NATS interview process
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: England
I'm still waiting to hear back on a start date too.
I passed my medical a few weeks ago and was told that i would be allocated a course start date as soon as my certificate was received but i've heard nothing yet either.
I passed my medical a few weeks ago and was told that i would be allocated a course start date as soon as my certificate was received but i've heard nothing yet either.
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 559
Likes: 33
From: looking out of the window
@ STG2
There is no interview at stage 2 - it is purely computer based aptitude tests.
All the info including details about what is conducted at each level is on the NATS recruitment website. You should familiarise yourself with it, it may be useful to you...
There is no interview at stage 2 - it is purely computer based aptitude tests.
All the info including details about what is conducted at each level is on the NATS recruitment website. You should familiarise yourself with it, it may be useful to you...
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: WhereIwantto
Cheers Whitelighter, I appreciate your input
I've been on the website and have all the info from there, passed the games and arranged visits to a tower and en-route center, so well prepared
I just was reading through this thread and somehow got confused about an interview at stage2
I've been on the website and have all the info from there, passed the games and arranged visits to a tower and en-route center, so well prepared
I just was reading through this thread and somehow got confused about an interview at stage2
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Plymouth
Does anyone know what the traffic is like getting to CTC from Portsmouth for 8am? I've got my stage 2 next week and booked a hotel in Portsmouth for the night before. Don't want to be leaving thinking I've got time to get there and then spending 20min sat in traffic and end up being late.
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: England
Whitelighter- Stage 2 is just computer tests. They are very straight-forward and there is little you can do to practice for them except for brushing up on your mental maths skills. It is a very casual setting- you can go in comfortable clothes rather than interview style clothes. The tests take most of the day but you get lots of breaks. Don't bother trying to judge your own performance either. The guy i was sat next to said he found all the maths really easy- and he finished all his tests way before me. I thought i had done really badly because i kept missing questions but it turned out i passed and he didn't.
Good luck- just keep calm and if you miss questions don't worry.
Good luck- just keep calm and if you miss questions don't worry.
Joined: Dec 2004
Aviation Qualifications: ATCO
Posts: 306
Likes: 2
From: Down South
At 8am it has the potential to be awful on the way to CTC as there's a whole lot of people trying to get in and only one road to do it. My advice would be to leave a lot of time and buy a newspaper, you can always read that in the car if you get there early 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: portsmouth
stage 3 group test
has anyone done the stage3 group test recently? I have my stage 3 in 2 weeks but heard a rumour that it was now different to the usual bus route exercise that I have read about in earlier posts on here ?
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Plymouth
Thanks for the advice darn and The Many Tentacles. I shall be aiming to be there before 8am. I timed it today and it should take no more than 20min in reasonable traffic. I have a good book to read if I'm really early.
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: uk
Numeracy Test
Hey All,
i have my stage 1 test coming soon and i'm not worried about any of it besided the numeracy test. Can anyone who has taken the test recently give me some kind of example of what i could expect. I know they are speed, distance and time questions....but how there structured and wether or not your allowed to use a calculator?
Many thanks
i have my stage 1 test coming soon and i'm not worried about any of it besided the numeracy test. Can anyone who has taken the test recently give me some kind of example of what i could expect. I know they are speed, distance and time questions....but how there structured and wether or not your allowed to use a calculator?
Many thanks
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: ENGLAND
start date
POPEYE
I think theres a load of us that had their medical signed off a month or two ago and nothing has been heard back...it would be nice to get an email or something just to explain theres a delay etc..
Im going to try and ring Nikki again today..Any news ill let you know
cheers
I think theres a load of us that had their medical signed off a month or two ago and nothing has been heard back...it would be nice to get an email or something just to explain theres a delay etc..
Im going to try and ring Nikki again today..Any news ill let you know
cheers
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: The Sky
Firstly - wow I am glad to have found this forum.
I am attending Stage 1 Tests Friday 09/07/10 so next Friday. Would you advice just reading the information they supply back to front again and again till then?
Also a couple of questions
A. How likely is it presuming I did get through all the selection process (Top 3% so I'll start praying now...) that I will be posted away from the South East. Ideally I would like to work in the South East rather than Glasgow...
B. Some people say the Salary is AWESOME others say its not so awesome... how can there be such a difference in opinion?
C. How do people find working shifts, I myself would love it I already work shifts and have no problem - how varied are the shifts.
