Mike, I got a phone call after 2 days in Jan, but the first time (a few years ago tbf), it was an email about 3 weeks later.

Good luck,

stage 3 reply
 

I knew within 2 days when I had my stage3 in January this year.

Good luck.

Well done passing stage 3 Kev!
 

I had my stage 3 on Thursday and am dying to find out, how long before they got back to you??

As per the posts above, the standard seems to be 2 days, certainly was for me. Bear in mind that, at least when I did mine in the summer, the ATCO and HR from the interview post (or perhaps courier?) the paperwork back to Fareham after the interviews, so Fareham won't know until at least a day later...

Manchester interview
 

Yeah I was, I thought that might have been you!

London Stage 3
 

was anyone at stage 3 in London fri 29th???
heard anything yet??
good luck to everyone!

My stage 3.. is cancelled :{

Apparently there was only 2 of us booked for it, and there were no other candiadates able to make it...

Suppose it shows just how little people get through to this stage.

But still, I'm semi-ragin! But, more time to prepare :8

I have a visit to Prestwick booked in for tomorrow, do that will tide me by, and hopefully I can get another in, mayeb to Glasgow tower and see what they get up to ;)

Really looking forward to Stage3 in a roundabout way, just disappointed I need to wait a month and a bit to get to it =(

Andy

Hi Andy,

Ive just recently passed my stage 3 interview and will be going for my medical within the next couple of weeks. I also visited Prestwick ACC and Glasgow Tower. I felt it was really important to visit both as the disciplines can be quite different.

The reason I am telling you this is because one of the first questions the ATCO will ask you is "How did you prepare for this interview?". After I told him I had visited both a tower and an ACC, he seemed really interested and the conversation flowed naturally after that.

A couple of guys who were interviewed at the same time as me had only visited one place instead of both a tower and ACC and I know that they were unsuccessful. I know that the whole interview is not based around how many visits you make, that would be naive, but I think if by visiting both, it means that you will be able to describe your experience of both instead of only being able to talk about an ACC for example.

Best of luck anyway.:ok:

Any questions, just give me a shout

Kev

Would just like to re-enforce what Kev has said. I visited both EDI tower and Prestwick and found it gave me plenty of material to chat about at my stage 3. Although as stated visits are not required, the other 2 guys at my stage 3 never had any visits and both passed.

hi everyone

I would like to thank everyone for the information they have provided. It was a very interesting read and has provided many answers that i had.

Just one question remains which i am pretty sure wasn't answered in previous posts.
Does anyone know where to find information about taking a tour of macc?

jason :cool:

I would say your looking good. I found out mine the next day when I didnt make it!

just to give you an idea, I did my stage 3 on friday and had an e-mail monday afternoon ... with good news :)
I read this thread from start to finish and I have found it extremely useful!
good luck to everyone... if you have any questions, give me a shout! happy to help!

DEG R&D at NATS...please help!!!!
 

Hi guys,
I need your help!
I am new here and I ve spent lots of time reading this section!
Everybody is tallking about 3 stages of interview, with some psychometrics test online and then an HR interview, etc, etc.
I have applied for a DEG in R&D , Engineering role at NATS, and I have been invited to an assessment day at th end of March near Southampton.
Does anyone have any information about the day?
Which kind of group exercise I have to expect?Or, which kind of technical questions?How many people there are normally at the assessmet?
I feel very nervous, even because there are a lot of info about ATC but none for the engineer path!
Do you think the interview process it is different?
I did not receive much infor from the recruitment team, so I have never heard about the motivation letter or a descriptive brochure :bored:.
Do you think I need to visit a tower?

I really need your help! Any info available is very well accepted!

Thanks for now!:ok:

Mixmastermike,

From what I've heard/experienced, the length of time to reply has no direct relationship with being successful or unsuccessful.
Just have to sit it out!!
Good luck.

Well done buddy!

I'll maybe be seeing you at the college in October then!

All the best

Kev:ok:

Took a little longer than I thought but finally got a date for my stage 2 interview/tests, 27th march. I’m feeling pretty confident about the computer tests and motivational paper, I’m a little annoyed that there's another occupational personality test tho. I’ve put a lot of time/effort into this application already and it would annoy me no end to bomb out on something that I don’t have any control over.

Now I did note on my confirmation email that it specifically says you do not need to visit an ATC centre at this stage. However I’m young, I don’t have an awful lot of life experience and I’m going to find this interview tough enough as it is. Therefore I will take up absolutely any/every opportunity that gives me even the smallest little advantage and helps in any way to get me through this stage.

