Im in!
 

Found out today I got through stage 3! So so happy. Bring on the medical!!!

Just checking to see if any of the guys who were at CTC on Friday the 5th got through also?

Good luck to everyone else!

NATS Recruitment Process - Stage 2
 

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone who has been through stage 2 could answer some of my questions:

1. What is the exact contents of stage 2? (Motivation paper, computer tests and interview?)

2. Is there another personality test at this stage?

3. Is the motivation paper multiple choice again?

4. What type of questions are asked in the interview? (All personal? Technical questions? NATS History?)

5. Are there maths/speed,distance,time questions that arn't in the atc sim computer test?

6. In the motivation paper is there anything that's not in the provided booklet? (Distance between cities etc?)

7. What format is the aircraft recognition section in the motivation paper? (Is this part quite tricky?)

8. I've read somewhere that the three computer based tests, are:-

Sort Task. .The task requires candidates to sort objects (coloured shapes and numbers) into categories by given rules. The candidate must take account of occasional messages which alter the way objects are sorted and monitor whether the object to be sorted matches a given stimulus which changes from time to time.

Relative Direction Task. .This is a two part test, in the first the candidate is presented with a dot, an arrow and words left or right. The tasks is to say whether the word correctly describes the position of the dot relative to the arrow. The second part is similar except sometimes the arrow is shown from behind (represented by the arrow in outline) but the task is still to describe the position of the dot for someone standing in front of the display.

Moving Objects Task. .In this test a series of objects (represented by numbers) move across the screen at constant speed in different directions. The task is to identify which if any of the objects will collide and to remove the minimum numbers of objects to prevent all collisions. In the second part of the test multiple choice arithmetic questions appear at the bottom of the screen simultaneously with the main tasks to introduce an element of multi tasking.
Is this correct or have they changed?

9. For those on the morning slot, did you get away on time? (Got a plane to catch)

Thanks for any help!
Christa
:confused:

Hi Christa, to answer (most of) your questions, sorry for the length.

1 – the interview is exactly as described, computer tests, interview and motivation paper.

2 – yes there is a personality test, you just do it in-between the other tests, no time limit and something like 40 – 50 questions. You are asked to rate yourself on the questions between -2 and 2 I think.

3 – yes the motivation paper is multiple choice, but for some of the questions the answers are almost identical, so you have to know the stuff inside out.

4 – this is the bit I cant really remember, but I think it was something like 50/60 questions, and there was no ‘time limit’ as such. In fact on some of the questions I sat in silence for a good 10 – 15 seconds to think of the answer and that didn’t seem to be a problem. There is no technical questions regarding planes or ATC situations or anything, the majority of them I think were about your personality and perhaps aspects of your personal life, spare time etc. This was the part I was most worried about to be honest, thinking I would freeze up on the day but managed to chat away about all kinds of stuff. Would suggest you think about situations you think highlight the qualities you think you need to be a good ATC. For quite a few of the questions in my interview it was yes/no answers. It is not what I would regard as a proper interview; you are asked a question, the interviewer will not elaborate or explain, but if asked can simply restate the question, once you have given an answer they can not come back on you but simply move on to the next question. Again from my perspective sometimes I occasionally started an answer then 15 seconds later would have to ask what the questions was as I had forgotten (try and avoid this I would guess). I don’t know how it is marked, but as per previous posts think it works on a mixture of keywords and the number and quality of examples provided, depending on questions. (**PLEASE DO NOT TAKE MY WORD FOR THIS**).

5 – don’t know

6 – don’t think so, think the only stuff is D/S/T which was not in booklet(s).

7- not sure I understand. As far as I know there were no, ‘what plane is this’ questions. I don’t want to give away any exact questions, but you could be asked which of the choice of aircraft was the fastest, slowest, flew highest or lowest or were simply biggest/smallest, most/least seating as standard, heaviest wake vortex category etc etc.

8 – correct

9 – I was afternoon, but I arrived at CTC at 11.30 and one of the morning folk had already left. Think this depends on how many are in your group (my day there was two in morning and four in afternoon) and how many HR folk are in a position to lend a hand. It should not run over what was given in the email though, as that was quite generous I found.

Have tried not to give anything exact away, but hope this info helps you prepare. In my mind, there is nothing you can do to prepare for the computer tests, and yes you will realise you have made a mistake as soon as you make it. You can do some stuff to prepare for the interview, and you need to know all the stuff in both booklets to be best prepared for the motivation paper. The D/S/T stuff is trickier than you would think (or at least what I thought).

Shugs

NATS Recruitment Process - Stage 2
 

Hi Shugs,
Thank you SO much for helping to answer my questions, I was beginning to overload on information and sources.
One more question :O - Are there questions relating to your knowledge of NATS in the interview(when they started, furture plans etc?)
Many many thanks!
Christa

Stage 3 Results...

So far 4 out of 6 who went to my Stage 3 know that they are through...

I gave them a buzz and they said I should know by the end of the week, ie. tomorrow.

Im not really expecting good news though. I thought the interview went really well and came out smiling, but if 4 guys all found out they got through yesterday and theres 2 waiting to hear, what can I expect.

Keep your fingers crossed for us guys, with a stroke of luck they might just be uber busy and not seen our results to publish yet...

Christa- There are no NATS knowledge sort of questions until stage 3. I was asked something like 'What made you want to apply for this position', at which point it might be good to say some things that are NATS specific rather than just air traffic specific, but it's really up to you (I don't think I did...)

Enjoy, it's not so bad at all! :)

Still waiting on my stage 3 result...:uhoh::uhoh::uhoh:

Hopefully it will be..:ok::ok::ok:

Stage 2
 

Hi there,

I have a been a keen reader of this site and this is my first post. I am going to my stage 2 on January 15th (pm). I had to take pm as I have to fly down and I'm trying to do it in one day.

I am looking for some tips as to what to expect and anything I should be focusing on when revising? I am worried about the interview part as I'm not sure if it's technical or personallity based? Also does anyone one know of a good website to brush up my distance/time/speed knowledge? I would like to try a few examples.

P.S. Anyone out there attending stage 2 on the 15th Jan?

Thanks

Hi gogz87,

focus on learning the motivation papers for stage 1 & 2 so that you know them inside out. With regard to the interview, it is a structured interview so its not technical, but rather lots of questions about you and your personality, with no feedback at all after each answer you give. Try and think of good examples for each answer you give. ie. "are you motivated?", "yes im a really motivated person", then you need to give an example.

Good luck :ok:

Does anyone have a link to the old sticky?
I remember reading it a while back and what some of the info out of it!
Thanks in advance! :ok:

Thanks Mike1711,

It's getting closer and closer everyday and I feel I have a good understanding of the documents I have been given so I'm comfortable with that. Trying to prepare for the interview part of it now. I suppose I just need to stay calm on the day and hopefully I'll do fine.

Thanks again.

Scottish Area Control Centre
 

Anyone out there have a contact at Prestwick Area Control Centre. I am hoping to organise a visit there shortly and I don't know who to talk to. Any help would be fantastic.

Cheers

Gogz87,

I do not think you need a contact at Prestwick, the only thing I did to arrange that was to google Scottish ACC get a phone number of reception/front desk and call them up explaning myself.

Also, remember that a visit is not needed before Stage 2.

Is anybody else having trouble downloading the example security booklet?

https://www.nats.gtios.com/candidate...stionnaire.pdf

???

I had that problem but went to the stage 2 without knowing what was in there. I still don't know what the document says. Just take your passport to stage 2 and they will search any bags you may have.

:{:{:{:{:{

Devastated!!

Got a NO for my stage 3 today.

Really can't put my finger on what could have gone wrong. Thinking back to the questions they asked me, I'm pretty sure I answered them all right. Going to phone them tomorrow to see if I can get any feedback.

Really gutted after all the hard work these last three months. Don't know if I can go through this again...:{:{

Aww Cariad...sorry you didn't get through. I remember how it felt being knocked back at Stage 2...I was absolutely gutted, so I can understand how you feel being knocked back at this stage.

If you've got tries left, go for it again next year. I know it feels like a long time but my year flew past and has given me valuable preparation time to know it's the job I really want and to learn more information about aircraft etc.

Give yourself time to get over it first because it is a huge blow, not only to your confidence but also your self esteem and next year you'll look back and know in your heart where you can improve.

HTH

Stage 3
 

Stage 3 all booked. Glasgow 11th Feb.

Anyone else booked for then?

Sorry to hear that cariadmon, hopefully HR will be able to give to some good advice to make sure you get it next time. What makes it worse is the thought that you did everything right on the day.

How did you get on Arrows 2100? you were expecting a result on Friday, hope it went your way.

