ATCO DJ Smith's Air Band Radio Handbook (Haynes Publishing), although aimed principally at spotters and airband listeners, has a detailed overview of UK ATC. Popular opinion says that it is a much better "read" than Mr Duke's book.

Hi,
I have used shl to do practice tests.
I was wondering from anyone who has done the stage one selection tests, are there any questions you need to use a calculator on/allowed to use a calculator on? One of the tests on shl would be more or less impossible to complete without a calculator in the given time period. :ugh:

Thanks. x

Does the current structure of the first stage selection include a 'learning styles questionnaire/test'? or is this incorporated into the personality questionnaire or motiviation test.

The latest PDF I downloaded from NATS Website states 'selection tests' and 'motivation paper'. Where does the personality questionnaire and or 'learning styles' come into this?

This much I understand:
Selection tests: - ie. basic checking, diagrams, spatial - any others?
Personality questionnaire
Motivation test.

Calculators
 

I am afraid, no calclators will be allowed at all, you have to use your brain, no doubt human brain is much more superior than a calculator...! ;)

Of course... think i'll go cry now :sad:. haha.

Thanks for that. x

Hi all,
just wondering has anyone recently been throught stage 2 of the application process? ive been through it all before but didnt get through, but since then it has all been changed.
Just wondering what the structured interview consists of? last time i only had the 1 interview but now apparently there are 2!!
Thanks

Stage 2
 

I did my stage2 in mid November and there was only one interview then, which was a HR interview.

It was pretty much as you'll probably remember, lots of 'tell me a time you felt pressured', 'give an example of how you coped with stress' etc etc....

The rest of stage2 is computer tests, motivation paper and security/medical paperwork.

Stu

There are 2 interviews now...I have my assessment on the 25th of Feb...But recently I was talking to one of the ATCO Trainers, there is an interview on the day of your second assessment with an HR officer...But then later down the line...when you go for you full day assessment...you need to have an interview with an HR officer and an ATCO (Some kind of manager)...This is when you will give the reasons you feel you should be employmed by NATS etc...

My first on assessment on the 25th...Should I be Nervous!?

The Psychometrics etc I think will be fine...The Cubes though...I'm a wee bit more worried!!

G

You throw insults around on your first post???????

:E

In fact, most of us ATCO interviewers are 'normal' ATCOs, and not managers.:ok:

HahaNot an insult at all...To be honest I wasn't aware of how I should refer to heirarchy...but I do apologise! So it will just be a 'normal' ATCO? That sounds good...I was visiting Edinburgh's Tower on Monday and they ATCO's there were a great laugh...Got on really well with them all so I'll be looking forward to that interview. So Gonzo...What do you guys look for in a canditate? A good friend of mine has recently starting at a unit...I won't name names...but on his course...he told me there were alot of people who walked in and didn't know the first thing about ATC?? This is a bit worrying...I don't believe it to be honest but thought I'd bring it up...see what people think of the statement.

NATS ATC Career
 

Hi all!

I'm new to the forum and found it as i need some help!

I'm 18 in 3 weeks and will start applying for a career with NATS as a controller! hopefully it will go ok!

I just need to know what i can expect from the aplication process? will there be interviews and if so what can i expect from them?! what things should i know aswell? for instance what questions can i expect to answer in the interview?!

I match the educational criteria and will have 2 A-levels aswell so thats ok just need to work on the other side! If you are a controller with NATS please reply or if u have been through the application process please reply aswell :-)

Regards
Simon

Simon,

My best advice is to trawl all the threads on the ATC issues section. There is a wealth of information on there inlcuding all the latest on what you can expect from assessment days/interviews. There's also plenty of current applicants going through the process that you can get chatting to and they will be able to guide you through it all.

To regurgitate it all on here would just be repeating what has already been written elsewhere.

Best of luck with it all though!

Regards,
DS

Greg,

Mis-read the original post, sorry.

There is one interview at stage 2 - Hr only interview, then one interview at stage 3, HR + ATCO interview. Don't know what it was like for anyone else, but my stage3 was HR guy first, then ATCO with the technical Q's and pickups on a couple of my HR answers.

One tip for the 3rd stage interview, just in case. Try and remember as much as you can about what you were shown at Edinburgh. At my stage3 I mentioned I'd visited Birmingham, great until you consider the interviewing ATCO was a BHX watch manager:{

Fortunately I had an answer to 'tell me something specific about Birminham's airspace then'. :)

Stu

I suspect your friend is quite correct in saying that a number of people joining the college didn't know very much about ATC. That's kind of the point of the college !

As Gonzo, among others, has said a number of times the point of the interview process is to pick out those who have the right core skills to be able to be trained as ATCOs. If you already knew everything about ATC we wouldn't need a college we could just give you a headset and send you to a unit.

As for what the core skills are there are masses of clues all through this and other threads but the key (as with any interview process) is to be yourself and allow us to worry about the criteria. Our Interviewers (well most of them anyway) are good at choosing those that match up and if you try to be someone you're not you'll usually be caught out. Worse still you might get away with it and end up with a short unhappy career in ATC.:E

Phew! Thank God for that. For a minute then I was freaking out and thinking I had slipped through the selection process net without really knowing anything about ATC at all. I mean I "know" things about ATC, but I know bugger all compared to a trained ATCO....

I had visions of me turning up to CATC in July and being asked to do some super-duper thing on the first day. My mind has been put at rest now thanks. Thank God the word "college" at NATS still means a place of learning, like it does in the rest of life!

haha thanks for all the comments guys! they have all been superb!

This forum is a little god send in itself!

Stage 3 interview seems a bit scary! Fingers crossed. I will try to remember as much as possible...I'm just going to keep going over the things again and again until they are second nature!

Thanks Guys!

Manchester visit
 

Hello, has anyone managed to arrange a visit to Manchester A.C.C recently? If so would you be able to let me know who you contacted, cheers.

Has anyone successfully got through stage 3 without having visited anywhere beforehand?

I'm waiting for my results from the level three interview. I found it's pretty free ranging and I got the feeling the interviewers like to focus on any grey areas in your employment and education to find out what actually motivates you.

So as well as prepping with the NATS materials I'd advise practicing some run of the mill HR type questions because I think only about 20% of my interview was based on the NATS reading materials.

Although it seems the interview may be different for everyone based upon their background and experience, the very least preperation you should do is to learn the provided reading inside out.

I'd also strongly recommend some further reading (eg Graham Duke) which will help fill out your knowledge a bit, and visit at least one towers or a control centre.

If you're challenged with a question and you don't know the answer, avoid the b*ll!!!!! and own up. Favour safety conscious answers, and stand your ground, unless it has been pointed out that you've been barking up the wrong tree, in which case take it on board.

3rd Stage
 

I too have just very recently went through my 3rd stage interview. The day was made up of a small group exercise in the morning and then the interview afterwards.

The interview was pretty much what I expected. To start the HR person asks you some questions eg "Can you tell me about a time when you were heavily scrutinised?". As long as your up front and honest, these questions are ok. Don't be drawn into blabbering on and on though. The HR part lasted about 25 minutes. Then the ATCO interviews you. I was given some situations and asked what I would do. The ATCO will try and make you change your answer but stick to your guns throughout. Why would they employ someone who cannot stick to their guns?

I would also say that it is very important to get in a visit or two. I visited Glasgow tower and Prestwick ACC and it gave the ATCO and myself a good talking point.

I'm still waiting to see if I have been successful so fingers crossed.

If anyone has any questions about any stage, just PM me
:ok:

That would depend on the situation!!

e.g These 2 a/c are going to hit each other because of my plan, but hey I'll just stick to my guns :}:eek: