Stage 1, Manchester
 

Hi ajfaccini!

I was on the back row, far side of the room about 4/5 seats from the end. I'm glad I studied the manual however the damn cubes got me i think! Which group were you in? We did the diagramming and cubes first.

I've done a foundation course at university.

The problem is - in the university section you have to put the date you graduated. You don't really graduate from a foundation course and you don't get a certificate either... So do I just not put it down? (even though foundation is in the scroll part for type of course)

I don't want to put it and then look a bit stupid when I have no certificate? I have exam results for it and proof I went onto another course. Struggling a bit with this one? Can anyone give some advice?

Hi. I've got my stage 3 in Manchester at the end of March and I'm trying to find some information about what it involves. I know it is a group exercise but I can't possibly think what this might be! Are there anymore tests or just the ATC interview? Also, I'm hoping to organise a visit to Manchester if possible. If anyone knows how I would go about this and wants to let me know, that would be great! Thanks

Hi to all who did their stage 1 in Manchester on 13/02/09 (PM session) and good luck!

stage 1 manchester
 

Same group mate. Your not called Stuart are you?

I was the one that got that stupid steam train question when I first walked in. haha

Deferring start dates??
 

I'm not sure if this has been answered already but I've only read up to page 50 so far! I've got my stage three at the end of the month, I was wondering - if I was successful - would I be able to defer my start at the college until roughly May 2010? Or would it be better to go through the college and then possibly take a through months before starting the job? It's just that I've booked three months in the USA from Februaury next year and I don't really want to have to cancel my trip unless I really have to!

I assume you mean take a few months off after college. You have no chance what so ever. The college isn't like further education. If you are lucky enough to get offered a place at the college, then NATS will be your employer from the day you start. They are not going to give you 3 months off. You will probably be able to defer your start date, but I would think carefully about it. People who have deferred in the past have regretted it(wage lowered,pension change).
Between now and May 2010, your T and Cs could be dramatically altered. What would worry me in this day and age is recruitment stopping. Until you start at the college you are not an employee.

Stage 1 Manchester
 

Nope. I'm called Darren. Wonder what life would be like if I was called Stuart? Hmm. Anyway I came in a bit later on when he asked about the racecourses.

Sportzbar, I think I may have been in the same group as you in that morning session, had the diagramming and cubes first then the video and discussion with Chris. If we were in the same group, I was the one who asked about transition altitudes in America! Hope you got on okay!! I think for me this will be the longest two weeks of my life now!

:ok:

its was over 3 weeks wait for my stage 1 results :ugh:

Hi Sauceball,

I'd recommend you contact Manchester if you haven't already as this could be invaluable to getting info on Stage 3 processes. I have my stage 3 in London on 20th Feb and I organised a visit to Prestwick. They were great there- they gave an introductory presentation to Scottish Area Control and Oceanic Control, a tour of the new centre for when Manc staff move up, buddying up with controller and a talk with an interviewer who gave a thorough outline of the stage 3 day. I'm not sure what I can disclose on this site but the group excercise is very much geared to looking at how you take in a lot of information in a short period of time and work with colleagues.

Good luck

Kristov

DunelmPilot + Sportz bar
 

yeh i think i remember you sortzbar. And you dunelmpilot. How do you think you did dunelm? Think the cubes got me to be honest but I suppose i will find out in a few weeks. Long :mad: wait though!

Ajfaccini,

The first diagramming test and the cubes test were the only two tests that I didn't complete. Although, from reading previous pages on this thread, I get the impression that they are not designed to be completed: it's more a measure of how many you get right against how many you did in the time available (hence why they stressed not to wild guess any). I think I did as well as I possibly could have done on the day, so we'll just see now if the standard I achieved was good enough. How do you think you got on? Apart from the cubes, did you get on okay with the other tests??

not sure yet to be honest. Don't think theres any real way to judge how I've done. Yeh same here, the other tests I completed but them 2 I struggled to complete them. Only time will tell how Ive done anyway, just a few weeks and then I'll know.

Out of interest who stressed this?

It said it on one of the papers, Gonzo... one of the mental spacial reasoning bits.

