Poached eggs and you've got a deal, seriously though - I don't like Cornflakes.

Norman House B&B, Swanwick Lane. I couldn't recommend it highly enough. £40 per night Bed and full English breakfast. Is about 5 minutes walk from the main facility and not too far from the CTC (10 minutes by car).

Bed and Breakfast Swanwick Hamble Southampton

:ok:

Hi all,
Does any one have any more information on Stage 3 as it is now? I understand that it is just an HR interview, with motivation based questions. Could anyone enlarge upon this for me? or any examples of questions asked?

anything helpful!!

Thanks
MH

Norman House, Swanwick Lane. I couldn't recommend it highly enough. £40 Bed and full English breakfast. Website should come up on google.

It's about 5 minutes walk from the main ATC facility and about 10 minutes (by car) from the CTC.

Stage 1
 

Hello all,

I first applied for ATCO back in 2002, when I was young! I've been with BA as a customer service and systems trainer for 10 years now. ATC has always been my ambition and I'm now preparing for this year's selection.

Stage 1 in Fareham on June 15th at 8am. Anyone will be there?

I've been reading through the pages on this, but failed to find a recommendation of a book I could work with to practise things like numerical, spatial and observation tests. I used to have a GMAT book but that got lost in the house move.

Any ideas guys?
Thanks in advance.
Alan.

well unfortunately for me I failed my stage 2 although it was what i was expecting...the tests are hard!!! It is still something that I want to do...so at least now I know what to expect next year....
Best of luck to everyone who is sitting the tests....and congrats to everyone that has passed!!! If you have managed to pass the tests, I will now feel safe when I get into a plane!!!

I called HR to ask about the FEAST tests retake. Apparently there is no problem with doing the tests a second time even if you passed the first time. Strange that in the Czech Rep. they just would not let you do it again :)

Did any of you call HR for results after stage 2? Just curious if the grading system is the same as in Eurocontrol which is I think going from 1 to 9 for each part of the test.

Pavlina

Johnathan B and others well done on passing, now im really nervous !!! I havent had results, on holiday in Italy at present and all im thinking about is my results. Just checked emails and nats online recruitment and nothing. Will wait another 24 hours then give them a call.
But im not holding my breath !!!

Stage 2, 20th April
 

Bartkobe - I found out my results for stage 2 today and I passed which is great. Got my stage 3 on the 16th of june. which date have you booked.

foreigners at nats
 

Hey guys/girls,

is/are here anybody or anybody knows somebody who is NOT native English but he/she was successful at NATS selections and now working there? Thanks a lot.

Hi all,

Firstly a big thanks to all who have posted on here, its been a great help to me so far. I am now after a bit more help if possible.

I am awaiting my stage 3 in June and was hoping to get a tower and an area visit in at Heathrow and Swanwick beforehand, does anyone know the best way to organise these? I have seen people mention calling HR but wasn't sure if it was also something you could do directly?

Good luck to all who are in the process and thanks for the help!

Yeah there are quite a few, some already valid.

And are they americans/australians?:]

i'm asking because i'm curious about that is there any chance to be successful at the personal interviews with non-native english skills.

I believe there have been a few Spanish guys who have successfully been employed by NATS.

From what I hear, arranging to visit the tower at LHR is very hard, a bit like trying to get into Fort Knox! You'll probably have a bit more luck with LTN or STN as you don't have to be granted airside clearance to visit them.

stage 1 test
 

hi guys, i'd really appreciate any advice to enable me relax on my test date which is fast approaching (2 weeks more). i'm quite comfortable with the questions to expect but my heart's already racing. thank you

Don't worry - you'll be fine. There's not much you can do to stop yourself from feeling nervous, it's natural. Just do a little prep, get a good nights sleep, have a decent breakfast/lunch before and maybe try some breathing exercises!

Thanks for the info, is that the same with Gatwick as I live closer to Gatwick and would be easier for me?

If anyone can help with contact numbers for Gatwick tower (if easier than LHR) or Swanwick it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

just done stage 1
 

bloody hell... i hate cubes!!!!!

Jimmy780, Best of luck mate, hope you get some good news

I was just wondering if anyone had ever passed the fist stage, taken the personality test and then not been invited to stage 2.

hatemyjob,

Yep, I'm pretty sure it does happen - there's mention of it on here from other people to whom it has happened, but of course that could all be rumours...

I thought the personality questionnaire was done as part of the Stage 1 day now anyway?

Yes it happened to me, but that was because I'd filled out my GSCE results incorrectly...ooops. I guess that HR check your application after you've been through stage 1 to see if you fit all the recruitment requirements so you could be turned down yes.

S2 accommodation
 

hi

paperclip810, do you think you could send me a PM with those B&B details you were offering some people who were booking a S2 date at Fareham? I'm one of them now!

