Could you kindly advise on which type will be given on the assessment day?
I'm going through the Internet like mad doing as many tests as I can and this advise will save me some precious time.
Again, many thanks. Really appreciated.
Regards
Yeray
Regarding the diagramming test. I've seen so far two main types:
The ones that you need to follow a pattern given: 1,3,5,7...11
Or the ones with "operators": "x" changes colour, "Y" changes shape, etc...
Could you kindly advise on which type will be given on the assessment day?
I'm going through the Internet like mad doing as many tests as I can and this advise will save me some precious time.
Again, many thanks. Really appreciated.
Regards
Yeray
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To be honest with you I am not sure that practice will make you any better at these kind of tests but that is a whole other subject!
I believe that the two tests that you have mentioned will be included along with a test that will involve you visualising a cube that is laid out flat and what sides will touch etc.
If I remember rightly there are examples of these tests sent along with the motivation paper?
Again though, in my view I dont think that practicing these will help you out that much, I dont think there is really much you can do to prepare for these tests apart from getting a good nights sleep etc. I would suggest you concentrate on the content from the motivation paper.
I believe that the two tests that you have mentioned will be included along with a test that will involve you visualising a cube that is laid out flat and what sides will touch etc.
If I remember rightly there are examples of these tests sent along with the motivation paper?
Again though, in my view I dont think that practicing these will help you out that much, I dont think there is really much you can do to prepare for these tests apart from getting a good nights sleep etc. I would suggest you concentrate on the content from the motivation paper.
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Motivation questions
Re the motivation paper, the technical details at the end can come up.
I had three on my paper (sept 07):
'Of the following, which has the highest theoretical cruise',
'what would the typical cruise speed be of X type'.
'What route would you expect a 737-300 to fly'
I didn't have any on seating config, but I dare say there's ones like 'approximately how many passengers can X type carry' out there somewhere.
The good thing was the answers were obvious if you thought about it, but knowing the details helped save time to spend on the lovely
DST questions.
Stu
I had three on my paper (sept 07):
'Of the following, which has the highest theoretical cruise',
'what would the typical cruise speed be of X type'.
'What route would you expect a 737-300 to fly'
I didn't have any on seating config, but I dare say there's ones like 'approximately how many passengers can X type carry' out there somewhere.
The good thing was the answers were obvious if you thought about it, but knowing the details helped save time to spend on the lovely
DST questions.Stu
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Hi,
So just to confirm for Stage 1, the tests are:
1. Personality
2. Rotating Cubes (Cubes and there nets)
3. Basic Checking (checking 2 sets of numbers)
4. NATS Motivation (questions based on the document NATS provided)
5. Commands (Invert previous image, swap with next image etc...)
I applied last year but from what I can gather, a few things have changed in the recruitment process.
Thanks in advance.
G
So just to confirm for Stage 1, the tests are:
1. Personality
2. Rotating Cubes (Cubes and there nets)
3. Basic Checking (checking 2 sets of numbers)
4. NATS Motivation (questions based on the document NATS provided)
5. Commands (Invert previous image, swap with next image etc...)
I applied last year but from what I can gather, a few things have changed in the recruitment process.
Thanks in advance.
G
Last edited by goperations; 5th Dec 2007 at 16:11.
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A test which the SHL and NATS staff failed on more than one occasion!
Once they forgot to bring the testing papers and on another they had put the ATCO up in the wrong hotel the night before.
Once they forgot to bring the testing papers and on another they had put the ATCO up in the wrong hotel the night before.
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True, although more often than not it's the courier or the hotel who manages to lose the test papers.
I've often been put up in a different hotel than the one that's hosting the test/interviews, but that's usually because there is 'no room at the inn'.
I've often been put up in a different hotel than the one that's hosting the test/interviews, but that's usually because there is 'no room at the inn'.
Was anyone at Stage 3 at Manchester last Friday? I was just interested to know if you'd heard anything yet?
P.S. I've probably said it before, but this thread has been most helpful - keep up the good work, and thanks!
Ginger
P.S. I've probably said it before, but this thread has been most helpful - keep up the good work, and thanks!
Ginger
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I'm incredibly disappointed and frustrated with NATS right now. It's been 2 weeks since my stage 3 interview, which personally I thought went very well and I had no inkling of any reason why I didn't deserve to get through.
Last Tuesday I received an automated message informing me I was unsuccessful. Nothing more than that. Apart from being absolutely gutted I was very disappointed that the assessors went back on their word to get back to me with feedback (I even had to chase down the expense form).
I've phoned HR and I've e-mailed via the NATS job interview site and both have told me they've passed the message on and that I'll get a call soon.
It's been long enough in my opinion. I'm still in limbo with the option to reapply in 12 months, which will be utterly pointless without knowing what I need to improve on. Someone out there has the information I need and I can't get it. Has anyone else had this problem or got any tips for actually getting the info I need before it's too late?
Last Tuesday I received an automated message informing me I was unsuccessful. Nothing more than that. Apart from being absolutely gutted I was very disappointed that the assessors went back on their word to get back to me with feedback (I even had to chase down the expense form).
I've phoned HR and I've e-mailed via the NATS job interview site and both have told me they've passed the message on and that I'll get a call soon.
It's been long enough in my opinion. I'm still in limbo with the option to reapply in 12 months, which will be utterly pointless without knowing what I need to improve on. Someone out there has the information I need and I can't get it. Has anyone else had this problem or got any tips for actually getting the info I need before it's too late?
