I am in a similar position as many who have posted on this thread.
I passed my 1st stage in April, only to be gutted by my "failing" of the online personality questionnaire a couple of weeks later, much to my disappointment and frustration:ugh:.

I really think us applicants should at the very least have the chance to experience a proper interview before progressing (or not in my case) to the next stage of the interview process.

The personality questionnaires are like a lottery; people claim that there are mechanisms within the questionnaires that can calculate one's honesty, or sense certain contradictions, but I was 100% honest in mine, and still managed to fail them. Of course, I could've answered the questionnaire falsely (i.e. choosing answers which seem the most correct), and I expect many other applicants have done this, and advanced to Stage 2. However I would expect this method to be a lottery in terms of the success rate.

I simply don't feel that a person can be judged in terms of their personality, attitude or aptitude for this job simply by answering simple repeated questions.

I welcome any views that challenge my opinion.

mental arithmetic
 

please can someone tell me whether we can use a pen and paper when completing the mental arithmetic test? does it just mean we can't use a calculator?

e.g. http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/radar2001...arithmetic.htm

Thanks,

MrS

p.s. TCR - I think the logic (for airline pilot tests at least) is that your answers must be consistent and that you shouldn't have an extreme personality - so if asked to score traits from 1 to 5 maybe avoid 1 and 5? could that be the problem?

There is no longer a Mental Arithmetic test at Stage 1. At least there wasn't when I did it in February.

mrsurrey,

At my Stage 1 last Tuesday there was no mental arithmetic paper, so it seems it has been dropped.

But you do get scrap paper.

It does seem a strange way of selecting people to go further because if you fail the personality questionnaire by being honest then presumably you'd fail it everytime you get to that stage on re-takes. So basically you would then have to be dishonest in your answers to get to Stage 2 and if NATS were on the ball they would realise you were telling a few white lies to then have progressed.

Exactly "Berlin 104", that is my exact thought. So when I re-apply next year, presumably I will have to lie to make any further progress in the recruitment stage. In that sense, surely I shouldn't be eligible for re-appliying next year. But then my entire career would have been stopped by a silly hour long questionnaire. Oh what to do?!

I filled mine in yesterday and will be absolutely gutted to fail on that. I would much rather fail at the actual first stage rather than a questionnaire which is the only part of the entire process that you can't go back and work hard on while you wait for your year to be up before you can re-apply again.

There is already a similar excercise during the motivation paper which should be enough or they could incorporate this questionnaire into that and have it as so much percent of your final mark.

I do find it hard to accept that what type of person a computer thinks you are decides every applicants future and how far they progress.

TCR, Whilst it may seem harsh to have your fate decided so cruelly you have to bear in mind the enormity of the task were we to interview all candidates. NATS received over 30000 applications last year of which little over 2000 would have been interviewed for an eventual college intake of 100 or so. The interview panel is a small band of merry men (and women) who do the interviews as an addition to their regular job. We simply don't have the resources to see everybody and the recruitment process whilst far from perfect has been refined and redesigned over the years to try and yield the best results.
The bottom line is that you have to have certain qualities and attributes to be an ATCO (described to me years ago at my interview as "having an unusual set of tools in your box!") which can be identified by the online questionnaire.
As sad as it is for somebody who is desperate to do the job it could just be that you don't have those tools.
Don't let me put you off applying again as it is true that many who get through do not do so at the first or even second attempt. Just trust that NATS does have some idea of the people its looking for and it could just be that it aint you.
Good luck!!!!!!

Stage 3
 

Does anyone have any advice on Stage 3 prep other than re-learn motivation paperwork from stages 1 & 2 and look at group exercise techniques?

I'd appreciate any feedback. Anyone have any idea what percentage get through stage 3? :confused:

I suppose it's possible for people's personalities to change over a period of years, especially amongst younger folks. For example, someone rejected from NATS at the age of 18 could end up passing the personality questionnaire at the age of 22 due to a different attitude and outlook on life?

It's probably not that common, but it does provide a glimmer of hope.

The personality questionnaire was part of the stage 1 testing for my last application (2 years ago). I guess with NATS' policy of no feedback at any of the stages, you wouldn't know if a failed stage 1 was due to the questionnaire or any/all of the other elements, which also included the mental arithmetic testing. I passed the questionnaire last time so if I fail it now (after being 100% honest on both occasions!), I'd be worried that my suitability for the role has deteriorated with age.

A few weeks ago I went to the Navy's selection board to try and get in as an Air Trafficker there. They told me to come back in 12 months, which is fair enough and I have every intention of doing that.

However if for whatever reason that doesn't work out, I'd want to join NATS instead.

Would it be a good idea to apply to NATS now and just not tell them that I'm planning to join the RN? I know the selection process can take a while, so I may not even be at/near to being at Bournemouth by the time AIB rolls around again but if I did get an offer from the Navy would I be able to pull out of anything with NATS straight away? And what's the best way to handle the issue... just not tell both potential employers about each other?

Personality Questionnaire
 

Hi, I recently went for the stage 1 tests and was invited to do the personality questionnaire. I did this questionnaire on Friday and today I received an email from NATS reminding me to do it. Does anyone know if this is a standard reminder email or is it perhaps that my questionnaire did not upload properly? When I log into the shl site the status of the questionnaire is "launched".

Would very much appreciate the help.

SNAP! I just received the same. I think they have to wait for SHL to send it to NATS but probably best to phone NATS in a couple of days if you haven't heard anything else.

Likewise, I also received the reminder email and the warning that there is a 7 day limitation for the test from receipt of email. Logged on to SHL website and no further testing to be done. I am going to put in a call to NATS just to check as I don't want the 7 days to expire and the questionnaire to be invalid.

