Anyone know of a good website or book to practice those cubes? I've searched everywhere and am having little luck. I've found books with the occassional sample questions but none of them are like what I got on the test exactly. Anyone have any tips?!

i know some people that have just drawn their own cubes and visualised them from each angle, then cut them up to check they were right... cant say that would work for me but i suppose it could... examples are hard to find though

I tried to find books etc to help with the cubes, but to no avail! Most IQ and brain training books have a few in mixed in with other spatial awareness tuition. Try a variety of exercises - working through a book or website - it worked for me!:ok:

with regard to the personality tests that you have to complete to become an ATCO, what sort of person are NATS actually looking for?
I have read some of the example questions, such as ' are you the sort of person that likes organising social events' ' do you get angry easily' pand you have to answer out of 4 statements which you feel is most true of yourself and least true.
The problem with this is that in some of the questions I would feel that none of the statements are least true of myself and therefore would have difficulty answering.:ugh:

I know somebody is going to give the reply that i have read many a time "just be completely honest" even if that were to mean answering "yes I can get annoyed easily" to one of the questions (not that I do:p), but surely everyone here realises, that if you are applying for a job that you really want, its not like working down at the local supermarket, but rather you would make an effort to be the sort of person that the company wants you to be.

In light of this could anyone who has passed all of the stages or any ATCO's simply state what sort of person the company is after?

ie.
do they want you to be a talkative person or not? ( do they want you to be talkative as you will be talking to pilots all day, or are they trying to route out people who talk all day at work instead of working, unlike me I hasten to add:suspect:)
do they want a very social person who tends to solve problems at work?
do they want someone who comes up with new ideas all of the time?
etc etc.

Sorry for the extra long post everyone, I just find it hard thinking that I may not get a job based on the fact that I may/may not be more or less talkative than the next guy:{

I'm afraid you've got it wrong. NATS aren't after a certain personality type....just visit any ATC unit anywhere in the world and you'll see there are all sorts of personalities.

What the tests determine is whether you have an extreme personality, or tend to be more extreme in one or more facets of your personality.

There is no 'right answer', it just helps to build up a picture. I can honestly say I have no idea what to tell you to put, not that I'd tell you anyway if that were true, of course! :ok:

I just wouldn't try to evaluate the personality questionnaire at all, or else you could mess it up completely.
When I did the test, it seemed to be riddled with contradictions, and difficult questions, but you cant second guess the staff answer.
I remember one question asking me if I like art to which the answer was no, a few pages later I was asked if I had any paintings, which I answered yes, if you try to analyse it yourself, you would worry thinking that you are contradicting yourself, but infact you are not.
Just fill it in with the first answer that you feel is true and dont dwell on it.

Just been told I have Passed stage 2.

Booked stage 3 for London on 9th May, just looking at how to prepare for this stage.

It says an Interview and Group exercise.

Any info anyone?

Mike1711, the online test after stage 1 is tough as anything is when you are analyising yourself but there has to be one of the statements that is least true about yourself. The problem is it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking as though you are being asked to say which statement does not identify you. This is not actually the case. You may well conform to the least true statement but the others are more appropriate to you. Sorry if this sounds like I am stating the obvious but from your post it sounds like you may have fallen into this trap.

Most importantly however, I think (and this is only my personal view) that they are looking to see whether your answers correspond to the answers you gave in the personal learning styles questionnaire at stage 1 and to the answers you give to the individual personality interview in stage 2. If you contradict yourself at any stage it may show that you are simply gearing your answers to what you believe they want to hear. I believe that they are not looking for a particular type of person neccessarily, as others have said too, but that they would like to know that you are honest about how you deal with certain situations.

Thanks for your replies guys.:D
It makes sense what you are saying, and Gonzo i am glad to hear that NATS aren't looking for a certain personality type, but obviously wouldnt want any extreme personalities, that makes me feel alot better about the process.

For the time being i think i'll just put it out of my mind and tackle that bridge when I get there.

found this link from the NATS careers site which refers to the number of attempts you are allowed to have...

http://natscareers.co.uk/careers.asp?c=1&s=7&a=32

I wouldn't overstress with regards to the aptitude tests.. most of the trainees I'm spending my time with, just like myself, didn't sepcifically prepare for them. It's something you do with your natural brain resources. The ATC training will improve your ability to process information, the aptitude tests are there to make sure you have a suitable clean sheet on which you can build your training on. I wouldn't dwell on it.