D. whats the dress code usually - smart but comfortable? Trousers, shirt, no tie?
E. what should I wear for this stage 1 tests. I am going to wear a suit but if everyone says dont I wont. But I feel its an interview thus wear a suit...
F Do you think being an ATC is a well respected career, when you tell people you are an ATC are they impressed? (ignoring all the people that think you wave the planes down)
G. any other tips?
I am attending Stage 1 Tests Friday 09/07/10 so next Friday. Would you advice just reading the information they supply back to front again and again till then?
Also a couple of questions
A. How likely is it presuming I did get through all the selection process (Top 3% so I'll start praying now...) that I will be posted away from the South East. Ideally I would like to work in the South East rather than Glasgow...
B. Some people say the Salary is AWESOME others say its not so awesome... how can there be such a difference in opinion?
C. How do people find working shifts, I myself would love it I already work shifts and have no problem - how varied are the shifts.
D. whats the dress code usually - smart but comfortable? Trousers, shirt, no tie?
E. what should I wear for this stage 1 tests. I am going to wear a suit but if everyone says dont I wont. But I feel its an interview thus wear a suit...
F Do you think being an ATC is a well respected career, when you tell people you are an ATC are they impressed? (ignoring all the people that think you wave the planes down)
G. any other tips?
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 559
Likes: 33
From: looking out of the window
OK, so I will have a go at answering this.
A) Quite likely. If you go down the Area stream then you will almost certainly be based at Swanwick near Southampton. If you go Aero, then you might still get Swanwick with an approach rating, or London Airports. You may get the provinces but the demand right now is in the London sites.
B) This is subjective, as it depends on where your coming from. If you are at 6th form or college then the prospect of £36k after validation and £50k after three years is going to sound like winning the lottery. If (like me) you have left a career paying £75k plus per year, perhaps a bit less awesome. Its all about perspective
C) Dunno, cant help there as I havent started that bit yet
D) The units I have been to seem to be pretty much whatever you are comfortable in. Swanwick was flip flops and shorts, Heathrow a bit more smart but certainly not suits etc
E) They are your prospective employers - go in what you think is approproiat. I went for smart shoes, pressed chinos and a tailored shirt...
F) My own opinion here, but I think a career in ATC is one of the best you can have. People are impressed (if that bothers you), and I think its up there with some of the toughest and certainly one I have been aiming for for at least 5 years
A) Quite likely. If you go down the Area stream then you will almost certainly be based at Swanwick near Southampton. If you go Aero, then you might still get Swanwick with an approach rating, or London Airports. You may get the provinces but the demand right now is in the London sites.
B) This is subjective, as it depends on where your coming from. If you are at 6th form or college then the prospect of £36k after validation and £50k after three years is going to sound like winning the lottery. If (like me) you have left a career paying £75k plus per year, perhaps a bit less awesome. Its all about perspective
C) Dunno, cant help there as I havent started that bit yet
D) The units I have been to seem to be pretty much whatever you are comfortable in. Swanwick was flip flops and shorts, Heathrow a bit more smart but certainly not suits etc
E) They are your prospective employers - go in what you think is approproiat. I went for smart shoes, pressed chinos and a tailored shirt...
F) My own opinion here, but I think a career in ATC is one of the best you can have. People are impressed (if that bothers you), and I think its up there with some of the toughest and certainly one I have been aiming for for at least 5 years
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: The Sky
Thank you very much for your reply. Very comprehensive!
Do you mind if I ask what career you are leaving and why? obviously I don't expect you to answer if its personal - i'm just curious!
Have you gone through the selection tests? How did you find stage 1 for example? My plan is to read the information they sent me cover to cover again and again but I have no basis of what bits to pay more attention to. I am a graduate so fair to say I have had alot of exams through my education, GCSEs, A-Levels, Degree...but I have always had a basis on what to revise for. The document they send is big so its alot to take in! Also how do I revise for the maths section? People say its simple math regarding a altitude, time and distance but aside from that theres no way to revise patterns on cubes...
Do you mind if I ask what career you are leaving and why? obviously I don't expect you to answer if its personal - i'm just curious!
Have you gone through the selection tests? How did you find stage 1 for example? My plan is to read the information they sent me cover to cover again and again but I have no basis of what bits to pay more attention to. I am a graduate so fair to say I have had alot of exams through my education, GCSEs, A-Levels, Degree...but I have always had a basis on what to revise for. The document they send is big so its alot to take in! Also how do I revise for the maths section? People say its simple math regarding a altitude, time and distance but aside from that theres no way to revise patterns on cubes...