NATS interview process
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Liverpool
Salary question
Hi all,
I'm considering applying again after failing at the interview stage eight years ago. In that time I've had a family, got a mortgage etc and one of my main concerns now is how I'll be able to support them on a very reduced wage and how long that would be the case for.
The NATS website is a bit vague about the timescale for salary progression so can anyone answer the following for me please:
How long does the unit training last roughly? I.e. the period of time before the salary rises to 30k+. I appreciate this will depend on unit/person to an extent, and I'd like to know about Swanwick in particular but also anywhere else.
When the salary rises on the third anniversary, is this the third anniversary of finishing college or completing the unit training?
Thanks in advance.
I'm considering applying again after failing at the interview stage eight years ago. In that time I've had a family, got a mortgage etc and one of my main concerns now is how I'll be able to support them on a very reduced wage and how long that would be the case for.
The NATS website is a bit vague about the timescale for salary progression so can anyone answer the following for me please:
How long does the unit training last roughly? I.e. the period of time before the salary rises to 30k+. I appreciate this will depend on unit/person to an extent, and I'd like to know about Swanwick in particular but also anywhere else.
When the salary rises on the third anniversary, is this the third anniversary of finishing college or completing the unit training?
Thanks in advance.
Joined: Dec 2004
Aviation Qualifications: ATCO
Posts: 306
Likes: 2
From: Down South
Unit training depends entirely on which unit you go to. You don't get a choice - you can select a preference, but you'll go where the company needs you to go, which may well mean uprooting your family.
With regards to Swanwick, it can be up to 6 months after leaving the college before you get on to a 3 month training course in the sims, then you're looking at least a year from the end of that. That's a best case scenario and assumes you don't fail any of the assessments on the way, if you do fail one then add a couple of months on to my numbers. Of course you've already done at least 9 months at the college, more if you've failed anything, and then there's a chance you may be kept waiting before you join a unit. It took me 3 years and 5 months from starting with the company to validating at Swanwick, although the college course is now 6 months shorter.
Regarding your salary progression, it jumps from the starting wage once you leave the college to around double that and then when you validate atr your unit it goes over £30k. If I remember correctly, if you validate within three years of starting with the company you'll stay on the 30k+ and then after your three year anniversary you jump onto the ATCO scale which is a significant rise, but varies depending on where you're posted by around £5k, it's still a nice pay rise whichever way you look at it
With regards to Swanwick, it can be up to 6 months after leaving the college before you get on to a 3 month training course in the sims, then you're looking at least a year from the end of that. That's a best case scenario and assumes you don't fail any of the assessments on the way, if you do fail one then add a couple of months on to my numbers. Of course you've already done at least 9 months at the college, more if you've failed anything, and then there's a chance you may be kept waiting before you join a unit. It took me 3 years and 5 months from starting with the company to validating at Swanwick, although the college course is now 6 months shorter.
Regarding your salary progression, it jumps from the starting wage once you leave the college to around double that and then when you validate atr your unit it goes over £30k. If I remember correctly, if you validate within three years of starting with the company you'll stay on the 30k+ and then after your three year anniversary you jump onto the ATCO scale which is a significant rise, but varies depending on where you're posted by around £5k, it's still a nice pay rise whichever way you look at it
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Oxfordshire
Sorry I may be being dim but to clarify do you jump to the atco scale after 3 years from day 1 of college (if validated), or after 3 years as a validated atco?
Unit training depends entirely on which unit you go to. You don't get a choice - you can select a preference, but you'll go where the company needs you to go, which may well mean uprooting your family.
With regards to Swanwick, it can be up to 6 months after leaving the college before you get on to a 3 month training course in the sims, then you're looking at least a year from the end of that. That's a best case scenario and assumes you don't fail any of the assessments on the way, if you do fail one then add a couple of months on to my numbers. Of course you've already done at least 9 months at the college, more if you've failed anything, and then there's a chance you may be kept waiting before you join a unit. It took me 3 years and 5 months from starting with the company to validating at Swanwick, although the college course is now 6 months shorter.