If anyone else knows of any, please feel free to advise me! I've had a look at Fareham Premier Inn, but isn't that a little bit of a long cab drive to CTC to be there for 8.15am? :)

Thanks
Nick

CJayne: I read the original poster's message: "taken the personality test and then not been invited to stage 2" meaning before the application form - ie. is it possible to pass Stage 1 but fail the OPQ! Confused now...

DJNick: You sent me an email and a PM over the weekend - I replied to the email so check that account! Fareham Premier Inn is only 5-10 mins drive from the CTC in the mornings (or it was for me anyway), so not that far!

All: I recommend the Fareham Premier Inn as it was fine with me, easily bookable and not far from the CTC. If people want advice on getting there from other places, let me know...

hayemyjob

the application process seems to be going through quite a few changes, so not sure if it still applies, but i am one of those that passed stage 1 and failed OPQ, thus not getting through to S2. That was back in August 2007 though. Passed everything this time round.

pass mark?
 

Hi all!

For the new stage 2 feast test, is there a pass mark for each section? Or an overall pass mark? For Eurocontrol you have to get a certain mark in each section to pass, I just wondered if it is the same for NATs. I can't see what is the point of making you stay on for the afternoon session if you failed to achieve the pass mark on the morning section? Anyone have any idea?

Thanks

tam,

As far as I could tell, they don't look at the marks until after the event. I suspect they look at your overall performance so want to see you try everything out. There certainly was no feedback from the system as to how you'd done.

Hi all. Just did my Stage 2 tests yesterday and I actually found them really enjoyable (apart from those damned cubes). Not saying they weren't tough as hell, and even seem built to demoralise you in places, but overall I found them entertaining, especially the Flight Strip test at the end, I loved it!! I have no idea how well I did but I never panicked and put myself in a downward spiral when I started slipping. Waiting for these results is killing me already.

Good luck to all who attended, the only guy's forum name I can remember is Tim93, so good luck to you too. Is anyone else here from the 18th May Stage 2?

Stage 1
 

Hi,


Can anyone please tell me what is all about stage 1?How to prepare and any book available for it?Any info appreciated.

Thanks in Advance,

Regards,
cessna310

Cessna,

Read this thread - there's a lot on information on here about what's entailed, and once you apply, NATS will send you everything you need to prepare yourself for the Stage 1 tests - not really any books available nor needed.

May I ask why you're considering NATS now after strongly pursuing a career as a Flight Instructor? If you do get past the first few stages, I'd expect some hard questioning from HR about your change in career...

Failing OPQ
 

@hatemyjob

Yes, it is possible to to not get passed the personality questionnaire.

The apptitude tests and the personality questionnaire are all stage 1.

After I did the intial test I got an email......then once I'd complete the OPQ I got the dreaded FAIL message......but alas I now know what to expect, have a year to study and have pre-ordered the latest edition of Abc Air Traffic Control and am building my network or contacts at various locations throughout the UK and Ireland so I can make lots of sight visits. Here's hoping I am more successful next year.

I hate that I have to wait a whole 12 months before I can reapply. 4 down 8 to go.

Stage 2
 

Hi all,

I have my Stage 2 on the 18th of June. I can see in this thread you only talk about the Feast test in stage 2, but in my aplication says " Your computer tests/structured interview booking has been confirmed". What about the interview? When am I supposes to have it?
BTW, I´ll be in London 2 weeks before the exam, if someone wants to arrange a meeting to have a chat it would be great. I am thinking of spending the night at Norman House on the 17th. Anyone else?

edited post, sorry

Why are you here and why aren't you an ATCO in hungary?

ok forget it :]

.
 

If you try to hide !!!! by burying it deep down beneath the sea shore, you can be sure it will eventually come back up... (I find that one quite funny). Just be honest, it's always best.

That's from my point of view anyway, gluck

ok my question wasn't about that being honest or not :D

of course i'm going to say the truth.
my message was about if you got some good tips how to convince them i'm not stupid or inappropriate just because i failed the strip management.
that's all.

Just got the dreaded email for my Stage 2 results today, and failed :ugh:.

This was quite a surprise to me actually as I thought I did really well. It goes to show how exceptional you have to be at this stage! I just hope things go better in 12 months time. The email says I can re-apply in 12 months but im sure people on here have said I can apply again 12 months from when I originally applied, which is January.

Thanks for all the help many of you have given me up till now. I just pray I dont have to return a 3rd time!

Daunting thoughts arise as we read your results! It's a shame, and wish you the best of luck next year!

People seem to be reapplying 12 months after they initially sent their online application form to NATS! So probably not far from now?! Sure HR will be able to confirm though.

I'm booked in for 2nd Stage on the 22nd June. Anyone else booked in for that Monday?