I have two questions that I can't seem to find an answer to:
- I've had 8 jobs since 1995 when I left uni prematurely... Should I put them all on the application? Even the barwork? Or do they just want the last 5 years or so?

- I have no idea what my visual acuity is, although my glasses are pretty weak (-1.5D) so I should be fine. Should I guess this, or write "unknown", or what.

Thanks in advance for any answers. Might call HR tomorrow if I can't work it out.

Maggiesfarmer:

You don't HAVE to put down your previous jobs, especially if they aren't relevant to the position. I didn't put ANY of my previous jobs down on the application and I still got through fine.

Cool, nice one ATCNoob... thanks for pointing that out! :ok:

I think I'm nearly there with the form now... just need to measure my inner leg!

I would advise putting all your previous jobs down. If there are any gaps the interviewers will ask you about them, from/until dates etc.

The form asks you for your past employment history, so why not?

If the interviewers have to spend the first ten to fifteen minutes on details that you were asked to put on the form, then it might not get the interview off to a bright start.

help
 

hi Gonzo, could you email me at [email protected].
I need your help please!

Thanks Gonzo! I've already sent it in... I've put the last 5 years - these are the 3 jobs that have led me to be in the position I'm in and certainly the most relevant(ish). Wish I'd read your reply first but too late now.

I guess a concern was that in my current industry (financial services), it's normal for good people to change company every year or two. In fact you wouldn't want someone who was so rubbish that they weren't poached at least every few years! This (NATS) is quite different for me and I hope I get the chance to explain that to an interviewer.

where did u see this?! iv just sat my stage one and as soon as i seen i had about 10seconds left, i just quickly went through the paper and marked any answer. i was reluctant to doing this but i just assumed we would be marked out of the total number of questions and not the amount we answered? ohhhh dear-i am panicing now!! although i tried to look at it from the point of view as an ATCO, i followed a plan of answering quickly and precisely but when circumstances changed (i had minimal time left) my plan changed, to have a guess and take a 25% chance of getting each question right....ohh :mad: hope iv not made a huuuge mistake!

can someone clear this up? im hoping its just 'score a certain mark' pass and they dont look at this in great logic detail!

claire x

I'm just hoping when something happens at EGLL approach, the controller doesn't fire the bottom of each stack onto its final and hope that chances are it will be fine :}

I wish you the best of luck though. Don't panic yourself about it. Whats done is done. If you're through then you've done good, if not then just learn from it and make sure you get it right next time round.

As with all stages of the interview, just shove it to the back of your mind until you get word through. THEN panic for the next stage :ok:

(And in answer to your question, rumour has it on this forum that it is only the correct answers which are counted, not negatively marking your incorrect answers. Don't quote me on it though, it's just something I read whilst studying these posts)

Andy

Gonzo:

True, I guess, but I thought I could portray my own skills better in the section asking me to describe relevant experience as none of my previous jobs had anything relating to ATC. As it wasn't a requirement I thought I would just give what was needed, but obviously it may differ for someone else who has different work experience.

MaggiesFarmer:

Good on you. I wish you all the luck. Just stay motivated and you will be fine! ;) :)

I did mention my previous jobs in the interview and fortunately I have been at my current employer for almost 4 years now with no gaps. I guess that helped. I'm also in the financial services industry currently and I know what you mean regarding head hunting. I'm sure if you clearly give them reasons as to why you left then they will understand. Would you agree Gonzo?

Completed and sent off my online application. Being a 20 year old with no real employment history made trying to fill it in highly uncomfortable.

I don't know what I'll have to offer in the interview. Suddenly feeling highly pessimistic now. I'm going to have to put in a mighty performance (if Im even offered an interview) to have a remote chance.

How long do they typically consider your application before offering you to move onto stage 2?

Its computer marked isnt it? So I don't think a computer can negatively mark answers? Maybe it can. I guessed a few of the last questions when I was running out of time and I still managed to pass Stage 1. Im pretty sure on the questions I answered that I was 100%. Do you get the results for the Stages onces you've passed Stage 3?

