NATS interview process
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Southampton
Age: 37
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Stage 3
Sarah, I must have been in the same tests as you, well done. I also got the call Yesterday saying that I had got through to the next stage, which I was a little shocked about to be honest, I thought I did alright but was certain after my near miss that I wouldn't get the call back. then again after the test I was speaking to a few of the guys and some of them had 3 or 4 near misses which made me feel a little better.
Anyway I have my interview on Tuesday, so 4 day to prepare is not very much considering I'm working 42 hours in those days. Is there anything specific I should know for the interview? I'm a manager myself so I've been interviewing people for the last 2 years so its going to be weird being on the other side of the table for once. I kind of know how to answer questions, and I'm aware of what qualities they are looking for in candidates, its just with the little time I have what should I concentrate on?
Anyway I have my interview on Tuesday, so 4 day to prepare is not very much considering I'm working 42 hours in those days. Is there anything specific I should know for the interview? I'm a manager myself so I've been interviewing people for the last 2 years so its going to be weird being on the other side of the table for once. I kind of know how to answer questions, and I'm aware of what qualities they are looking for in candidates, its just with the little time I have what should I concentrate on?
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Milton Keynes
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If i'm currently studying A levels Maths, Physics And Psychology, would it perhaps put me at an advantage when applying?
also, does anyone know how many applications do NATS recieve per term?
Because 3% is a useless figure if the amount of applicants is not known.
also, does anyone know how many applications do NATS recieve per term?
Because 3% is a useless figure if the amount of applicants is not known.
Join Date: Dec 2005
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I do not think the A levels will be of any assistance as the maths and physics needed is very basic (from what I have seen so far at stage 1 and what I have heard of stage 2)
Someone previously mentioned they try to get 3500 - 7000 to sit stage 1. I do not know if an "applicant" counts as people who sit stage 1 or everyone that applies including those who get knocked out at the on-line stage.
Someone previously mentioned they try to get 3500 - 7000 to sit stage 1. I do not know if an "applicant" counts as people who sit stage 1 or everyone that applies including those who get knocked out at the on-line stage.
Join Date: Jun 2009
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Well, first of all you have to get through the first few selection tests which don't really relate to any academic study you will have carried out and as said previously, the maths required at stage 1 is basic - GCSE standard at best.
If you get to stage 3, your educational background is likely to be discussed during interviews. In the end, the decision to recruit you or not comes down to a range of factors, so I don't think too much importance will be placed on having A-levels in this particular career. It could possibly show that you will be ready for the rigours of ATC college and have useful study techniques etc but I'm speculating.
If you get to stage 3, your educational background is likely to be discussed during interviews. In the end, the decision to recruit you or not comes down to a range of factors, so I don't think too much importance will be placed on having A-levels in this particular career. It could possibly show that you will be ready for the rigours of ATC college and have useful study techniques etc but I'm speculating.
Join Date: Oct 2012
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@Jimbo
@Owen
I see. So But surely it should put me at an advantage compared to those applicants who are only educated upto GCSE standard.
From GCSE physics, i know what an air traffic controller needs to know the position, height, speed and direction of motion in order to monitor its flight path. Its speed and direction of motion just defines its velocity.
From A-levels, I can say that i know that the position, height and heading of an aircraft gives its displacement, (which is its distance traveled relative to its direction).
But at the end of the day, does the main factor come down to how well one does on the FEAST/DART test?
@Owen
I see. So But surely it should put me at an advantage compared to those applicants who are only educated upto GCSE standard.
From GCSE physics, i know what an air traffic controller needs to know the position, height, speed and direction of motion in order to monitor its flight path. Its speed and direction of motion just defines its velocity.
From A-levels, I can say that i know that the position, height and heading of an aircraft gives its displacement, (which is its distance traveled relative to its direction).
But at the end of the day, does the main factor come down to how well one does on the FEAST/DART test?
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Surrey
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Do you think they mark you down majorly for near misses on the Dart test or are they judging your ability to react to potential collision e.t.c? I assume the loss of seperation would be of some detrement to your mark but is your ability to keep calm and avoid the collision seen as a positive?
Join Date: Sep 2012
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@famzy/eptesicus
famzy, obviously knowing all that garb will help you do the tests, but ultimately if you **** them up, they're not gona let you through just cos you've got those a levels.
you seem pretty clued up academically, so that should stand you in good stead, but it's also about logic and spacial awareness, and the two sometimes don't go hand-in-hand. i'm sure you'll do alright though.
eptesicus, that's an interesting point, i'm kinda thinking the same lol. i sat stage two on friday, you mighta been there as well.
i didn't have any major problems with DART, i didn't do it perfectly but considering what everyone else said, i would have been fairly good. that said, i haven't had my results yet so i could have completely cocked it up lol.
with regard to your point, i reckon if they flash red but you change their FL immediately or whatever, you'd probably get a half decent mark, as opposed to just shutting your eyes and hoping they don't crash.
obviously it's better to not let it get to that stage, but they can't expect everyone to be perfect first up.
you seem pretty clued up academically, so that should stand you in good stead, but it's also about logic and spacial awareness, and the two sometimes don't go hand-in-hand. i'm sure you'll do alright though.
eptesicus, that's an interesting point, i'm kinda thinking the same lol. i sat stage two on friday, you mighta been there as well.
i didn't have any major problems with DART, i didn't do it perfectly but considering what everyone else said, i would have been fairly good. that said, i haven't had my results yet so i could have completely cocked it up lol.
with regard to your point, i reckon if they flash red but you change their FL immediately or whatever, you'd probably get a half decent mark, as opposed to just shutting your eyes and hoping they don't crash.
obviously it's better to not let it get to that stage, but they can't expect everyone to be perfect first up.
