NATS interview process

[luqo33]

comuter tests, 3 June

Hi,

I have info for people who took computer tests with on 3 June.

As I have not received the results yet, toady I called NATS to ask when I can expect to get them.

A lady told me that they had technical difficulties that day, and that they cannot "extract" the results from the system, and so, at the moment, their IT department is dealing with the issue.

Once they know anything, they're going to inform the applicants vie email.

Just great.

[MrToad45]

Bournemouth/Whitley Move

Hi everyone,

I'm just new to this forum

Earlier in the month, I completed the first assessment day and I am awaiting the results now :S ... stressful times!

Can I ask, does anyone know if the move to whitely is the reason to why they stopped the application process? and Would this mean that if I got accepted, the training wouldn't be in Bournemouth? I am really interested to know

Thanks

[kris123]

Can we get over it?

My previous comments seem to have been removed.

I would like to ask, Is there any chance that @ZOOKER and @MrFrost81 could remove your previous comments and/or edit out the text in relation to my first post.

As @MrFrost81 says, this is a professional rumour network and not a place for people to argue over me being too laid back (or informal) when posting on this website.

To be honest, I would prefer if the post was forgotten about, and that our previous comments do not take up space in the thread where other users are trying to stay on topic, would you not agree?

Thanks in advance!

Edit: There is no need to reply to this, I will remove my post when the others are gone and then we can start fresh

[Crazy Voyager]

If you get accepted the training will be at the new college which is at the CTC.

There are many reasons.
Economic situation has reduced demand for ATCOs.
College move getting in the way.
Swanwick is just in the process of moving to IFACTS, until that system is running properly and all the OTJIs feel competent enough on it to mentor, there will be no more trainees there. Since 80% do radar and the majority of them work at Swanwick, I'm guessing it to be the main reason. Note the word guessing though

[MrToad45]

Crazy Voyager,

That is a very good response. So you are sure that the trainee ATCO course is only at Whitely? If so, at least I'm aware of what could come next, as I was only aware of the training being at Bournemouth centre.

Well, I do understand that the current economic situation has little demand for ATCO's, but that is very interesting information about Swanwick. I thought IFACTS had already been introduced there, that shows what I know!!

Thanks alot for the reply, very informative!

T.

[lareneg]

For those wondering when applications will open again, I emailed recruitment regarding the selection and training process - I'm currently at Uni and wanted to know if I could go through selection this year, and if successful, defer training until I graduate from University (to give me more time to plan ahead if I'm not successful).

I got a very swift reply saying that deferring would not be a problem, and that recruitment will open in August.

[Crazy Voyager]

The college at Hurn is going away completely so yes all training will be at the CTC.

In regards to IFACTS I was at Swanwick on May 30 and they were still running paper then, how ever they said they were just about to change over (think it was due the second week in June so I think they're running IFACTS now). I'm sure one of the people who acctually work there can fill in on that though

[MrFrost81]

Thanks lareneg. That's the kind of news I was hoping to hear . Let's hope there aren't any delays so the recruitment process can hit the ground running in August.
Good luck with you application and uni.

Thanks Crazy Voyager. I forgot all about the IFACTS implementation. I also lose sight of the fact that some people might not know about the move to Whitely .
What I was curious about was wether they had finished training their current batch at Bournemouth or if they had moved them over. Any obstacles in moving between facilities could further delay intake.
The trainees at Bournemouth and/or Whitely should undoubtably be working really hard at the moment, so it's cool if none of them have the time to spare for a silly question.
I suppose I could always just wait and see what happens in August.

[The Many Tentacles]

iFACTS is being run alongside paper at the moment, some sectors are in iFACTS mode at certain time of the day and then revert to paper the rest of the time.

The times and sectors depend on how many ATCOs who are on the iFACTS team are on duty at any one time

[Crazy Voyager]

Intresting, thanks for the info. When you say it I acctually remember being told about this during my visit (the paralell running that is).

[MrToad45]

Interesting, it must get confusing trying to run the two systems in paralell.

Lets be honest, the amount of applicants to the ATCO training in August when it re-opens will be unbelievable. I mean will this make the process even more "cut throat" ?? I suppose if this is the case, you'll just have to put even more effort in.

I can only hope that my results of assessment day one will be on a positive note.

T.

[MrBlue92]

Well, I was at Prestwick on June 24th for Stage 1 in the afternoon, and I got through to the 2nd part of the day, I didn't realise how anxious I am for getting results, I just want to be put out of my misery, I feel like I messed up on the Cubes, but who knows till we get the results, good luck to all

[MrToad45]

MrBlue92, I was at same session! 13.00-15.30? the result waiting time is harder than I first anticipated!!

[Crazy Voyager]

MrToad45,
I'm not sure if the acctual number of trainees will increase. I belive there are practical issues with that (such as bottlenecks being created in simulators if everyone has simulation intense training at the same time). But I'm not sure.

And due to holidays I can't get hold of my GP until august which means I can't fill in my medical declaration until then

Oh well, I've got a hold of HR now and they said it wasn't a problem so I just have to wait. But I know how to do that now after being through the application process

[marco888]

Just got an email inviting me to do the Bio-data Personality Questionnaire. Phew, no more waiting. I did my stage 1 on 17th June.

[Posijohn]

Unfortunately I failed the Diagramming and Cubes questions. I'm going to apply again but i'm not sure when i'm able to apply? The email said it's a year after testing but does that mean the online selection tests or the stage one tests?

[Crazy Voyager]

A year after initial application AFAIK.

[MrFrost81]

To MrToad45.
While there will most likely be a surge of applicants in August and the months following, I don't imagine the application process itself will be "cut throat".
Everyone I met during my (too short) experience of assessment days were, without exception, very nice, friendly, and helpful. And that's how it should be because there's nothing to gain from being "cut throat" and everything to lose.

I'm sure the assessments won't become harder and the interviewers won't be harsher, they'll stay the same.
The inevitable extra surge of successful applicants will just have to wait a really long time for their starting dates for training.
There's already been sign of this in this thread. Crazy Voyager mentioned that during his Stage 3 he was told a realistic start date was May 2012. Pretty much a whole year to wait, and this will probably get worse before it gets better.

So... to get back to my point. You should expect no cutting of any throats during the assessments.
The starting dates are where you'll see the only real competition.
Good luck.

[MrToad45]

MrFrost81, I can see where you are coming from there and im happy you have helped me understand.

Maybe what I said about the application process becoming "cut throat", was too much

It does seem realistic saying that the waiting times on dates, results and a course will become alot longer if a surge of applicants go through.

I can only hope that I pass my tests and get through before that happens

T.

[Simon89]

Has anyone here used FEAST Test Preparation Tool - Feasttest.com before? With stage 2 only a week or so away I'm just wondering if its worth the purchase.