Marco888:

I wouldn't worry about not having work experience. As long as you can answer what you would do in a given situation well then that's what they are looking for. You don't have to use examples of work, it could have been at Uni, or college or school or sport....whatever you can relate the question to (within reason). Everyone finds out at different times after their stages - some a few days, some a few weeks depending on how busy they are.

Russell Bell:

You don't get your results after passing stage 3, you must just assume you did well enough. Saying that, after the second time I applied and failed stage 3 I was given feedback on the day and was told about each of my aptitude tests - not the scores just if I had done well or not.

If you dont mind me asking, what did you fail Stage 3 for? Seems a bugger to get that far then fail.

Whitelighter:

Yes, it really was horrible getting that far and then being told, "No!". When I failed the first time they said, "You are were not flexible enough in your answers, and you were easily swayed in your decisions.". The second time I was told that I had not shown a passion for aviation that I explained I had in my application and there were one or two questions that I tripped up on in the interview - which was really down to lack of preparation. The third time, last month, I passed.

well done ATCnoob!:ok:

that´s called tenacity, fighting for a target, that I guess they considered on the third attempt. (even though going second time, i think, was already evident your passion for aviation..)

congrat! now, enjoy it!

Thanks aphelio and Marco888! Yes, I would never be able to live with myself if I didn't go for it again - you know, the whole 'what if...' would even eaten my from the inside out!!!!

Marco888: I would have been absolutely gutted if I didn't make it this time! One guy at my interview didn't make it and it was his 3rd time; I was even gutted for him! Yes, it's was definitely worth it! I'm still not counting my chickens though: I still have my medical coming up. I don't have anything in particular that I feel I should worry about but you never know...

I didn't mention PPrune. There are plenty of other sources of information other than forums that would be better to mention. Forums in general don't have a good reputation in my opinion as I guess they can been seen as a source for 'cheating' or taking short cuts.

In contrast I did mention pprune (amongst several other sources of information). All I did was follow it up with that sometimes you need to take things on the internet with a pinch of salt, but there's lots of info on here - not just tips for the interviews/application process... see all the other threads in this particular forum, for example.

Say whatever you think is right at the time, but ultimately, be honest - the interviewers can (and will) catch you out if you're not.

Good luck!

Was just posting to say I submitted the application form last night and got the invite email today, so there doesnt seem to be too much delay.

Does anyone know how often the dates are updated? I could do with a date in April, but the latest currently is March 27th. I work in the Motor Trade and getting time of in March is impossible so was hoping if I hold off a few days a couple of april dates might pop up.

DOnt want to delay too loing though in case they think I have gone off the idea.

whitelighter,

Don't know when there will be more dates (HR can help you with that), but the rule with the system is that if you don't pick a date within 2 weeks of the invite email, your application is withdrawn. If it gets close to 2 weeks and there's still no dates you can do, just give HR a call and they can extend your application to let you wait.

My advice would be to wait a week (but keep checking in between), see if there's any more dates and if not, call HR.

hi, claireyfairy, when you sat your stage 1 on the 12th in glasgow did you attend the morning or afternoon session. i was at the afternoon session and did the same regarding filling all the boxes when running out of time

i'm nervously awaiting my stage one results, first attempt.


Has anyone here got through to stage two having answered 35 out of the 40 basic checking questions? I answered 38/40 for the Numbers, 35/40 Letters.
The reassurance would be a good thing. I know it makes no difference as i could have got many wrong....but assuming accuracy isn't a problem it'd be nice knowing i did enough to pass if accuracy was 100%

The first basic checking I can't have gotten further than question 34. I think I was on 33 when time was called. And I've gotten to stage 2. Hope this helps. (I did all 40 with the second basic checking).

marco888:

Forums can and are a good source of information, but if it's not conveyed that way in an interview then it can work against you. I decided beforehand not to mention it in case it came across the wrong way - better safe than sorry.

ewwww, my app's been sent to the medical people. I think I may have confused things with the visual acuity. I only wear weak specs but put down what the optician said. With hindsight, he was a bit wishy washy... shoulda called HR instead!

I see this thread as informing me what not to ask......:}