Proff1 I shall see you there, Hilton @08.30:sad::sad:

Finally, whilst im here, biffytheking1980, think you were the guy i met at Prestwick a week past Monday, wish you well on the result of your interview.
shugs

hey shugs thanks for your concern. Im still waiting im afraid, got until fri till my 15 days are up. I just hope they have lost my file as somebody suggested to me a few days ago, but I can't prepare for anything until I get it in writing either way :( HR told me they would have them out by friday last week but that fell through lol. This ASDA checkout will be the end me unless I know there is light at the end of the tunnel.Andy

Im In!
 

well I just had the best phonecall of my life. Just half an hour after my last post I had my confirmation. xDI must get back to my checkout now though. Ill check back soon :)thanks everyone for your help and support :)Andy

I can relate to your pain cariadmon, I had the same thing happen to me at this point last year - stage 3 failure despite feeling like the whole thing went great. I couldn't put my finger on why it went wrong at all and HR were absolutely useless and didn't get back to me with my feedback despite 3 attempts at getting hold of it.

I've just tried to forget about ATC altogether over the last year and plug away at the job I no longer want to do! But the time to reapply has come around quite quickly and in that time I've come to realise that perhaps my teamwork could have been better and my technical interview could have had more prep. I just worked on all aspects of my life so now I feel more ready than ever to try again (I'm currently waiting for my personality test result). If it's what you really want to do then it's worth waiting for again.

stage 3
 

Stage 3 booked - sleepless nights continue!! Got a visit to prestwick sorted - thanks shugs. You preparing ok?

anyone who can give me any pointers on stage 3? would greatly be appreciated - its horrible to think you could get knocked out after working so hard to this point!!!

Know the process involves a team building exercise - will i need me PE kit ??? ha ha;)

:{Bad luck Cariadmon, you must be gutted

Some good advice from previous posts on here, plus you must have done something right to make it to the 3rd stage.
Ive heard of loads of people who are in NATS after their 2nd and 3rd attempt as im sure many have.
If you apply again next time it will show that you are determined and im sure will go in your favour for 2nd attempt, but try and keep your chin up until then:)

Thanks everyone. It is very hard to take in, but like you said, I will spend this year wisely carrying on reading the info that we were sent, reading more books, and I have a few contacts who have promised me regular visits to towers/control, etc to keep on top of things.

Going to phone HR today for any feedback. The only thing I was concerned about was whether my age would have been a factor. It was mentioned in the interview that I had been out of full time education for nearly 15 years, and how would I cope being thrown back into it, but I explained that I knew how intense the work would have been and that I was fully prepared for it. I know they won't say anything about the age factor, but its just a nagging thought.

I'm in too!
 

Mattaysmittay,

Well the success rate for Stage 3 on Friday 5th is at least 2 out of 5 because I'm in too. Seems an interview lasting nearly 2 hours isn't a bad sign after all! Got the call first thing the following Monday morning which was good.

Keep getting weird requests now as I haven't done the security questionnaire (nobody ever asked me to) and haven't specified a preference for area/AD (again, no-one has asked) but at least they seem to have spotted the gaps.

Were you given any ideas which course you'll be on? They didn't know if it would be April or July when I asked.

Paul.

Well done Arrows2100, Mattaysmittay and Hairy Walrus. It's heartening hearing people passing. :D
I'm sorry to hear your news Cariadmon - best of luck for next time. At least you do have another chance - this will be it for me (it's an age thing) so I'm also concerned about how they think I will cope with the studying - after all these years.

Calder have you had any news yet? - think I did stage 2 with you.

See you in Glasgow Shugs...

Distance, time and speed
 

Hi there guys,

I must say it is encouraging to hear people are getting through the interviews. I have my stage 2 at the start of the new year and I was wondering if there are any links you guys have for brushing up on the DST calculations. It's been a couple of years since I've done any and they were the questions I think I struggled with at Stage 1.

Any help would be fantastic.

Cheers

Manwithnomouth...I'm waiting for my personality questionnaire results too. This is my second attempt at ATC selection after failing last year. I'm now wondering if I'll pass the personality test this year even though I did last year!!

Which stage 1 did you go to and on which date? Wondering if we were on the same one...

Age Factor
 

Hi guys,

I'm at the college just now on area foundation. I'm 27 and to be honest, there is no way I could have devoted myself to studying the way I have if I was 18 or 19. This was proven on our basic course when the majority of people who failed and never got recourses were younger students whereas the guys aged 25+ are doing relatively well so don't let HR and the ATCO interviewing you at stage 3 try and manipulate you by saying that because you have been out of school for 10 or 15 years, you will struggle to study because that is a load of :mad:!!!

And for the guys who have passed stage 3 recently, congratulations.:D When asked whether you would rather do aerodrome or area, think long and hard. If you choose to do aerodrome, you could be out of the college in 3 to 4 months, however if you opt for area then your in the college for 11 months and thats assuming you pass everything first time:eek:. I originally wanted to do aerodrome and got put on area but I wouldn't change it for the world now, its awesome fun.

If any of you guys have any questions about the college just give me a shout.

Cheers

Kev:ok:

I will testify to Kev's comments. I'm 32 and currently due to finish at the college on Friday as long as I pass my dreaded final oral board :ugh:

There is a lot of studying involved but it is more than managable (Especially if you go Aerodrome as we didn't have any verbatim exams, happy studying Kev :ok:)

If anybody has any questions on the Aerodrome/Approach side of college life give me a holler. :)

Cheers Chris!!!

You know I looked up Mats Part 1 on Wikipedia and found out some useful facts about it......

Apparently it was written by a guy called Lucifer who had a big argument with some really important guy in heaven ages ago!!!!:):):)

Best of luck for Friday buddy

Kev:ok:

1967 Kev and NeoDue (and anyone else interested!),

I'm fascinated by the following comments:

"When asked whether you would rather do aerodrome or area, think long and hard."

I initially felt that AD would be best, and believed that you only get a 'specialist subject' after some time on the early course. I've now discovered that I have to choose a discipline long before my course starts (4-5 months minimum) and now can't decide. What factors did you take into account in choosing? I'm aware that the ultimate decision is down to the lovely people in HR, of course.

"I originally wanted to do aerodrome and got put on area but I wouldn't change it for the world now, its awesome fun."

I've always fancied AD too, but area has increasingly appealed. I think I need help, and fast!

Thanks all,
Paul C.

Hairy Walrus

In my opinion its probably a paradox of a decision, its a career-decider really, but you'll likely never see the other side of the decision so does it matter??

Anyway, I'd say first of all if you can get a visit to both an Area centre and a tower, at least you can get an idea of what both places are like. Beyond that there are a million different reasons one is ''better than the other'' depending on what type of controller you talk to...

I wanted aerodrome from day one cause i wanted to go to Heathrow (we did basic course before we were split area or aerodrome) and we didnt have much choice, we had to apply to go and do aerodrome, there were 5 places from 44 going. I got lucky, and have not regretted following my instincts to this point. if i had got area i would have been happy too, although verbatim... :eek:

On the subject of age, im not sure i could have done it straight out of school - i was 22 when i started - however theres been enough 18/19 year old trainees who have gotten through (and been awarded recourses where necessary) Its a different kind of study I agree, but if you put in the hard work then it'll pay off.

Good luck with the choices...

Just to back up what AJ7 has said....

The differencies between aerodrome and area are vast....for a start, the college always has much more people on area courses than aerodrome because there is a greater need for area controls just now. As other people have said, whatever discipline you get, you will not be disappointed because you won't know what you are missing on the other discipline.

From what I can gather and I can only speak from personal experience but if you opt for area, be prepared for an awful lot of theory based studying, (ie, learning pretty much the whole of MATS Part 1 word for word, verbatim) it does not stop no matter how far on in the college you are. With regards to aerodrome, their course seems to be more simulator/practical based with no verbatim learning!!! However there is obviously still some theory to be learned.

I suppose one of the benefits of doing area is that you are only really going to be posted at one of two units, either Prestwick or Swanwick, whereas by doing aerodrome, you could pretty much be based anywhere in the country, although NATS do take into consideration your personal preference.

Either way, you are going to be an ATCO at the end of the day, so if you get area or aerodrome, you'll love it....

Cheers

Kev:ok:

Just following up Kev's and Neodude's comments...

I've recently learned this to my expenses. Even within aerodrome, there are Aerodrome positions that have nothing to do with a Control Tower. Swanwick TC and Aberdeen spring to mind.

If, like AJ you've chosen Aerodrome with a view (pardon the pun) to work in a visual control room type of environment, you might end up in a radar only environment. Which is fine, and pays the bills just as well, but could be disappointing for some !

NSL (the airport side of NATS) put the personal circumstances at the very bottom of the list and at the end of the day, have to put bums on vacant seats, and wherever's a vacant seat, that's what one's likely to get.

To add fun to this, while sending their own trainees with dual ratings (tower and radar) to work a single rated position, NSL are hiring tower controllers from companies outside NATS that operate smaller regional airports.

Good luck to Neodude for friday. Not that you need it, you're a geek ! ;)

Ivor

...Says the guy with lattitude and longtitude on his location :E

CJayne, I was at the November 28th stage 1 in London, afternoon session. Is that where you were?

I was in London on 5th Dec. Just waiting for my personality questionnaire results...seems like an age has passed!