The personality types are also irrelevant I think.. we do all these exciting learning styles questionnaires, to find out we are all different but we can all achieve a common target in different ways.

have fun

Ivor

Does anyone know if you have to do a spirometry test when you have the medical for NATS. I have a past history of Asthma, but dont suffer now, so I was just wondering if anyone has done one for their medical, particularly those ATCO's who have asthma.
Thought it was worth knowing as I believe you can increase your FEV1 percentage by training etc.

I have mild asthma and got through fine. My FEV1 is good for my age/height though which I put down to

1) It really not affecting me any more
2) Playing saxophone ;)

I think the CAA medical site tells you what percentage FEV1 they want, I believe it's 80 or above, or something like that.

Hi all

Sat stage 1 today, think it went ok but we'll see.

Had a chat with one of the ATCO's there as part of it and he recomended this site for getting info, so nice to see I was ahead of the game on that one.

Anyway more to the point if anyone wants a run through on what to expect while its all fresh in my head then just PM me.

Cheers

Hi all,

The CAA medical looks for an FEV 1 of 80% with 70% being the lowest they'll accept and sign off there and then. Mine was just over 68 so they made me run round the car park and do the spirometry test again immediately and then after 10 minutes rest. They then had a specialist look at my results to see whether he thought I'd pose any kind of risk. Problem is I have a large lung capacity for my build (nearly 7 litres at 5"8) but only a regular sized tube to force it all out of.

The point is they have their margins but can do other tests if somethings not quite right.

Reading through the last couple of pages it seems that we are back to the situation of people trying to use the threads to second-guess the interview process. This is unwise !

Pprune is an excellent place for getting info on what the job is about, what it is like to be a controller and for helpful techincal information. Also good for arranging visits and getting generic information on the interview process (i.e what tests fit in where).

Where it is not helpful is in trying to speculate on what NATS interviewers are actually looking for. This is because the interviewers won't tell you and from anyone else it is by definition circumstantial guesswork. Furthermore the interview process only works if it can identify those who actually have the qualities to make the grade and not those who try to pretend that they have. The result of you managing to blag the process is potentially a very short and unhappy career in ATC.

My advice to you all, at any stage of the process is to do your homework, learn as much as you can about who ATCOS are and what we do. Know that you want this job for the right reasons. Then when you come to your interview relax and show us your natural self. If you have what we want we will see that :ok:. We can also tell when you're lying :E

Fair point, very well made...

hi does anyone no how long stage 1 interview is because im trying to book flights to come home the same day?

Last for three hours on paper (Either 0930 -1330 or 1330-1630).

In reality its more like 2 1/2 hours.

QM, awwww, you no fun!:{

As an interviewer I find it very useful to see what possible interview questions are 'out there'....I then know not to ask them, but to come up with some even more difficult questions......:E

So now Gonzo shows his hand...

He comes on here pretending to help these ATCO applicants when all the time he is just taking the opportunity to sneakily find out "what questions are in the open so he doesn't ask them". This is presumably because that is easier than thinking up new and innovative questions tailored to the individual interview.:p

As a good interviewer you should be armed withn an extraordinary wealth of fiendish questions the answers to which may be different on any given day - not trotting out the same automoton interview day in day out until someone on Pprune blows the gig.

You sir are a fraud and a charlatan ! :E:E:E

That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said about me! :O

Hate to break away from debate for a short while but, i am looking to arrange visit to at least one ATCC, probably Manchester. I was wondering whether it would be advised to attend before my stage 2 interview, and also how would i go about arranging this (do i just phone up?, cant be that easy right!).

There's not a particular rush before stage 2, as the interview is mainly about who you are, rather than anything massively major about ATC. So if it's too much of a rush, try before your stage 3, as then at the interview you can talk more about your visit if they ask! Good luck.

I had to do the personality tests a couple of weeks ago and have my next interviews and computer tests tomorrow...I think the best thing you can do is be as honest as possible. :ok:

I think thats spot on. Throughout the selection procedure different personality tests are done on about 4 different occasions so any attempt to tailor the answers will probably be sniffed out when answers don't tie in with each other.

Degree
 

Hi,

I'm currently going through the selection process to become an ATCO but I have something that's troubling me that I hope someone can put my mind at ease about.