If it is totally uneserccury for me to make a visit at this time please feel free to put me in my place and hopefully I’ll be in position to come back to you all when I have my stage 3 booked. =) If however those in the know think it is an idea and one that is worth pursuing now I’d like to ask anyone who may able to help me get a look round any ATC centre to give me a shout.

I’m located in Northampton, so I can easily get to London, Birmingham, anywhere in the midlands, maybe as far away as Manchester. I’m also happy to come along during a 3am graveyard shift or whatever is most convenient for everyone else. It’s tricky for me to get time off during office hours tho, so a weekend would be preferred.

Novas,

Visiting a unit before stage 2 / 3 doesn't necessarily give you an advantage on the day, but it may show aptitude.

More importantly though you get to meet people who do the job for a living and can tell you what it's really like (depending what you ask ;)). If you are committing your career to the job, best to go in eyes open.

If you can, get to a centre and a tower to see both disciplines, after all, you could end up posted to either, so you need to be sure you'll be comfortable with either.

Either way, good luck.

Friday 7th March: 2nd Stage, Fareham.
 

Hi,
I (the Irish guy) was at Fareham last Friday morning for my 2nd stage Interview and Tests which I successfully passed. Was just wondering whether the other 2 lads (from Leeds and Manchester) passed as well???

Besta Luck.

Hi all, this thread has been extremely helpful for me in revising for my stage 1 assessment on the 20th.

After studying the content of nearly every post in this thread, i couldn't help but notice that most respondents seem to be around 25+ years old. At the present i am only 19 and wonder if my inexperience will have any ramifications on later stages of assessment. I cant see myself being penalized for this early on but how many 20 year olds make through the selection to the college?

Are there any recommendations that can help me prove my fevour for aviation despite been in experienced and qualified in other fields? This is the only aspect of myself that i can see been scrutinized, any help!

Deg R&D at NATS
 

Fdomenella, the application process for 'direct entry graduates' is very different from the ATCO process. The NATS careers site provides more detail, specifically this page
http://natscareers.co.uk/careers.asp?c=2&s=9
and this one
http://natscareers.co.uk/careers.asp?c=2&s=9&a=30
Best of luck:ok:,
Nokio.

DEG R&D at NATS...please help!!!!
 

Hi Nokio,

thanks a lot!I knew that pages and apparently is the only place where is possible find information.
Happy to know that the recruitment process is different from the ATCO's one.I would imagine that, but now I am sure and i feel better!;)
I think I m the only one that has applied for a DEG and that is writing on this forum!
Anyway, thanks again and I hope to do well!

fdom

NATS 2nd Stage, what is involved?
 

Hi All,

Just booked my 2nd stage for NATS, on 15th April in Swanwick.

Does anyone whats involved, the e-mail says computer tests and a structured interview.

Any Clues Anyone?

Andrew

Heya,
from what i have heard the computer test is practically impossible to plan for, correct me if im wrong.
All the best to you.

Second Stage
 

Frogga, don't worry too much about the second stage.

Learn the motivation paper back to front, prepare for some standard interview questions and you'll be fine.

With regards to the computer tests, don't worry about them. The aim of the game is to keep plugging away even if you think you are doing terribly. They, in my opinion, are designed to put as much pressure on you as possible. You will feel as though you have made a complete arse of it, but rest assured, you will not be alone in feeling like this!!!!

So, to summarise, ace the motivational paper, give good answers for your interview (which only lasts about 20 minutes) and keep going with the computer tests.

Then stage 3 comes.....hehehehe!!!!:ok:

Any questions just give me a shout buddy

Kev

I did the Stage 2 about 18 months ago now, but was informed that the process has been slightly tweeked. Thanks for all the info.

Frogga

Stage 1
 

Hello,

I found out today that I made it through to stage 2!
This forum has been really helpful and this thread in particular has been awesome!

One book I found really helpful was 'How to pass professional level psychometric tests' by Sam Al-jajjong which has lots of cubes examples!

I took my stage one tests on 4th March (afternoon) at London Hilton
and I was wondering if any of the guys I was chatting too made it through (Cambridge, Birmingham and Aber) and to anyone else, Good Luck!

Hi All

Just interested to know if anyone has their 1st stage tests in London on the 20th?

I have been reading through the motivation paper and test examples for what seems like every night now for the last month... Can't wait to finally sit the tests.

Good luck to you all and hopefully see some of you on Thursday, 20th March.

20th March
 

Hey lordja,

I also have stage 1 on the 20th of March and have also been reading the motivational paper more times than i can remember! What time is your session!? Mine is in the morning!
This forum has been a great help, thanks everyone!
Lets hope it all pays off!

