The ATCA option
 

Well, just heard bad news from NATS, I am sure I am not the only one. So I was just wondering if anyone else took the ATCA route and trained to be an ATCO that way.

I have rung up numerous airports but none have vacancies. Anybody with comments or advice? I would really want to do something throughout this year to make myself more suitable in the future.

Thanks.

After I failed the first time I took any job I could get at BRS. Worked there for 6 months which really helped. Especially when it came to arranging visits to the tower.

The ATCA Option
 

Don't give up there are plenty of ways that people have become ATCO's eventually. Think about improving your CV there's a number of ways to do it. PPL if you can afford it, A/G licence might all be a help.
good luck anyway keep trying
007

Hey Pilotho,

Bad luck, I know your pain.

I just saw on another thread that your took your personality test today and then they told you the results a matter of hours later?! That was quick!

Do you think you were honest with your answers? Or gave them what they wanted to hear?

Good luck for the future,

Vic

Hi Vic, they were extremely fast, surprised me also! To me, the test was quite confusing. The repeated comment of "I get tense before a formal meeting", I admit that I do get tense but not to the fact that I can't do anything. So the first time that answer came up, I picked it. However, that comment came up repeatedly. Now the test says that there is a check to see if i was lying or not. I thought therefore, that I had to select that everytime it came up. For me, I was being honest but I think the test does not allow me to show my full personality and thus not who I really am. I am totally gutted when I saw it but I thought there's no point dwelling on it, so I got on AIS and started ringing. Unfortunatly, no where seems to have a vacancy.
I also checked that I don't ring any NATS units, so I rung Bristol which was a bad mistake I think, as it put me through to the tower who seemed to be quite busy. (I always thought BRS was non-NATS.

What are your plans now Vic?

Agend 007 You mentioned about improving my CV but isn't that a little irrelavent? I definetly wouldn't mind carrying out an A/G position but at the same time I would need an income so I am not sure if that is a viable option, what do you think?
smellysnelly2004 What job did you get at BRS? I am thinking of applying to Servisair as a dispatcher but since it's a permanent contract I am not too sure.

Pilotho,

BRS was non-NATS but now is. If you're gonna call then I'd imagine best time is after 2200 when it should be quieter. I just worked on the switchboard answering calls but at least I was around the aviation world. It was for an agency which solved the permanancy problem.
One last piece of advice, I wouldn't sound off too much about recruitment process etc. as many interviewers/instructors/HR people lurk here on Pprune and it might bite you on the derriere one day. :ok:

So did you get an ATCO position in the end?

Yep - passed 2nd time round and just about to start summatives on 211 basic

Thats good to know.

What do you think made you successful the 2nd time round? Did you answer the personality questions differently? Or do you think you actually changed as a person with the year in the job?

Pilotho,

DO you want to PM me and I'll answer any questions you have?

Hey pilotho,

I have a few friends working at NATS so i'm hoping to get some kind of admin there just as a foot in the door.
I wouldn't worry too much yourself, you're only 20, I wish instead of uni I just applied straight to NATS when I was your age, don't know why I've left it this long, as I'm sure the older you are limits your chances.

355 days before I can apply again.