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A CAREER IN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
To apply to NATS (many other employers also use the same criteria) for a job as an air traffic controller you need to...  be at least 18 and under 30 at the date of application. have 5 GCSEs at grade C or above, including English and Maths. have completed a period of post-GCSE study at higher level through to the examination. be eligible to work in the UK.Applicants over 30 may be considered if they have relevant aviation experience, either as a Military Air Traffic Controller, Civil or Military Assistant or have Military/Commercial flying experience. Selection ProcessThere are a number of stages you have to pass through before you are ready to begin the training. 1. Initial Selection Test Day Selection test days usually last from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and take place at test centres around the UK depending on where you're based. Here you will get the chance to talk to an operational ATCO in person, who can answer any questions you may have on the job or the training programme. There are some paper and pencil tests designed to measure skills such as the ability to check information quickly and accurately, spatial visualisation, mental arithmetic and short-term memory. We also use questionnaires to gauge your personality, learning style and motivation. We'll give you some practice questions beforehand so you have an idea of what to expect. There's no need to feel intimidated by all these tests - we just want to make sure you're right for the job and we're right for you. We'll get back to you 10 days from the end of the test week to let you know whether you've been successful. If not, you can reapply after twelve months up to a maximum of three years. 2. Final Stage Interviews There are two interviews which last for an hour each. One is an interview with an Operational Controller, who will use hypothetical questions to find out more about your abilities and motivation for the job. He or she will be interested in your reasoning skills, decision making ability under pressure and acceptance of rules. The other interview is with a Recruitment Specialist, who will use a structured set of questions to look at important qualities such as past achievement, team skills, flexibility, tenacity, maturity, and problem-solving. One of the most important factors in getting through the interviews is preparation. Read any information you can find out about the job and National Air Traffic Services (NATS). If selected for an interview you will be encouraged to visit an Air Traffic Control Unit. 3. Computer Assessment The other part of this final assessment is computer testing which takes an hour. These tests measure your ability to absorb information from different sources whilst making decisions, and to assess the relative direction of two objectives displayed in different positions. 4. Security Check, Medical Examination and References Before you are given the job, you must supply references and have security clearance. ATCOs also have to pass a thorough medical examination every 2 years until they are 40, then every year after that. A good standard of health including colour vision and full hearing are needed. Contact lens and glasses are allowed as long as they fall within certain limits. Some useful links for further career advice and opportunities can be found below..
National Air Traffic Services offers career advice  NATS Recruitment PageSERCO has online jobs and Career Case Studies SERCO Careers Page
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