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Please bear in mind that both the interviewers have 'day jobs', and certainly in the ATCO's case, and possibly the HR interviewer's also, they work shifts. It would be completely out of the question to attempt to contact you outside of office hours, and ATCOs only have a limited period of time during those hours at work; for most of those we'll all be wearing headsets. Also, one or the other might be on days off, or on leave, and in my experience whichever of the two is going to give feedback will contact the other interviewer to discuss things before talking to you, to ensure everything is covered.
Things will have been set in motion by your request, I assure you. Please be patient.
Things will have been set in motion by your request, I assure you. Please be patient.
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Thanks Gonzo. I can appreciate that, it's why I waited a while before venting. Obviously my heart is absolutely set on this, so I want to know what's wrong as soon as possible. To be honest though, I would rather have sat here waiting for 2 weeks wondering whether I'm in or not, than sat here having been rejected not knowing why. I've been through a lot just to end up with 1 automated e-mail, not even a phone call. My particular assessor worked in training rather than in the control room full time so I had hoped the shift pattern etc wouldn't be as big an issue.
I think it would have been most helpful to at least have some basis for the grounds on which I was rejected given to me at the point the e-mail was sent, then more detailed feedback at a later point.
I think it would have been most helpful to at least have some basis for the grounds on which I was rejected given to me at the point the e-mail was sent, then more detailed feedback at a later point.
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MWNM,
When I failed my interview first time round I received a similar response and on contacting HR was simply informed 'We don't give feedback', After something bordering on harassment by myself I managed to find out which part of the interview (personnel, comptuter etc) I failed but that was it.
I would suggest that if you are going to receive any kind of detailed feedback then that is a vast improvement in the process, even if it takes a while
On a more positive note, there are plenty of people at the college who passed second time (including me). Also, if you're willing to put your 'career' on hold for 12 months and try again, that can only look good for you in the motivation stakes for next time.
Good luck
When I failed my interview first time round I received a similar response and on contacting HR was simply informed 'We don't give feedback', After something bordering on harassment by myself I managed to find out which part of the interview (personnel, comptuter etc) I failed but that was it.
I would suggest that if you are going to receive any kind of detailed feedback then that is a vast improvement in the process, even if it takes a while
On a more positive note, there are plenty of people at the college who passed second time (including me). Also, if you're willing to put your 'career' on hold for 12 months and try again, that can only look good for you in the motivation stakes for next time.
Good luck
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Stage 3
So can anyone clarify what is required for Stage 3 - technical & HR interview + groups exercise right please? Any handy hints for the technical interview? I hear you'd be wise to research outside of the given reading material - even beyond a visit to a NATS site?
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So can anyone clarify what is required for Stage 3 - technical & HR interview + groups exercise right please? Any handy hints for the technical interview? I hear you'd be wise to research outside of the given reading material - even beyond a visit to a NATS site?
Truth of the matter is, I've passed first time without freaking out, and I can honestly say I have simply read the material given for stage 1 and 2, and had a delve around the NATS website to get latest news, names of important people, etc
Ok, I've had a background with being in the air cadets and numerous RAF tower visits, but that's hardly major "experience". Yes my father's best mate from school joined NATS in 1963, but apart from having a few chats with him and his colleagues, that's about as much contact I've had with NATS people.
Trying to cram your head full of Air traffic jargon and facts and figures before you've actually been to college to learn what the hell you're trying to talk about, seems a bit silly to me - you're only going to confuse yourself in the interview and probably get yourself into a hole you can't get out of. Just my opinion though!
The only advice that I can give (which I was given myself), is re-read the two reading booklets you got, look at the NATS website a bit, look into current affairs - they are always a good talking point, especially air traffic/air travel related stuff. And think long and hard about what you have achieved at school, college, work, with your hobbies, whatever.....situations you have been in working with teams, difficult people, times you have failed, problems overcome....even the smallest of thing you can think of can be an amazing demonstration of problem solving or whatever.
All I can say is, know "the gist and a little bit more" about air traffic. As far as I could tell, they are looking for POTENTIAL to pass well at the college, not a pretend know-it-all bluffer already.
All the best. Hope that helps.
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Anyone at the stage one at Tower Bridge Hilton yesterday am(10th dec)? Ran about an hour late. There were two controllers present; the talk by "Steve" was great. Anyone else think the guy overseeing the motivation/psychology test was, well...an arsehole?? (No he wasn't an ATCO, in fact most of the people there were all "HR".)
ps, these boards are great
ps, these boards are great
Last edited by DCR100; 11th Dec 2007 at 11:36.
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DCR100. At stage one, the only NATS people there are the ATCOs. Everyone else is from an outsourced recruitment and consultancy firm.
No doubt though you've told NATS Recruitment about the feedback you wish to give........haven't you?
No doubt though you've told NATS Recruitment about the feedback you wish to give........haven't you?
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Feedback
In reply to ManWithNoMouth a few posts back, I failed my second stage interview at the second attempt last week and emailed via the message centre on the nats website to see if i could get my scores at least (i know detailed feedback won't happen), and within 12 hours received a reply telling me that i passed the computer tests but failed the interview. It said the interview was a marginal fail so shouldn't be put off applying again.
I knew as soon as I had finished the tests that I had passed those but was not sure about the interview, and when I got my unsuccessful email thought i must have completely f
ed up the interview, but I feel reassured that i obviously didn't do as badly as i had thought.
Anyway, hope you get the answers you are looking for and all the best for the future........
I knew as soon as I had finished the tests that I had passed those but was not sure about the interview, and when I got my unsuccessful email thought i must have completely f
ed up the interview, but I feel reassured that i obviously didn't do as badly as i had thought.Anyway, hope you get the answers you are looking for and all the best for the future........