Is there a further section after the interview stage? I thought my most recent message from NATS mentioned an assessment day after the interview, but maybe I got confused. I just hadn't read anything about that on here is all. I will read it again...

Ginger ;)

(Also, jumping the gun by a considerable margin, but if I were to be successful, would I have to redo the Class 1, or is it enough that I already hold one?)

Ginger,

I had a JAA class 1 medical, but still had to do a UK class 1 before starting at Hurn. A lot of the JAA 1 counted but still had to go through the motions anyway....

The NATS initial medical is slightly different to the UK CAA Class 1, so you'll still have to do one.

Oh dear, woe is me and so forth :ugh:

I'm an optimistic guy, but my assessment at Fareham today was not good (Stage 2??). Firstly I was sure I was told there would be two interviews, so I was prepared for a normal interview and a personality-type one. As it turns out, I just had the latter, so a lot of my preparation was unnecessary. I found the 'giving examples' a bit exhausting as it was really hard to think of responses in a few cases, despite knowing that I had plently to call on somewhere in my memory.

Worse though, were the electronic tests. I have done plenty of electronic aptitude tests, so wasn't particularly worried about them, but christ I found these tough. Stopping numbers colliding while doing sums was the worst - I barely answered any of the maths questions as I could not read the question, do the arithmetic and respond before the question disappeared again. I wondered if these were solely to try and distract you from the 'aircraft', but probably not. Also, sorting numbers and then having to factor extra instructions was so hard to do in the time allowed. Adding the digits together, seeing if it was a match and remembering the right category was almost too much for the 3 seconds or so given.

So it seems maybe my brain is not that of an ATCO, unless i've been really lucky. Damnnation to my grey matter, and good luck to everyone else in the process. I'm sure you'll fair better.

Ginger ;)

If it's any help - after my stage 2 I felt exactly the same, that I had exactly no hope of getting through it. I then found out that I'd done really well at them later on, so don't panic.

Also you might just find that the 3rd electronic test (sums while stopping colliding) isn't actually looked at...

Well those are comforting words - thank you. I'll just have to wait and see...

Ginger ;)



P.S. I don't want to lower the tone, but a further distraction during the test was that the desk area outside was populated by a silly percentage of absolutely beautiful girls/women! I could feel my neck straining against my better judgement.

lol. Nice.

I felt the same after the computer tests. I reckon that they are designed to stress you out and that the only way to pass is not to give up. Probably testing that you won't throw your headset away in disgust and lose the plot should your sector get a bit busy.

You sure you were in CTC? At Fareham??????? :confused:



I'm joking ladies! :E

Maybe the girls are put there to distract you :P But being a girl myself, I didn't find that a problem...

Yes, I felt completely crap after the tests, and then found out that actually I had done "really well", and later found out in my 3rd round interview that I got the same scores as the Air Traffic Controller interviewing me got. So it can't have been all that bad...(I asked what the scores meant, but they didn't have a clue)

Good Luck

I too felt thoroughly depressed after the stage 2 computer tests. I felt my 'big chance' had come to an end. I can't have performed that badly as I'm not a TATC at Hurn. There is light at the end of the tunnel even though you feel all hope is lost.

BAW1T

Stage 1
 

Was anyone else at the stage 1 tests last Thursday at Marble Arch?
If so have you heard anything back yet?

Hi all,

I've been reading this thread with interest over the past few weeks as I've worked my way through the ATCO application process. I had my Stage 2 in Fareham this morning and already have an email confirming my progression to Stage 3. All good so far...

Anyway, I would really like to try and arrange a visit to a NATS facility before I go to the interview. Unfortunately being 'stranded' in Norwich means a drive to either Swanwick or Preswick for a visit isn't very viable just for a visit. So I thought of trying to arrange a visit to either Stansted or Heathrow tower to at least get a taste for the job.

Is this viable? If anyone could push some contact details my way I'd be much obliged...I can't seem to find much on the net.

Cheers!

1 Stage test on 11 dec 2007
 

Hi everybody, :ok:

i have booked my 1st stage test on 11 dec 2007 in glasgow, and i am preparing for that test.
I am bit confused :ugh: about the Arthimetic Numerical Reasoning test, With Spatial Reasoning Incl design & Shapes test, do i need to prepare for Arthimetic numerical test as well or NOT???

Pleae help me because i have not enough time to prepare. the contents of the test which i know are,

1. Apptitude test (Shapes design, basic checking, 3d conversion)

2.Motivation test

3. Personality questionair

is there any thing else??? :cool:

Going to college!
 

Hey all, just wanted to let you all know I have got my email confirming that I have been succesful at the 3rd stage, so assuming I pass the medical and security I will be going back to college in the summer! I am well chuffed! :)

Just wanted to say a big thank you to all on this thread as you all have been real helpful. :D

Not sure whether going to be invited to June or Septmeber intake yet - anyone else confirmed for next June or September?

I have no idea what intake they are thinking I am going for - I've heard mumblings of June...

I had my medical last week which was all good, I think they are now just getting references and stuff, haven't really heard much recently.

Seconding chaudhrysahabs post (2 above) what tests do the Stage 1 comprise of now?

I always understood they were structured as a motivation test, personality questionnaire and the aptitude tests being spacial reasoning, basic checking, diagrammatical and mental arithmatic + several others :confused:

Have they changed as chaudhrysahab mentions above?

No mental arithmatic when I was there in April.

As neodude said that list is correct, or was when I went in May. There is no specific mental arithmatic test, but that doesn't mean you won't need to brush up the mental arithmetic for use in the other tests :ok:

I did stage one in June and didnt get through :sad: but when I did it it was just the motivation test which is a multiple choice based on the info they send you so make sure you learn it well. Then the personality questionnaire which is fairly straightforward. Then it's the aptitude tests which include basic checking, diagrammatic and spatial reasoning. Diagrammatic is when they show you shapes that mean different things and you have to say what comes next in the sequence, I found that quite easy, then it's the cubes which is by far the hardest bit of the tests. That was it.

Hope you both have more luck than I did. I'm counting down the days til June so I can reapply again. Has anyone known HR to let you reapply before the 12 months is up??!! I'm determined to pass second time!!

Congrats atcowannabe, I hope I'm in your position this time next year!

Vic

1 stage interview
 

Hi all,

I will have my first interview next Moday. I feel prepared but there are a few pages at the back of the "motivation" material about aircraft specific configuration.

Are those last pages worth of studying or should it be enough with a rough read?

Many thanks

It is definately important to study the information about the aircraft provided in the motivation document. There is no need to know all of that information off by heart but a general understanding of the aircraft that are in use, the airlines that use them, the routes they are likely to fly, their speed etc will definately be of use.

At the end of the day you should expect to be questioned on any of the material that has been provided.

Good luck on Monday!

Many thanks Atcowannabe,

Regarding the diagramming test. I've seen so far two main types:

The ones that you need to follow a pattern given: 1,3,5,7...11

Or the ones with "operators": "x" changes colour, "Y" changes shape, etc...

Could you kindly advise on which type will be given on the assessment day?

I'm going through the Internet like mad doing as many tests as I can and this advise will save me some precious time.

Again, many thanks. Really appreciated.

Regards

Yeray

To be honest with you I am not sure that practice will make you any better at these kind of tests but that is a whole other subject!

I believe that the two tests that you have mentioned will be included along with a test that will involve you visualising a cube that is laid out flat and what sides will touch etc.

If I remember rightly there are examples of these tests sent along with the motivation paper?

Again though, in my view I dont think that practicing these will help you out that much, I dont think there is really much you can do to prepare for these tests apart from getting a good nights sleep etc. I would suggest you concentrate on the content from the motivation paper.

Motivation questions
 

Re the motivation paper, the technical details at the end can come up.

I had three on my paper (sept 07):
'Of the following, which has the highest theoretical cruise',
'what would the typical cruise speed be of X type'.
'What route would you expect a 737-300 to fly'

I didn't have any on seating config, but I dare say there's ones like 'approximately how many passengers can X type carry' out there somewhere.

The good thing was the answers were obvious if you thought about it, but knowing the details helped save time to spend on the lovely :uhoh: DST questions.

Stu

I would definitely recommend being comfortable with the DST triangle/calculations ;)

Hi,
So just to confirm for Stage 1, the tests are:

1. Personality
2. Rotating Cubes (Cubes and there nets)
3. Basic Checking (checking 2 sets of numbers)
4. NATS Motivation (questions based on the document NATS provided)
5. Commands (Invert previous image, swap with next image etc...)

I applied last year but from what I can gather, a few things have changed in the recruitment process.
Thanks in advance.
G

First test is actually turning up in the right place on the right day.

You may laugh, but................:ugh:

A test which the SHL and NATS staff failed on more than one occasion!
Once they forgot to bring the testing papers and on another they had put the ATCO up in the wrong hotel the night before.

True, although more often than not it's the courier or the hotel who manages to lose the test papers.

I've often been put up in a different hotel than the one that's hosting the test/interviews, but that's usually because there is 'no room at the inn'.

Was anyone at Stage 3 at Manchester last Friday? I was just interested to know if you'd heard anything yet?

P.S. I've probably said it before, but this thread has been most helpful - keep up the good work, and thanks!

Ginger ;)

I'm incredibly disappointed and frustrated with NATS right now. It's been 2 weeks since my stage 3 interview, which personally I thought went very well and I had no inkling of any reason why I didn't deserve to get through.

Last Tuesday I received an automated message informing me I was unsuccessful. Nothing more than that. Apart from being absolutely gutted I was very disappointed that the assessors went back on their word to get back to me with feedback (I even had to chase down the expense form).

I've phoned HR and I've e-mailed via the NATS job interview site and both have told me they've passed the message on and that I'll get a call soon.

