This week we learn about what it takes to be an Air Traffic Controller, but this weeks interview also got me thinking about how on earth do people find a job like this?

If you are thinking about what path to take, either at the start or halfway through your career, then remember to explore different avenues and keep an open mind.

Key Takeaways

• Good communication is vital. If you are not giving clear instructions or listening properly in any role, then sooner or later mistakes are going to be made.
• Prepare for the unexpected. If you have a hurdle to overcome or a problem to solve, then you need to get on with it. Just like the aircraft in the sky, the world is not going to wait for you to figure it out. You need to act instead of burying your head in the sand.
• Find your fuel – get your head down and do the hard work.
• Hidden hard work – don’t enjoy yourself too much even if it looks like others are doing the same.
• Do more than just pass the exam – gain deeper knowledge and take responsibility for your development.
• Change with technology - don’t try and fight change, try to move with it.
• Good communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team is absolutely vital in the role of an Air Traffic Controller.
• To become an Air Traffic Controller you have to enroll with the Air Traffic Control College which is run by NATS, who are the air navigation service provider in the U.K.
• A degree is not the key to unlocking a career in Air Traffic Control as the training is niche and not tangible with anything taught in academia. 

Official qualification requirements are 5 GCSE's between grades A and C, two of which being in English and Maths. The selection process is tough with only 2% who apply being successful. Applicants need to be resilient and confident with good problem solving skills. Part of the screening process includes spatial awareness and aptitude tests along with psychological assessments.

Training is 18 months of very challenging, highly pressured hard work. Therefore absolute commitment is essential to remain at the college. Don't become seduced by what your peers maybe doing in their social lives! Focus on your goal. In essence, get your head down, put in the hard work and the rewards speak for themselves!

If you are interested in becoming an Air Traffic Controller and would like to find out more, then head to https://www.nats.aero/careers/

NATS can also be followed on both Facebook and Twitter.

QUOTES

"Only worry about what you can control" 

Recommended Books

Tao Te Ching A New Translation By Lao Tzu Translated by Sam Hamill
Amazon Link - https://amzn.to/2DZeiwG

Win Forever: Live, Work, and Play Like a Champion by Pete Carroll
Amazon Link - https://amzn.to/2AGNxtu

Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Catmull
Amazon Link - https://amzn.to/2DXCVd6

For those looking to find out more please contact Calum on [email protected]

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