Join Date: Sep 2012
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@sas5
you staying at the premier inn?
no problem at all, as long you know where you're going (i suggest looking for it the previous night or something) it's fine. i went at 0815, so prime time, and it took me all of about five minutes.
no problem at all, as long you know where you're going (i suggest looking for it the previous night or something) it's fine. i went at 0815, so prime time, and it took me all of about five minutes.
Join Date: Oct 2012
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@ RR9
Yeh i was there on Friday. What did other people say about DART then? I had a few alerts and one time i didnt get to a checkpoint in time so one of the planes auto moved to it.
I don't know what to think about it really. The tests were tricky but then I've read everyone thinks they have done badly.
I don't know what to think about it really. The tests were tricky but then I've read everyone thinks they have done badly.
Join Date: Aug 2012
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Transportation
Hey everyone, could anybody advice me on how to get to NATS centre in whitley for the 2nd assesment stage from the centre of southampton, and how long does the it take? Would be grateful for any replies!
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Hello all,
As you can see from my post count, i don't come here often! Firstly let me say good luck to you all but it sadly doesn't come down to luck very much. If you can 'do it' then you can 'do it', if not then it's not likely you'll make it (or want to make it for that matter) as a controller.
Try not to get hung up on how long it's been since you last heard from nats as they can be spectacularly inefficient as well as very timely with their communications sometimes. Practice on the selection tests appears to be so well documented here already that i won't repeat the good work of others but revision of sorts is never wasted. I'd always encourage someone who loves the idea of an atc career to persevere if they don't make it the first time around but believe me when i say that some very intelligent folks have fallen at every hurdle and some no-hopers seem to have slipped through the net too!
I'd encourage everyone to try again at least once if they fail at some stage (i did after all and survived a college recourse too) but be aware that the hard work really starts at College and only gets harder with UVC's and live training.
As for the "shall i, shan't i" email/phone call/letter etc then i promise, nobody is being paid enough money to care whether or not your application success hinges on it!
Once again, best of luck, it's a fabulous career that awaits!
As you can see from my post count, i don't come here often! Firstly let me say good luck to you all but it sadly doesn't come down to luck very much. If you can 'do it' then you can 'do it', if not then it's not likely you'll make it (or want to make it for that matter) as a controller.
Try not to get hung up on how long it's been since you last heard from nats as they can be spectacularly inefficient as well as very timely with their communications sometimes. Practice on the selection tests appears to be so well documented here already that i won't repeat the good work of others but revision of sorts is never wasted. I'd always encourage someone who loves the idea of an atc career to persevere if they don't make it the first time around but believe me when i say that some very intelligent folks have fallen at every hurdle and some no-hopers seem to have slipped through the net too!
I'd encourage everyone to try again at least once if they fail at some stage (i did after all and survived a college recourse too) but be aware that the hard work really starts at College and only gets harder with UVC's and live training.
As for the "shall i, shan't i" email/phone call/letter etc then i promise, nobody is being paid enough money to care whether or not your application success hinges on it!
Once again, best of luck, it's a fabulous career that awaits!
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Southampton
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Best way from Southampton Central to Nats is to get on the train to Swanwick, should take 20 mins/half hour depending on train you get, then I would reccomend getting a taxi from there to Nats Whiteley, will cost around £6-8 and depending on traffic can take up to 25 mins so give your self plenty of time. You can walk from the station but its a bit of a mission and if you don't know the route then its probably not a good idea.
hope that helps.
hope that helps.
Join Date: Oct 2012
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@rr9
Yeah i'm staying at the same premier inn, wont be driving tho as i'm going by train tomorrow from Manchester so it'll be a taxi on Wednesday morning. However it seems my slot has changed and its now starting at 10am rather than 9am which works out better 
Join Date: Oct 2012
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Did my stage 1 on Thursday and haven't heard back yet which I assume means I didn't make it judging by posts here. Wish they would tell me though, amusingly they just replied to my email asking then to confirm the time
for lay Thursday..
for lay Thursday..
Join Date: Sep 2012
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@eptesicus/minicub
epte, yeah people were just generally saying they found it really tough and had a few near misses etc.
yeah just gota hope for the best, i haven't heard yet so just gota think positive.
minicub, yeah i had a few different emails saying 0830, 0900 and 1000. it made no difference to me what time i got there really, as i'm used to getting up early, so i just made sure i was there in time for the earliest time i'd been emailed.
as it happened, you're right, it didn't start til 10, but i just sat in the cafe with my hot chocolate reading my book. had time to think about things and go to the toilet etc, and wake up adequately, so i was happy to have got there so early.
yeah just gota hope for the best, i haven't heard yet so just gota think positive.
minicub, yeah i had a few different emails saying 0830, 0900 and 1000. it made no difference to me what time i got there really, as i'm used to getting up early, so i just made sure i was there in time for the earliest time i'd been emailed.
as it happened, you're right, it didn't start til 10, but i just sat in the cafe with my hot chocolate reading my book. had time to think about things and go to the toilet etc, and wake up adequately, so i was happy to have got there so early.
