First off, Hello and Hi to all. I don't post here often. However, I felt the need to. Hopefully my story can help others out and enlighten some others on the trials and tribulations of applying to be an ATC. (I apologize for the length)
First I applied with PUBNAT4 in May of 2008. PUBNAT5 in June of 2008 and finally PUBNAT6 in July of 2008.
I received an email to take the AT-SAT in September of 2008 for PUBNAT4. At this time in my life everything was "ehhh" so I really wasn't motivated at all to take the test plus I was working on a business that I had just started. I took forever to schedule my test. I had a friend that was in the academy at the time and he had the green test book and CD at home. So I couldn't get it. I decided to order it. It got here the day before the test. So, with that and not being motivated to take the test I just canceled...Later about a week after I was to take the test the entire US economy started sinking. RAPIDLY and people started losing jobs and everyone stopped spending money. So there goes my business.
In early December, I get a email to take the test in mid-January. Things on my end are looking up yet the world looks bleak, so I agree to take the test. My friend is back and at his facility. He LOVES it (he should be the official ambassador for ATC and the FAA). He making decent money. I go out of town for Christmas and finally decide to read the green book. In the first couple of pages it says the average salary is $165K. I'm sold, even though my friend told me (I just thought he was be a normal friend and hyping things up).
I'm researching the position and studying ALL THE TIME. I begin to actually like the thought of the job, I begin to LOVE the thought of the job. I take the test on January 16 (I think). They tell us we will get the results back in about 7 business days. I check ASAP everyday and get it in 3. (that was the quickest thing in this entire process). The test was pretty easy and straight forward. The CD helps and gets you ready tremendously. The book is worthless in regards to the test but very informative about the job. Anyway, I score WQ. Apparently, according to SM and JC, that is all that matters.
In my studying and researching for the test and position I find JC, then SM. What a relief and great find. All the information you'll ever need.
I find out from the websites that the panel is in March. Also, my friend told me because his boss told him. (inside information, you'll find out that EVERYONE has a friend telling them something. But, I actually trusted and trusts mine because he is in a GREAT location. And he now we have a GREAT friend in a great position). I think around March 24 is when people started getting the Geo Pref emails. I get mine and select my two states. The panels are over and I get word I am selected for my first choice facility (people in great places can do great things. Go meet someone, they gives tours all the time and want them actually).
I believe around late May is when people started to get emails they were selected. Although I was told, I am getting nervous because A WEEK goes by with out me getting an email. I'm getting real nervous, I really want this job and think it might actually be the perfect job for me. I get the email.
I'm not invited for a PEPC, I have to go the tradition route. I interview in early June. I do the physical, drug test and paper work thing. Man was that something. They want to know my entire life history. I was shocked and taken back. I am having problems scheduling my MMPI test. I never receive an email. However, I finally get scheduled and am ready to take the test then its canceled because everyone will be at a PEPC. I schedule for the next week. It is canceled again. I schedule it for the next week. I take it. It is such an easy test. How can anyone ever fail this? They ask you things like "Is someone trying to take over your brain?" AAAHAHAHAHAHA. (weeks later I find out I didn't pass) This was all in June.
I try to get myself ready to go. Get my clothes together, all my stuff. I'm just about ready. In early August I get a call from someone at the FAA. I'm getting excited, I'm about to go to OKC. They tell me I didn't pass the MMPI. What in the world? How can that be? I am told to call someone to reschedule with a psychologist. A Psychologist? What, but I'm not crazy. So, I do. I call and call and call. But the psychologist won't pick up. I finally get a call back saying I'm sorry I was out of town. I say Cool, you're back now I want to come in tomorrow for a MMPI test. She says alright but not so fast. I'm going back out of town for 4 weeks. WTF!!!! I schedule to take it in mid to late September. Man, I am stressed. Am I crazy? What happened? How didn't I pass? I'm supposed to be in OKC right now.
JC and SM tell me that people from PUBNAT4 are getting dates to go. I canceled my test in September of 2008 that was PUBNAT4. Oh God why?
I retake my MMPI. I go in all friendly with a permanent smile on my face. (she must think I'm crazy because I'm just smiling and giggling even if she says Hello. But, I want to come off as nice and friendly and normal and sane as possible.) She informs me before taking the test that I didn't pass because I tried to paint myself as too good. Too good? Are you kidding me? That is why I am being held up because your test thinks I'm too good. Man, what a disappointment. But I continue to smile. I take the test and another shorter test with 5 different answers and not just true or false. Same type of questions. I finish. She says I'm sending this off tomorrow. (from being on here and researching the MMPI test I have learned this about the test and the FAA. BE YOURSELF. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR YOU TO NOT BE PERFECT. JUST ANSWER NORMALLY AND TRUTHFULLY. THEY ACTUALLY WANT FOR YOU TO BE REAL AND HAVE PROBLEMS. DON'T TRY TO ANSWER WHAT YOU THINK THEY WANT TO HEAR. ANSWER TRUTHFULLY AND SHOW SOME FLAWS. DO NOT BE PERFECT)
I call the medical office two days later to see if they got it. They did. They tell me to call back in two weeks. I do. Nothing. I call back in 3, nothing. So, I am getting VERY upset and nervous. After all of my research and waiting and talking to my friend I REALLY REALLY REALLY want this job. So finally I get a call saying I passed.
Now, I'm ALL CLEAR and just waiting on a class date.