Suit £200
Shirt & Tie £40
Shoes £50
Return Advanced Saver to London £46
Tube Ticket £4

NATS computer looking at P.Q. and saying NO. Priceless.

Cheers NATS. At least I'll have it all ready for next year (Except another £50 for travel).

Sorry to hear that!!!

If you really want the job/really think you've got what NATS are looking for, then keep plugging away - best of luck next time!

Anyone else got stage 2 tomorrow?

Having applied for Stage 1 three months ago i also received an email a couple of days later asking me to complete the online personality questionaire. However what i have not seen anyone point out yet is the email says there is no right or wrong and you cannot fail this test. It said once i have completed it they would let me know the process for the next stage. Surprise surprise a week later i got an email saying i had not passed this occasion and come back in a year.

To me this sounds very dodgy from NATS and on one hand you cannot fail it and on the other hand i clearly did not pass their personality test. If they base everything on this test then more fool them i say as it can only ever be a guide to someone. Having known a family member be an ATCO for over 30 years he knows i have everything an ATCO would need for the job so it seems they could be losing very good potential new recruits because they place so much faith in some stupid online personality questionaire which would only tell you so much. Surely these borderline cases should be given a chance to prove themselves at stage 2 ? Just my opinion but i believe NATS to be very dishonest over this making out it is a nothing test and there is no pass or fail on it. Clearly there is !

hey
just found out i have to complete the online questionnair, so fingers crossed for stage 2
x

Just got back from stage 2 at CTC in Fareham.

Got told that I'm through to stage 3 pretty much straight after completing my structured interview.
Booked in at CTC once more for next Thursday!

Apparently there are going to be 2 'really good ATCOs' present running the interviews, anyone on here that would care to reveal themselves??? :ok:

Thursday
 

Good luck! I've got mine on the same day but in London. Any other ATCO's who I'm sure are equally good that want to reveal themselves...?!

Interesting. Just checked my actual confirmation email and it says it's in London too.

NATS HR actually booked it for me and one other guy at CTC for next Thursday.

Will ring HR in the morning, could have been a small error...

That can't be right, I'm not there until the next day! :}

The HR girl I spoke to obviously doesn't know you then!

Shame; it would have been interesting having you take me on... :E

She does! Probably trying to get me to bite, as I have done!

I know you won't be disappointed with those in my stead, don't worry! :E

A busy week for Stage 3 next week then. I'm in London on Friday. Strangely looking forward to it; see it as the next big step.... hopefully. Wanted this so badly for a long time.
Good luck to everyone else.

My stage 3 is in London after all, Cumberland Hotel on the 26th.

Don't get too excited when you pass stage 3. You can still be shot down at the medical as I'm finding out :{ Currently on hold pending results of various medical tests the last one of which I'm still awaiting an appointment for (MRI Scan).

Ouch, yeah I see what you mean. Hope you manage to get the Medical results you need.

A/c details....
 

Hi folks,

Thats my first post here on PPRUNE so hi to all!
This topic has been a great help, so I thought I will contribute with something I made, to make easier to print and over see the stage 1 booklet's a/c details.
Its basically just an Excel spreadsheet made for easy printing, I hope it will help some.
Also Ive rounded the seating numbers to the nearest day-see-mal so it won't be that horrendous. :suspect:
Good luck for everyone! :ok:

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/riccosit...dedseating.xls

What does CTC stand for:hmm:

NATS' Corporate and Technical Centre.

Quick heads up for those doing stage 3 this week.

Plan your journey WELL in advance as trains/coaches seem to be a complete nightmare due to flooding as I'm finding out! Getting to London from Bristol is near impossible at the moment... thinking of getting up there another way the night before.

NATS
 

Hello

In the stage 1 selection would it be possible to mention ( PPRUNE,AIRLINERS and Flight Sim related ) ? or must keep it real ?

Regards,

Stage 1 comprises of selection 'tests' as outlined in your invite. So there won't be an actual interview to discuss things. Instead just a series of multiple choice tests.

hi
just passed the online personality interview. i have read through the pages and its a great help, but if any1 who has done stage2 can remember any questions and calculations you need please post them need to swat up big time and cant find much on the net!!
thanks
v

Learn the ATC document thoroughly and get up to speed with your D/S/T calculations! :ok:

I passed stage 3, then went for medical in Swanwick, where they had a few concerns as to how the CAA would look at some medication I had been on (but off since Feb..), so rather than waiting until I was at Bournemouth before going to the CAA for the UK class 1 medical, they sent me down last week....... Thankfully all okay so def on the September course :8

I am just curious as to the number of people who are currently at the Bournemouth CATC, or are going there soon (i.e. have passed stage 3), who are of a similar age to myself. (18) Since failing the recruitment process at stage 1 earlier this year, I have thought perhaps NATS are reluctant to recruit trainee ATCOs of my age. Althought I accept I failed because of the :mad::mad::mad::mad: personality questionnaire (ahem), I cant help but feel that despite the age range for applicants (18-30 I belive), NATS don't want to take on people who have just finished A-Levels, and have no experience in aviation or ATC itself. Just curious, it was actually something my parents suggested. So am I too young, and will I have to wait a few more years before NATS give me a real chance in this lottery?

I would appreciate any replies of people who are 18-19 and in the college, or awaiting their course. Or any ATCOs who were accepted into the training course at my age.

Cheers:)

TCR: There are definitely trainee's who have been accepted into the college at age 18, however the initial selection tests you have done will not 'filter' you out because of your age.

Even at interview stage you won't get rejected because of your age, unless of course NATS have good reason to so in your case, there's no way of telling. Keep at it though if you think you've got what it takes! :ok:


I've got stage 3 tomorrow, currently debating whether to go up to London tonight or on the actual day. FGW trains are running a normal service at the moment, so may end up coming up tomorrow...