Basically I put on my application form that I had a degree but this is technically not the case. I did go to Uni and complete the 3 year course but I never actually graduated due to a financial dispute with the Uni which doesn't look like getting resolved any time soon. They won't give me my results until it is resolved. On the application form I didn't want to put that I hadn't done anything for 3 years so I put the down the course and the grade I was predicted to get, 2:2.

I'm really hopeful of being successful in my application to be an ATCO but I don't want something like this to put a stop to my chances should I be accepted.

I know that NATS don't require a degree and I have four good A Levels, but will they ask me for my degree certificate if I'm successful? If I can't give it to them will I be turned away? Should I have just left it off the application form?

Sorry for the all the questions but if someone can shed any light that would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Ace

Ace - HR do ask for proof of all qualifications that you have said you have, I had to send off certificates etc.

I would suggest being honest from the start - give HR a call and explain what you have said here - I am sure they will understand totally.

Defo let them know the situation mate. There's a far greater chance they'll look on it in a positive light if you let them know now than if you spring it on them in the 3rd stage interview.

I'd defo let them know Ace. They're far more likely to look at it in a positive light now than if you spring it on them mid-3rd stage interview.

They probably already know as they are aware of PPRUNE, so this would have hightlighted you to them. As others have said, I would ring today.

I would be in no doubt that NATS management and HR are aware of PPrune.

So I would therefore ASSUME than anything written on these pages may be looked at, and in the case of an applicant quite easily pinpointed as to who the person actually is.

Paranoid f***ers. How would they know? Its an anonymous website where the details that are entered are upto you. :ugh:You could and can put anything you want as your location, user name etc.

I would tell them, its not a required qualification and if you explain properly they should be receptive. But not because you think NATS HR is some sort of big brother, crack your details via your IP address organization.:rolleyes:

hi guys

i am goin down to manchester for the test on the 27th may.
anyone here goin as well?

just one question...do i need to brush up my maths/ phsics a bit for this test? and what can i expect from the 'talk' with the interviewer.

cheer guys

Hi homonster,

Don't worry too much about maths and physics as they don't crop up in the first stage tests.

Make sure you know the motivation paper material, one girl turned up at my first stage and said she'd not recieved it yet the link to it is at the bottom of the invite e-mail. The other tests are tests that you can't really practice since they test your spacial awareness, number checking ability and ability to follow coded instructions. They're skills that you will either have or don't have so just make sure you're well rested and relaxed because the key is to mix speed with accuracy. Sounds daunting I guess but the first stage is nothing too heavy.

Good luck with it.

just to add to leon, there isnt so much a 'talk' with an interviewer, its more along the lines of an atco telling the group some info about the job, and answering any questions you may have. its purely testing of reasoning, spatial awareness, basic checking, motivational paper and personality test

good luck with it

adrian

thanks you 2 on the advice.
hope i can get there. ;)

Hi everyone, firstly can I say thanks to all who have posed on this thread, it's got a lot of useful information on it.

My question at the moment, I've taken the online personality questionnaire after being successful in the aptitude test. How long does it take (roughly) to get the results through? Obviously the bank holiday will add a bit of time but due to the nature of the test I'm rather anxious to get the results back.

Thanks.

My next email informing me of an invitation to the 2nd round (computer tests) etc. was sent in under a week after I had completed the online personality questionnaire.

It never mentioned about me "passing" the personality questionnaire, it just simply said I was invited down for stage 2.

A Few Questions...
 

Hi guys, ive found PPRuNe really helpful for a lot of things but just have a few more questions about the NATS process.

I applied to NATS last summer but unfortunatley was not accepted past the online personality test, i think this was because i tried to second guess what they were looking for rather than answering honestly, hopefully i'll do better this time around :).

Anyway, i know that you are allowed three apllications but do NATS judge you either positively or negatively because you have applied before? ie if i do stage one this summer, am i expected to do better than last time because i will be better prepared than someone who is applying for the first time, or do they not take an interest in previouls scores and its simply if you pass you pass kinda thing?

Also, I have known for quite a few years this is the job i want and i will exhaust all three applications if i need to, but do any of the folk who are now (T)ATC, know of the sucess rate of third time applicants? I know that the guy who gave us the talk before the tests last year was a second time applicant, but is he in the minority?

i know im not going to get any definite answers on this but any info would be much appreciated.