Again sorry for the length but this is a long process, I had to get it all in there. Good luck to all. I don't post much but I'm on here just about everyday. If you have any questions just ask. But I'm sure you can find it on here somewhere.
First I applied with PUBNAT4 in May of 2008. PUBNAT5 in June of 2008 and finally PUBNAT6 in July of 2008.
I received an email to take the AT-SAT in September of 2008 for PUBNAT4. At this time in my life everything was "ehhh" so I really wasn't motivated at all to take the test plus I was working on a business that I had just started. I took forever to schedule my test. I had a friend that was in the academy at the time and he had the green test book and CD at home. So I couldn't get it. I decided to order it. It got here the day before the test. So, with that and not being motivated to take the test I just canceled...Later about a week after I was to take the test the entire US economy started sinking. RAPIDLY and people started losing jobs and everyone stopped spending money. So there goes my business.
In early December, I get a email to take the test in mid-January. Things on my end are looking up yet the world looks bleak, so I agree to take the test. My friend is back and at his facility. He LOVES it (he should be the official ambassador for ATC and the FAA). He making decent money. I go out of town for Christmas and finally decide to read the green book. In the first couple of pages it says the average salary is $165K. I'm sold, even though my friend told me (I just thought he was be a normal friend and hyping things up).
I'm researching the position and studying ALL THE TIME. I begin to actually like the thought of the job, I begin to LOVE the thought of the job. I take the test on January 16 (I think). They tell us we will get the results back in about 7 business days. I check ASAP everyday and get it in 3. (that was the quickest thing in this entire process). The test was pretty easy and straight forward. The CD helps and gets you ready tremendously. The book is worthless in regards to the test but very informative about the job. Anyway, I score WQ. Apparently, according to SM and JC, that is all that matters.
In my studying and researching for the test and position I find JC, then SM. What a relief and great find. All the information you'll ever need.
I find out from the websites that the panel is in March. Also, my friend told me because his boss told him. (inside information, you'll find out that EVERYONE has a friend telling them something. But, I actually trusted and trusts mine because he is in a GREAT location. And he now we have a GREAT friend in a great position). I think around March 24 is when people started getting the Geo Pref emails. I get mine and select my two states. The panels are over and I get word I am selected for my first choice facility (people in great places can do great things. Go meet someone, they gives tours all the time and want them actually).
I believe around late May is when people started to get emails they were selected. Although I was told, I am getting nervous because A WEEK goes by with out me getting an email. I'm getting real nervous, I really want this job and think it might actually be the perfect job for me. I get the email.
I'm not invited for a PEPC, I have to go the tradition route. I interview in early June. I do the physical, drug test and paper work thing. Man was that something. They want to know my entire life history. I was shocked and taken back. I am having problems scheduling my MMPI test. I never receive an email. However, I finally get scheduled and am ready to take the test then its canceled because everyone will be at a PEPC. I schedule for the next week. It is canceled again. I schedule it for the next week. I take it. It is such an easy test. How can anyone ever fail this? They ask you things like "Is someone trying to take over your brain?" AAAHAHAHAHAHA. (weeks later I find out I didn't pass) This was all in June.
I try to get myself ready to go. Get my clothes together, all my stuff. I'm just about ready. In early August I get a call from someone at the FAA. I'm getting excited, I'm about to go to OKC. They tell me I didn't pass the MMPI. What in the world? How can that be? I am told to call someone to reschedule with a psychologist. A Psychologist? What, but I'm not crazy. So, I do. I call and call and call. But the psychologist won't pick up. I finally get a call back saying I'm sorry I was out of town. I say Cool, you're back now I want to come in tomorrow for a MMPI test. She says alright but not so fast. I'm going back out of town for 4 weeks. WTF!!!! I schedule to take it in mid to late September. Man, I am stressed. Am I crazy? What happened? How didn't I pass? I'm supposed to be in OKC right now.
JC and SM tell me that people from PUBNAT4 are getting dates to go. I canceled my test in September of 2008 that was PUBNAT4. Oh God why?
I retake my MMPI. I go in all friendly with a permanent smile on my face. (she must think I'm crazy because I'm just smiling and giggling even if she says Hello. But, I want to come off as nice and friendly and normal and sane as possible.) She informs me before taking the test that I didn't pass because I tried to paint myself as too good. Too good? Are you kidding me? That is why I am being held up because your test thinks I'm too good. Man, what a disappointment. But I continue to smile. I take the test and another shorter test with 5 different answers and not just true or false. Same type of questions. I finish. She says I'm sending this off tomorrow. (from being on here and researching the MMPI test I have learned this about the test and the FAA. BE YOURSELF. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR YOU TO NOT BE PERFECT. JUST ANSWER NORMALLY AND TRUTHFULLY. THEY ACTUALLY WANT FOR YOU TO BE REAL AND HAVE PROBLEMS. DON'T TRY TO ANSWER WHAT YOU THINK THEY WANT TO HEAR. ANSWER TRUTHFULLY AND SHOW SOME FLAWS. DO NOT BE PERFECT)
I call the medical office two days later to see if they got it. They did. They tell me to call back in two weeks. I do. Nothing. I call back in 3, nothing. So, I am getting VERY upset and nervous. After all of my research and waiting and talking to my friend I REALLY REALLY REALLY want this job. So finally I get a call saying I passed.
Now, I'm ALL CLEAR and just waiting on a class date.
Again sorry for the length but this is a long process, I had to get it all in there. Good luck to all. I don't post much but I'm on here just about everyday. If you have any questions just ask. But I'm sure you can find it on here somewhere.