Regarding your salary progression, it jumps from the starting wage once you leave the college to around double that and then when you validate atr your unit it goes over £30k. If I remember correctly, if you validate within three years of starting with the company you'll stay on the 30k+ and then after your three year anniversary you jump onto the ATCO scale which is a significant rise, but varies depending on where you're posted by around £5k, it's still a nice pay rise whichever way you look at it
With regards to Swanwick, it can be up to 6 months after leaving the college before you get on to a 3 month training course in the sims, then you're looking at least a year from the end of that. That's a best case scenario and assumes you don't fail any of the assessments on the way, if you do fail one then add a couple of months on to my numbers. Of course you've already done at least 9 months at the college, more if you've failed anything, and then there's a chance you may be kept waiting before you join a unit. It took me 3 years and 5 months from starting with the company to validating at Swanwick, although the college course is now 6 months shorter.
Regarding your salary progression, it jumps from the starting wage once you leave the college to around double that and then when you validate atr your unit it goes over £30k. If I remember correctly, if you validate within three years of starting with the company you'll stay on the 30k+ and then after your three year anniversary you jump onto the ATCO scale which is a significant rise, but varies depending on where you're posted by around £5k, it's still a nice pay rise whichever way you look at it
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Hi, Megamc!
When did you pass your stage 1? Since you're on the 15th April, I'm guessing you just missed out on the January stage 2. I just got my email today to say I passed stage 1 but no assessment dates are available.. hopefully the 15th April slots haven't already all been filled up!!!
When did you pass your stage 1? Since you're on the 15th April, I'm guessing you just missed out on the January stage 2. I just got my email today to say I passed stage 1 but no assessment dates are available.. hopefully the 15th April slots haven't already all been filled up!!!
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Belgium
Hey everyone! Happy to have passed Stage 2 as well and now waiting for my Stage 3 on the 11th of February.
Anyone going on the same day or with some helpful tips (e.g. bring something to read there's a lot of waiting. Thx Cpteffron!) feel free to pm me!
Good luck for the others awaiting their stage 2 and make sure you are well rested!
Anyone going on the same day or with some helpful tips (e.g. bring something to read there's a lot of waiting. Thx Cpteffron!) feel free to pm me!
Good luck for the others awaiting their stage 2 and make sure you are well rested!
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Sweden
@Scaphrax
I did my first online test aswell, but it's been over a week now and haven't got any mail yet. Last time I did it, I got the mail for stage 2 online after a few hours. Strange... Gonna give it another week!
Hey guys, I just did the first online test, how long does it take them to reply back saying whether you have passed or not?
It's been about 30 min now
It's been about 30 min now
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Bristol
It will have been two weeks from Thursday this week for me and still no email about my stage 1 results... Not sure if it's becuase all the ongoing stage 2/3 stuff which means they don't have time to go through the rest of us
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: lichfield
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Sweden
@mattd75
But it's an online test, they're not supposed to check anything during these stages, right? It's supposed to be an automatic answer based on the critera NATS has.
@vc21
That's veeery strange. Must be a glitch if you did yours last week and got the reply within a day... Should I email them and ask or just try to click the test link again??
But it's an online test, they're not supposed to check anything during these stages, right? It's supposed to be an automatic answer based on the critera NATS has.
@vc21
That's veeery strange. Must be a glitch if you did yours last week and got the reply within a day... Should I email them and ask or just try to click the test link again??
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Bristol, UK
Stage 3
Hi All,
Hope all those who attended Stage 3 with me received similar good news this week! Looks like I've been allocated a course on the 21st March, so all hands on deck trying to organise everything now!!
Anyone else going to be on 243 with me?
Alex
Hope all those who attended Stage 3 with me received similar good news this week! Looks like I've been allocated a course on the 21st March, so all hands on deck trying to organise everything now!!
Anyone else going to be on 243 with me?
Alex
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Manchester
I'm going to be on that course as well subject to my medical going ok! Booking in for medical on 8th March
