Hey watch_the_birdie,

Wasn't meant to be hindrance, think it is reassuring for lots of people out there to find out that perhaps "all this "extra reading" people had done and all these facts they thought they should know" isn't as daunting as they might have first thought. But the question needs to be asked to find out the truth about these things!

As an interviewer, I'm consistently disappointed by the most common answer to my first question: "What have you done to prepare for today?"

".....Errrr, well, I had another look through the documents for stage 1 and stage 2..........errrr, and then I had a look at NATS website for a bit.........."

:ugh:

^^^ That was the first question asked at my Stage 3 :ok:

Did you any stage 3's in Manchester last Jan, Gonzo

And is this where you loiter NeoDude

Hmm ok, maybe I am not entirely writing my advice correctly. Not to sound too big for my boots and all that, and also not to sound like I did no preparation at all (because I did).... but the prep I mainly did was talk to air traffic people (both civvi (NATS and otherwise) and RAF), and read into things.

As a past interviewer myself for army entrance for various levels, I used to hate it when people came in with what they thought were the right facts and figures about things, and their ideas about whatever, when really they were completely wrong and ended up making a tit of themselves.

Yes, read into things, but not to the extent of being chock-a-block full of unneeded crap? Surely talking to people in the know (i.e. visits) is far more worthy than reading reels of text? If you can't make a visit, yes, reading is a good substitute, but surely there is a limit before it becomes all too much?

wtb

Or am I barking up the wrong tree.

Shouldn't you be studying or something? :}

MancLad,

Sorry, my first interview day in Manchester was only last month.

WTB, My post wasn't aimed at you. You appear to have done exactly the sort of thing to prove to me that you had prepared adequately. You obviously had done research about the job.:ok:

Gonzo,

No, I didn't tell anyone about the HR guy, as the chap was rather large :} He really seemed unbothered, more pissed off, that we had turned up at all. Nothing personal with me, but he was a bit rude to some other people.
You weren't the ATCO chap giving the talk, were you? Great guy, also very funny. "You need to pass the medical, because passing out at the radar is frowned upon", haha. The biscuits were also very nice. :) No video though:sad:
Bring on stage 2 and 3.

10 dec
 

DCR100,

Did you get an answer already? :ooh:

DCR100,

I might as well get in early before my so called colleagues do so:............You obviously don't know me! :}

Nope, it wasn't me.

If I were you I'd pass on the feedback about that guy, such feedback has had results in the past.

Shouldn't you be studying or something? :}

wish there was something to study for!!:confused:

yeray

No reply yet, so don't worry. I know the motivation papers were marked on the day, as when I handed in my psyche answer paper ( I was one of the last out), I could see the guy overseeing had put the results in the top of the motivation paper answer sheets (I know one chap, whose name begins with an A and ends with D, got 15/30. I don't think that's enough to pass?) And again, I didn't want to complain about that guy because he was the one marking those papers! I will relay that guy's attitude later on though...Anyway, good luck dude.

Is that true then that all the papers marked there on the day? I thought they'd be taken away and fed into a computer somewhere.

So I guess if the controller didnt like the look of ya then they could fail you there and then?

No, he was talking about the motivation paper which was the multi choice thing about aircraft and VORs and runways and stuff. They easy to mark there and then I guess.

The computer-marked papers are those 3 tests of numerical checking, the code thing and the cubes. So they get sent away with the company that runs them. :)

They are all marked on the day, but nobody there knows the pass mark, so the results get sent back to HQ.

I really, really hope that was a joke.

Not really a joke no Gonzo. For example at my stage one a chap was half an hour late, and kept phoning up every five minutes for directions. He couldn't find The Cumberland Hotel even though it's right outside the tube station. Then when he finally turned up he was dressed in a tracksuit, didn't apologise and clearly didn't care or make an effort. Surely not a good sign and I'm sure the ATCO there would have been doubting his credentials despite how early in the selection process it was. Also after the personality test a chap stayed behind a further 20 minutes or so after the last person had finished and we were all sat outside waiting. I would think that personality traits such as these would be noted by the ATCOs, but probably not accounted for I don't know, just wondering.

As far as NATS is concerned at that point you're just a number. As much as sometimes one might wish to take into account 'other factors', I'm afraid we are professional about these things (dammit!):O. At the end of the day, not doing so would leave NATS open to all sorts of claims and appeals.

Not attempting to explain things, but I do know the Cumberland used to have the wrong directions on their website....and also you should see the Ops room on a typical day at Swanwick. Scruffy jeans, hoodies, all sorts. Some of us do attempt to make an effort, sartorially speaking, but I'm afraid many of my colleagues are a lost cause in that regard!

1st stage test result
 

:rolleyes: Anybody recieved result for the 1st stage test in glasgow 11 dec 2007 ??
Anybody knows what was the overall score ??? :confused:

Received an email from NATS on Friday inviting me to take the personality questionnaire - so I guess I got through the stage one tests. I hope the personality questionnaire is just as successful :eek:.

Not sure on the overall score. You'd probably have to ask HR but they may not be able to give it to you.

I Been simply told by NATS that i am unsucessfull :sad: on 1st stage and not been given any feedback as well which is unfair. :{