Hi Liam,

Opinion varies, but I'd suggest that there is certainly a degree of preparation you can do for stage 1:

Read and learn thoroughly the document NATS send you - there is an entire paper on this, so if you don't know it then you will fail! Also well worth brushing up on your mental arithmatic if you don't use this a lot in your current line of work (check out www.speeddistancetime.info for some topical practice examples).

Some people find it beneficial to practice the cubes and the diagramming tests, but example questions can be quite hard to find and many people end up devising their own. Personally I didn't bother with this, but I've always found that these type of tests come naturally to me and I know that for some people spending some time practising can be very helpful.

Good luck

If anyone is lucky enough to get through, I'd recommend staying in one of the B & Bs in Boscombe with other students. It's good to study with others plus you don't have to sign up for a minimum period. Less risk that way. Also, there's several B & Bs in a row with Hurn students so it's easy to grab a lift with someone if you don't have a car. A good one is The Edwardian. If anyone is interested, call Wendy on 01202 396906. It's just TATCs here and is like living in a shared house without any of the responsibilities! :ok:

Good luck to those still going through the interviews.

Thanks for that ProudScot82. That actually makes a lot of sense :)

NATS Selection? initial online test??
 

Hi All,

I have my S1 selection on Wed 9 Dec and I am about to start me the online test that I am required to complete before going. I did apply to NATS lasy year and the format of the selection process was somewhat different. Last year I sat the stage one selection in Manchester and was then invited to sit an online personality test once I found out I was successful at the S1 tests. Unfortunately I did not pass the online test. Thsi year the online test is before the sit down S1 test.

Is the current online test still just a personality test as it was last year or is there some mathmatical questioning or anything similar. I just want to ensure I am ready for what's instore for me before i click start.

Can anyone shed any light on this???

Thanks all,

Daisy

Billy Girl -

I will be completing my CAA medical on the 9th Dec so thats the exact information I am interested in. I will certainly be looking into your suggestions. They sound goooood. It will definately be nice sharing with other trainees as I know we will need eachothers support... I hear the college is the toughest months of your life ! ahhhh

I just need a start date!! Anyone know how long after you submit your CAA medical certificate to NATS that you will receive a college start date ?

Tom

Tom
 

Hi Tom

I got my start date the day after my CAA medical, so it's pretty quick, as soon as it's faxed across they'll give you a date

Super quick then, that's great news. I can start to plan my life then !

Thanks.

Tom

I also would be one to recommend the Strand, Ravensbourne and Edwardian. All three B&B's are next door to each other and cater solely for trainees. It's a great place to spend your time at the college.

Hi Tom...I would suggest planning your life with a bit of flexibility. As has recently been shown, last minute changes can occur.

Just a tip. ;)

billy girl,
I agree with that 100%.
My time on Westby Rd, (The Clematis), was among the highlights of my life.
It was a long time ago. (I started about the same time as Jim Bergerac joined The Bureau).
BUT, to all of you....
Work hard and have fun!...:ok:

Sounds a bit like halls at uni. Tho prob a lot less drinking and a lot more work! Would prefer to be around other trainees though so will def look at them! Thanks for the tip! Got my medical this Friday. Fingers crossed!

lizpit, "halls at uni"
nah, - ATC is a team job, remember. - And you will be pushed much harder than "uni"! ( Been there, got the tee-shirt,- sorry sweat-shirt).
Very Best Wishes...:ok:

Hi there, new person here.

Well I am applying for the 2nd time as I got rejected last year but think I know where I went wrong.

I have my stage 1 assesment on Friday at Heathrow House (just down the road from me so quite handy!). I had to take an online test first of all and as I didn't have to do this last time I was wondering if anyone knew what other changes (if any had been made to the selection process since last year?

Also good luck to anyone else attending on Friday.

Try posting this in the NATS Interview Process, good luck with your application

I've just completed the online tests ahead of Stage 1. Found the checking test straight forward but just couldn't manage to do a lot of the equations in the allotted time and found myself getting rather annoyed as I looked up from my bit of paper only to see the next question appear.

Anyone else struggle with the time constraints here?

Prestwick tomorrow :ugh:

bigdaisy

I've just sat this test. The first part is made up of a checking test where you're asked to compare letters & numbers to the columns opposite. If you're on the ball it's straight forward enough.

The second is mathematical equations and personally I think this might have caught me out as the time limits are very very short and I came up short a few times trying to answer them - especially as my current line of work involves very little (if any) maths.

Good luck! :ok:

Zooker -

Considering I had like 8 hours of lectures a week I fully expect the college to be a lot harder! I work longer hours in a day than I had lectures in a week. It was a joke!
I only meant Halls were like the B&B's in the sense that everyone's in the same place. Pretty sociable.

Has anyone been given a start date recently? Do we know when they're booking people in for at the moment?

Thanks Mailbackwards,
That helps, my line of work involves little maths also. Are the equations just quick multiplication or addition or are they complex long division or complicated equations?

stage 3 interview advice
 

Good evening, wondering if anyone who has gone through this could give me a bit of advice?

I have my stage 3 interview very soon so am trying to prepare by thinking of examples in my work life which meet the criteria and traits they are looking for. My uncertainty however is what examples to use.

I spent 4 years working in a team environment followed by the last 3 years as a manager (still part of a small management team) but more focused on managing the team (there were 5 of us managers managing a team of 50ish). Obviously the role is a team based role so I am thinking possibly steer clear of the examples from my management days and focus on my days as part of a large team? or do you feel that examples of teamwork amongst a small management team who managed a large team might be good to use?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

"8 hours of lectures a week"
Hell, I did the wrong degree!
Psychology was it? :E