Airservices Australia Psychometric Testing
Moderator
Join Date: Jul 1997
Location: Europe
Posts: 3,228
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Over the years, PPRuNe has been a useful resource for people researching jobs in our industry and how to make it - flight deck, ATC, Ops, Cabin Crew, you name it.
People doing research or asking questions shows initiative. At the end of the day, no matter how detailed the answers here might be, it's still up to the individual to make it in to the selection process and then perform on the day. Many of the touchy-feely Human Resources and personality aspects can't be rehearsed anyway ... their actual value to providing an operational ATC person is another topic of course.
We don't intend to stifle any of the professional information given by our members now, or in the future.
People doing research or asking questions shows initiative. At the end of the day, no matter how detailed the answers here might be, it's still up to the individual to make it in to the selection process and then perform on the day. Many of the touchy-feely Human Resources and personality aspects can't be rehearsed anyway ... their actual value to providing an operational ATC person is another topic of course.
We don't intend to stifle any of the professional information given by our members now, or in the future.
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Assessment Centre Process:
It is mandatory that you bring the following with you on the day:
It is mandatory that you bring the following with you on the day:
- A signed copy of the statutory declaration (attached)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Always changing
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
PR - a big well done from me and I'm sure many others.
ASA recruitment process itself is completely ridiculous for both experienced and new controllers and that's just one problem of many, many, many. They are also slow, slow, slow and just sooooo far behind the rest with their technology. I can go through the recruitment for another ANSP and be offered a job and completed training before ASA can even complete round one of their circus - (not to mention the 12 month classroom course for experienced controllers).
You new guys be warned what you are getting yourselves in to. Please carefully weigh up your options. Ask yourself why it takes sooooo long just to get an emailed reply from HR and to be shown some professional courtesy. This is not a caring company - they are second rate and everything they do just demonstrates it.
Well done PPRUNE - don't let the BULLY shut you down.
ASA recruitment process itself is completely ridiculous for both experienced and new controllers and that's just one problem of many, many, many. They are also slow, slow, slow and just sooooo far behind the rest with their technology. I can go through the recruitment for another ANSP and be offered a job and completed training before ASA can even complete round one of their circus - (not to mention the 12 month classroom course for experienced controllers).
You new guys be warned what you are getting yourselves in to. Please carefully weigh up your options. Ask yourself why it takes sooooo long just to get an emailed reply from HR and to be shown some professional courtesy. This is not a caring company - they are second rate and everything they do just demonstrates it.
Well done PPRUNE - don't let the BULLY shut you down.
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Qld, Formerly N.T. Australia
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
moving from brisbane to melbourne
If this rain keeps up, might be easiler to just put some oars out the window and paddle to melbourne, house and all. anyone give me a hand? otherwise I'll just be rowing in circles...
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Brisbane
Age: 43
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey guys, just a quick question (which I'm going to email ASA about as well). I had my ophthalmologist appointment today for my license and paid the money for the fee ($330). Do I contact ASA about getting that reimbursed?
That was the last step for my license too, but haven't heard from them about a starting date still. Does anyone know if they have been waiting til they get confirmation of your license before putting you in a course? It'd be nice to know sometime soon, especially as I'd really like to let work know!
Hope all the QLDers are ok after the shocking weather, and didn't have any damage or losses!
That was the last step for my license too, but haven't heard from them about a starting date still. Does anyone know if they have been waiting til they get confirmation of your license before putting you in a course? It'd be nice to know sometime soon, especially as I'd really like to let work know!
Hope all the QLDers are ok after the shocking weather, and didn't have any damage or losses!
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They reimburse you for all the medical cost in your first month, you just fill out the forms with the reciets when you get there. You need to have your medical certificate sent (faxed) to them before the first day. When i got offered the course day they just asked if i had the medical stuff organised
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bit harsh baileys, no need to be like that.
It's not like the potential employer is known for giving out easy information or the recruitment process has much communication.
ps. I remember waiting over a month for an email reply from people and change waiting on the merit list.
It's not like the potential employer is known for giving out easy information or the recruitment process has much communication.
ps. I remember waiting over a month for an email reply from people and change waiting on the merit list.
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Brisbane
Age: 43
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thankyou for the helpful information fivel, and for pointing out to Baileys about how ASA tends to work. I have emailed ASA for the official answer, but I figured I'd find out what everyone else knows and I knew the reply would be much quicker.
... when will this end.
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MELBOURNE
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
how much are you willing to give up?
just a quick note, having studied in the college and seen how it works i very much agree with 'BAILEYS'- the place is run like a cattle market. training is inadequate, you are merely a number (not a human being with feelings), there is a total lack of understanding by management what trainees actually have given up to participate in such a course, and it is very much a miserable existence whilst at the college. this is not a biased opinion but one that is felt very much by many of those i knew and many of those still there having kept in regular contact! be ready for a ****fight for those who do go forth.......thats all i will say!
PS if you are in a good secure job think very very hard, the only good thing about the place was meeting a good bunch of friends. the rest is as bad as bad gets.....i read on here long ago about how bad it was, thats not true-ITS MUCH WORSE!
PS if you are in a good secure job think very very hard, the only good thing about the place was meeting a good bunch of friends. the rest is as bad as bad gets.....i read on here long ago about how bad it was, thats not true-ITS MUCH WORSE!
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Australia's most livable city
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How much would you give up?
