My understanding was that it was rare to pass first time? Anyway, neither here nor there! It was on my 3rd (and final) attempt that I got through. My first application was at 17, not even finished my A-Levels... I remember that at that time, stage 1 was an (almost) all-day affair where they did the personality questionnaire on paper.
Second attempt was last year and got to stage 2.
Between last year and this year, I looked at what I had done and remembered where I had let myself get annoyed with mistakes. Going in this time, when I made a mistake it was a grunt of disapproval, and forget about it.
If you're truly enthuastic about it, it'll show.

I think I've rambled a bit, but anyhow! :ok: Good luck!

Got my stage 3 next week and have got through quite a lot of reading, visits, etc. The last thing that is worrying me slightly is the D/S/T parts.

Does anyone know of any good websites that will test me with these types of questions.

Will they ask these types of questions in the interview and expect me to answer on the spot?

Thanks

all you have to do is remember
speed = distance/time
then just rearrange to find distance or time

Third Stage
 

Hi all,

Hope you are all well.....

I've got my Third Stage interview next Thursday - 27th - and I was wondering if anyone would be able to tell me how much technical information I should be expected to know?

I've studied the documents from the previous two stages inside out and i'm pretty confident I could answer anything to do with them. I've also got Graham Duke's book - although it is a fairly old edition - which seems to only further detail the info in the NATS documents.

I've struggled to find anything in relation to the sequencing of descending/landing aircraft.
Any links?

Could anyone give any examples of ATC situations which I could attempt to answer?
I realise that interviewers are expecting to recruit actual controllers, however, I would like to be fully prepared for any questions that they could ask.

Thanks to all who can help!!!

Anything technical that I was asked was from the document. There were few situational things, including what I would do if my friend turned up to work drunk, and a long winded thing about a 747 crashing off the end of the runway and whether I would keep the runway in use after various changes had taken place (debris cleared, fuel unloaded etc) and with certain conditions in place (last 100m not used, taking off downwind away from the crash etc) when said plane would not be removed for three days.

The sequencing question is similar to this- it's using common sense and backing up your answer with a reason (you can't just say no...). If you're looking for info on vortex spacing then wikipedia does as good a job as any- Wake turbulence - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - it's handy to know (though they probably won't ask that question so specifically since it's been discussed at such length in this thread)...

The idea for these I guess is that you're not prepared- they are questioning your ability to make snap decisions but be able to think them through logically and be founded.

Good luck, as long as you've read up and come across as confident you should be fine! :ok:

Hi everybody.

Have been reading this site for the last few weeks now, and found it to be a great help and full of info.

I am hoping someone could help me with my predicament. I am going for my 3rd stage interview this week, and everything is sorted. (Travel arrangements, hotel, etc.)

Unfortunately, we had a family bereavement earlier in the week, and the funeral is planned for the same day as the interview. I have left a message at HR, and I am hoping someone will get back in touch with me tomorrow.

Does anyone know what the likelihood that the interview will be put back is. Only asking, as I know there are still people going through stage 1 and 2 at the moment, so there will be stage 3 dates for these in the next few weeks.

Thanks for any info.

Bluebird,

The only thing i'd suggest is calling them as early as you can in the morning. They may have a lot of messages for them over the weekend and may not get to yours that quickly. Try giving them a ring at say 9am and see if you can sort it out with them then. They'll have all the info to hand regarding rearranging third stage, and im sure they'll be able to give you a date that suits you and also isnt too far in the future. In terms of the travel arrangements, they should be able to help you rearrange all that as well.

Hope it all goes ok, good luck.

Stage 1 on 10th Nov
 

Hi guys,

just wondering if anyone who sat their stage 1 at the glasgow hilton in the afternoon session has heard anything yet?

cheers

2nd and 3rd stage interviews
 

hi, im going down to for my second stage interview, computer tests etc on wednesday. can anyone tell me what the difference between the structured interview and the 3rd stage interview that i've seen people talk about on here
thanks
andrew

Uni Failure
 

Hi folks
not sure if anybody has been in a similar position but will give it a try.

have my stage two this week, and one area i expect to be grilled on is my uni ''career'. i attended uni for three years but never got my degree, because i could not pass one module out of approx 20 - 25, despite sitting the exam 4times. :{

that was a few years ago and i have a fairly good/responsible job now, although not a career. There are not extenuating personal circumstances.

I cant help thinking that despite how much i have come to realise this is the job for me and that aviation is an area that i love, HR will kinda look on it that i was bad at one area of study therefore i will not be able to handle TATC.

Kinda feel that it would have been better if i had never gone to uni

I really enjoy reading/learning both the information provided by NATS and other aviation stuff in a way i never did at uni. Any useful thoughts other than 'see how it goes?'
thanks in advance

ZOOKER, EGPF is the place to be!

Two days until stage 2, studying like mad and loving it!

shugs check yer PMs.

That's what I tried to explain to NSL !!!

advised to save visit until i get through stage 2, but if i get through i'm going to get straight down there :-)

Got the stage 2 16th December. I'm a little bit older than most and going for a complete career change from Finance to Aviation. As soon as I achieved my PPL I knew I had to work in aviation. Gonzo, I'm assuming that if I'm through to stage 2 then age isn't an issue??