Hi gooner24

My tests are in London in the afternoon. If there is anyone who has their tests in London on the 20th March in the afternoon then see you there.

Good luck

I found out last week that I passed the 1st stage tests. This was my 4th time taking this test in about 6 years - so just to prove that you should keep plugging away if you don't get through first time. I definately felt more relaxed and found the format hadn't changed too much in that time (other than a maths test which is no longer included).

Just got to pass the next 2 hurdles! :ok:

The maths questions in the computer test (the ones at the same time as the colliding thing) are basic arithmetic like adding and subtracting. Could be anything like 9+2 or 5499-3924, etc. There are multi-choice answers for these, 4 or 5 to choose from I think. They are literally only up for 2 seconds or so, so you have to be fairly quick.

The stage 2 interview should be about 20 mins, not an hour. The questions are set, and the interviewer doesn't really talk back except asking the next question. I think they have a list of key words or something that they listen out for you to say (no idea what they are, but pretty common sense....like obviously don't say I have no confidence, I'm pessimistic, etc....).

And that is that.

Useful book
 

Hi guys, just been to stage 1..... again..... I have the HTP Mechanical Aptitude and Spatial Relation Test book if anyone wants it... helped me prepare for the spatial awareness bits. A tenner all in p and p included and its yours! just drop me an email, inbox at jamiedunbar dot net

Hi,

First post here, I have my Stage 3 interview next week.

From what I read does the technical interview involve D/S/T questions again?

Thanks

July start dates?
 

Has anyone been confirmed for a July start date at the college? I found out I passed the 3rd stage interviews and my medical by end of Feb, but heard nothing since. Does that mean it's likely to be Oct?

Most likely to be Oct. The July course (including me) are mainly people who passed late last year.

I passed the medical mid-Feb but no date yet.

When I spoke to HR a couple of weeks ago they said they were still waiting on course numbers from the college and it could be July or October.

Stu

just thought i'd recap my experience at stage 1, considering the help you guys have been i thought it might be worth it.

To start off i had a morning appoinment at the new hilton in deans gate manchester, a beatutifull building but intimigatingly posh. I was impressed at the expense went through but was greeted by a suprisongly hostile short balding HR bloke, and his cherie female co-worker. Whilst waiting i was suprised to hear the number of people expected to turn up (43+), about 20 of us sat in near silence, there was then a small talk we jotted down our reference numbers and then left for the motivation test. Stupidly i had left my reference shhet upstairs in the intiial room and after being given the test the preivously cheery lady left us to do the test as she fetched my sheet.

motivation paper- all i can say is manage your time well cause it went fast, the questions were a mixture of technicall (in the paper), and general knowledge (how far from london to; scotland and other euporpean centres). Also remember to LEARN THE AIRCARFT DETAILS, i remember reading elsewhere in this thread that it was needed but luckily i skimmed over it.

next came the motivational talk, which wasnt what i expected and seemed to be hindered by the seeimngly timid group and inexperienced ATCO (who wasnt fully qualified yet). during the break he ended up switching on te Tv and watching news 24

ability test-Also needs a precise memeory of time, i ran 4 questions short(which i penicled in later on, and most others didnt finish) the best advice for this is not to second guess, if you think its right, tick it.The data check test wasnt too bad, as for letters you can remeber them phoentically.
Then came the cubes, they start of easy, but you really ned to visualise them in your head, every now and then i will think about what im doing too mcuh and loose concentration, so its best to just let your natural abilities take over. I had a minute or so left at the end of this and used it to correct some mistakes. Being an architecture student my spatial awarness wasnt too bad.
Sequencing was my hardest test, in the time the tutor is going over rules ect it can be used wisely to throughly remember the action to each symbol, i even found myself jotting down the answer on spare paper.

11days later i recieved an email to do persoanlity questionaire, does this mean i'm through 1st stage, can i get kicked out on basis of questionaire results?

btw there were alot of suits, some jeans and t-shirts, i just wore casual/smart trousers and a shirt and jumper, i dont think they care too much as it cant be of the utmost relevance at this stage

Receiving an email inviting to do a personality test does indeed mean you passed that test day. However, it has been known on some occasions (evidence in this thread) that people CAN fail the online personality questionaire. So choose carefully, but above all honestly. You'll have at least two, if not more personality-style tests in the later stages, and they DO pick up on differences, no matter how minor. Usually these can be explained by talking to you in person, but often massive clashes mean an automatic "fail", so I've been told by HR.

^^ thanks. I do feel though that on occasions there will be obvious right answers that you know there are looking for, I guess its in my own interested to be honest though