Don't tell me these things ATC_DEFG unless of course you are telling what is reality for everyone. You're not the only person saying this but my situation is I'm in a safe job with one of the big banks and have a good comfortable life style. I'm rolling the dice on this as I'm late 40's and needing a new direction and aviation has always been my passion whereas head-office banking is....well a way to make a reasonable living. If I leave then after a year if it falls apart it could be a hard road to get back to where I was.
I'm scheduled for the all day aptitude tests/interviews soon so was interested how many others agree with you or not.
I'm scheduled for the all day aptitude tests/interviews soon so was interested how many others agree with you or not.
That's a big roll to make planesense! The training is certainly no picnic & you will be required to demonstrate you're up to scratch or out you go. Can't comment from direct personal experience of training or instructing in the current "academy" but it doesn't rate highly in the opinion of those I know who've achieved ratings in the last few years.
No idea what sort of money you're on but have you done the sums? Not many of us make it to working past 60 - partly because we can retire earlier but also the shift work gets harder to take & you slow down mentally. I'm mid 40s FWIW & have been at it for 20 years.
Statistically speaking the older you are the harder you'll find the training, but that's just the stats & each individual is different. When was the last time you studied intensively for a prolonged period?
With respect to being treated as a number, it's a serious business with (many) lives at risk so sometimes hard decisions are required & trainees terminated. The sacrifices a trainee has made can't enter into that decision. Thankfully it's not a decision I have to make but those controllers who make it are well & truly aware of what their decision means. Can't speak for the management types. "Would I trust you with my family?" is the question some ask.
All that said I enjoy my job & work with a great bunch of people.
No idea what sort of money you're on but have you done the sums? Not many of us make it to working past 60 - partly because we can retire earlier but also the shift work gets harder to take & you slow down mentally. I'm mid 40s FWIW & have been at it for 20 years.
Statistically speaking the older you are the harder you'll find the training, but that's just the stats & each individual is different. When was the last time you studied intensively for a prolonged period?
With respect to being treated as a number, it's a serious business with (many) lives at risk so sometimes hard decisions are required & trainees terminated. The sacrifices a trainee has made can't enter into that decision. Thankfully it's not a decision I have to make but those controllers who make it are well & truly aware of what their decision means. Can't speak for the management types. "Would I trust you with my family?" is the question some ask.
All that said I enjoy my job & work with a great bunch of people.
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: East Coast Australia
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Unfortunately planesense he is right on the money. You need very thick skin to get through (having a pair of breasts also helps, at least in the college phase), and basically be prepared to be a zombie for a year and a half (MINIMUM) on terrible money. Is it worth it in the end? Definitely. But however hard you think it will be, double it. However hard you think it will be on your personal/family life? Double it. Financially? Same again.
Whilst I don't mean to discourage you, my experience at the college was that everyone over 35 crashed and burned quite early in the piece. There's no denying that you need the speed to learn new things very very quickly. Still all the best for your testing.
Whilst I don't mean to discourage you, my experience at the college was that everyone over 35 crashed and burned quite early in the piece. There's no denying that you need the speed to learn new things very very quickly. Still all the best for your testing.
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Australia's most livable city
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How much would you give up?
Thanks le Pingouin & tobzalp & Undercover Brother (and anyone else who responds)
You've really made some observations that I need to take note of. I'm not pulling the pin just yet (after I may not even get through which is the most likely outcome) but you’ve caused me to pause for a moment to reassess the situation. I will go ahead and sit the test but I’m wondering where to next if I actually was given the opportunity to proceed. I’d note that where ever you go people are unhappy with management and generally it’s a fair assessment as people who manage are often people who couldn’t cut it at the coal face. They’re just a bit more ambitious than you and I and so inflict their incompetence out on us. Sometimes good people are bad managers simply because the framework they are forced to work within would make anyone bad. The question is how bad is Oz ATC which is something I need to gauge based on the feedback I’m hearing?
So far the discussion is all academic as I’ve yet to pass Base 4 but it sounds like I need to consider whether the dream will survive or not from the hard dose of reality should I be selected. If any of you guys know that you’ll be in Collins St CBD Melbourne and want to have a coffee on the banks expense feel free to send an offline message.
I have friends that are Dentists, Lawyers, Plumbers, Doctors etc but no trained ATC’ers thus it’s been hard (read impossible) to form a balanced opinion of what the job is like. So much spin and so little facts!
You've really made some observations that I need to take note of. I'm not pulling the pin just yet (after I may not even get through which is the most likely outcome) but you’ve caused me to pause for a moment to reassess the situation. I will go ahead and sit the test but I’m wondering where to next if I actually was given the opportunity to proceed. I’d note that where ever you go people are unhappy with management and generally it’s a fair assessment as people who manage are often people who couldn’t cut it at the coal face. They’re just a bit more ambitious than you and I and so inflict their incompetence out on us. Sometimes good people are bad managers simply because the framework they are forced to work within would make anyone bad. The question is how bad is Oz ATC which is something I need to gauge based on the feedback I’m hearing?
So far the discussion is all academic as I’ve yet to pass Base 4 but it sounds like I need to consider whether the dream will survive or not from the hard dose of reality should I be selected. If any of you guys know that you’ll be in Collins St CBD Melbourne and want to have a coffee on the banks expense feel free to send an offline message.
I have friends that are Dentists, Lawyers, Plumbers, Doctors etc but no trained ATC’ers thus it’s been hard (read impossible) to form a balanced opinion of what the job is like. So much spin and so little facts!