Stage 1 on 10th Nov
 

quyenoStage 1 on 10th NovHi guys,

just wondering if anyone who sat their stage 1 at the glasgow hilton in the afternoon session has heard anything yet?

cheers


Hi,
I completed Stage 1 in that session and still haven't received anything yet.
Christa

2nd stage
 

Hey, has any1 else got their stage 2 on Wed at 12.15pm? See u soon if u have!!!

Adc:O

Still waiting S1 Nov 10th london Hilton

Stage 2 results
 

hi
am aware that there are S2's taking place this week and last. have read in previous posts that people were getting the result that day or the next, just wondered if that was still the case of its that's slipped a bit?

good luck adc136, have mine thurs at 12.15 :sad:

Shugs,
I dropped out of uni twice and still got through! Been in NATS coming up 10 years.
First time was because i spent far too much time enjoying myself out of lectures and second time because i ran out of money.
The interviewers gave me a good grilling about it but I just told them exactly how it was. Where I had messed up and how I would do things differently now etc.
Don't worry about it. Just show them that you can learn from setbacks and get on with things.
Good luck.

i'm thurs 12.15 too - shugs you copying me - first glasgow hilton, same day and now 2 nd stage same day??:ok:

Shrugs: I had my stage 2 6 days ago.....havent heard yet, wow next day... that would be nice.

If it can be of any help, I had my stage 2 on a Friday afternoon (last September) and found out I passed on the following Wednesday.

spooooky glasgowgirl:ooh:

well good luck between now and then, an i should see you at 12 :ok:

jack.raven that sucks a bit, but hopefully wont be too much longer, think they more or less know on the day which makes it worse:*

Are the Stage 1 tests (cube test, etc) pen and paper?

Hektor G

Hektor - yes.
pencil, eraser, sheet for your answers and scrap paper for whatever you want. that's for all of the tests you will do on the day.

Stage 1 results
 

Just thought I'd let you know I got my email today from NATS to say that I now need to do the personality questionnaire after doing Stage 1. Did my Stage 1 in Glasgow on November 10th (morning session), so timings seem to be consistent with previous test sessions/results days.

Hope others have found out today too :)

didn;t pass stage 1 :sad:

the email says they don;t give feedback but an ATC friend told me HR have to give feedback now, so was wondering if its worthwhile calling them for some feedback?

stage 2
 

Did stage 2 yesterday and head still bursting!!
Good luck to those who were also there, i'm not holding my breath after those computer tests!!:bored:

Glasgow girl,

Can you provide any details of what S2 was like?
Were the computer test similiar to the SHL practice ones?

Got my email!!!
 

:) Got through stage 2 wooooo am so so over the moon :)

Cant WAIT for stage 3 now, interviews aren't my strong point but I will keep fingers crossed.

wooooooooooooooooo :)

Edit: took 9 days... for people who are waiting

conrats jack.raven
did my S2 yesterday with three others (ggowgirl one of them), was told that I may hear today depending on workload so kind of sitting on tender hooks.

glasgowgirl, I’m totally the same, left yesterday with a sore head, but regardless of how it goes, I did feel quite happy afterwards, wasn’t as tough (excluding comp tests) as I’d thought. Just have to wait and see now. Fingers crossed for Richard and the other girl who's name I have forgotten as well.

GhostUK, not aware of any SHL tests for S2, (please correct if wrong), the comp tests on the day are done on an old laptop with a funny keyboard thing plugged in, easy to use though. Three tests run one after the other don’t think there is anything I could have done beforehand which would have improved my terrible performance.
The other parts of the day are a motivation paper; LEARN EVERYTHING in what NATS provide beforehand including S1 stuff, and it’s easy.
You then get an interview, not a proper one though because all the questions are set, so interviewer does not react to anything you say, just moves on the next question, just think about situations you have been in which you feel highlight the qualities you think you need to be an ATC, be yourself, don’t lie. (I do of course say all this without knowing if I have passed)
Was nervous at the beginning of the day but was with three other nice folk, and the HR ladies are really nice to you as well (excluding interview where they don’t acknowledge/look at you), felt relaxed and happy by the time I had left. Would advise you read all the posts on this thread but do not take them as gospel including this one, as I think i depends on the person and also the interviewer. :=

Thanks for that mate, will do.

I wish you guys all the best with S2.

I found out 2day that I managed 2 get through stage 2 and have booked stage 3 for Monday!!! 2days 2 prepare, any advice would be fantastic.
(different scenarios etc)

At least it'll all be fresh in your mind on Monday! I had a week which came very fast. Get lots of sleep for the next three nights and read through the NATS website (Media centre links for current events!).

Back in Control is a very outdated article but I found it interesting to read.

When making decisions, consider safety THEN efficiency. Always in that order.

Good luck!

Thanks ar ni, good advice. Fingers crossed.

Nice to know HR haven't improved. I got a letter in 2002 telling me I'd failed the technical interview and then got a phone call a week later telling me I'd passed - my application had been put in the wrong folder and no one had noticed :O

Good luck to all of you people applying

I'm quite afraid of the personallity test aswell.

The initial information that was included with S1 motivation paper, the personallity section at the end said to try not give any unsure middle answers...

But I've always been brought up to be a pretty modest person.. how is that going to reflect in the test?

Do I change my attitude and give extream answers? Or do I stay true to myself being modest in my answers and go agaist the advice given.

I would not worry about that at all, GhostUK. Being a modest person is actually a good quality for a controller so just be yourself.

There are a lot of questions so, if you are honest, they'll see that trait of your personality in the result, which can only be a good thing.