It's been long enough in my opinion. I'm still in limbo with the option to reapply in 12 months, which will be utterly pointless without knowing what I need to improve on. Someone out there has the information I need and I can't get it. Has anyone else had this problem or got any tips for actually getting the info I need before it's too late?

Please bear in mind that both the interviewers have 'day jobs', and certainly in the ATCO's case, and possibly the HR interviewer's also, they work shifts. It would be completely out of the question to attempt to contact you outside of office hours, and ATCOs only have a limited period of time during those hours at work; for most of those we'll all be wearing headsets. Also, one or the other might be on days off, or on leave, and in my experience whichever of the two is going to give feedback will contact the other interviewer to discuss things before talking to you, to ensure everything is covered.

Things will have been set in motion by your request, I assure you. Please be patient.

Thanks Gonzo. I can appreciate that, it's why I waited a while before venting. Obviously my heart is absolutely set on this, so I want to know what's wrong as soon as possible. To be honest though, I would rather have sat here waiting for 2 weeks wondering whether I'm in or not, than sat here having been rejected not knowing why. I've been through a lot just to end up with 1 automated e-mail, not even a phone call. My particular assessor worked in training rather than in the control room full time so I had hoped the shift pattern etc wouldn't be as big an issue.

I think it would have been most helpful to at least have some basis for the grounds on which I was rejected given to me at the point the e-mail was sent, then more detailed feedback at a later point.

MWNM,

When I failed my interview first time round I received a similar response and on contacting HR was simply informed 'We don't give feedback', After something bordering on harassment by myself I managed to find out which part of the interview (personnel, comptuter etc) I failed but that was it.
I would suggest that if you are going to receive any kind of detailed feedback then that is a vast improvement in the process, even if it takes a while:)
On a more positive note, there are plenty of people at the college who passed second time (including me). Also, if you're willing to put your 'career' on hold for 12 months and try again, that can only look good for you in the motivation stakes for next time.
Good luck

Stage 3
 

So can anyone clarify what is required for Stage 3 - technical & HR interview + groups exercise right please? Any handy hints for the technical interview? I hear you'd be wise to research outside of the given reading material - even beyond a visit to a NATS site?

Just an FYI, but there is no 'given reading material' for stage 3.

See this is where I begin to think threads like this are a hindrance rather than help. Before my stage 3 interview I read this thread and began to freak out when I saw all this "extra reading" people had done and all these facts they thought they should know.

Truth of the matter is, I've passed first time without freaking out, and I can honestly say I have simply read the material given for stage 1 and 2, and had a delve around the NATS website to get latest news, names of important people, etc

Ok, I've had a background with being in the air cadets and numerous RAF tower visits, but that's hardly major "experience". Yes my father's best mate from school joined NATS in 1963, but apart from having a few chats with him and his colleagues, that's about as much contact I've had with NATS people.

Trying to cram your head full of Air traffic jargon and facts and figures before you've actually been to college to learn what the hell you're trying to talk about, seems a bit silly to me - you're only going to confuse yourself in the interview and probably get yourself into a hole you can't get out of. Just my opinion though!

The only advice that I can give (which I was given myself), is re-read the two reading booklets you got, look at the NATS website a bit, look into current affairs - they are always a good talking point, especially air traffic/air travel related stuff. And think long and hard about what you have achieved at school, college, work, with your hobbies, whatever.....situations you have been in working with teams, difficult people, times you have failed, problems overcome....even the smallest of thing you can think of can be an amazing demonstration of problem solving or whatever.

All I can say is, know "the gist and a little bit more" about air traffic. As far as I could tell, they are looking for POTENTIAL to pass well at the college, not a pretend know-it-all bluffer already.

All the best. Hope that helps.

Anyone at the stage one at Tower Bridge Hilton yesterday am(10th dec)? Ran about an hour late. There were two controllers present; the talk by "Steve" was great. Anyone else think the guy overseeing the motivation/psychology test was, well...an arsehole?? (No he wasn't an ATCO, in fact most of the people there were all "HR".)

ps, these boards are great:)

DCR100. At stage one, the only NATS people there are the ATCOs. Everyone else is from an outsourced recruitment and consultancy firm.

No doubt though you've told NATS Recruitment about the feedback you wish to give........haven't you?

Feedback
 

In reply to ManWithNoMouth a few posts back, I failed my second stage interview at the second attempt last week and emailed via the message centre on the nats website to see if i could get my scores at least (i know detailed feedback won't happen), and within 12 hours received a reply telling me that i passed the computer tests but failed the interview. It said the interview was a marginal fail so shouldn't be put off applying again.

I knew as soon as I had finished the tests that I had passed those but was not sure about the interview, and when I got my unsuccessful email thought i must have completely f:mad:ed up the interview, but I feel reassured that i obviously didn't do as badly as i had thought.

Anyway, hope you get the answers you are looking for and all the best for the future........:ok: