ToL to FoL Part 2 (3)

*note* for ease of reading the titles now include a (#).  Follow in order* ** And now in Old People Font Size since my ma is reading this.  ;-D


ToL to FoL Part 2


We left off last time talking about the ATSAT and a few pointers.  Keep in mind that these pointers worked for ME and ME alone.  They MAY help you but ultimately it is a test that puts YOU to the test.  ATC is wonderful in that following a basic set of rules there are so many variations to accomplish the same goal.


So your ATSAT is done and you are thinking, "Wow I should probably start looking for another job."  Don't fret!  Its an 8 hour test and it is designed to beat your brain to mush.  Go home sleep on it and in a few days check the AVIATOR website and be prepared to be amazed.  I certainly was.
I'll let you in on my test day feelings.  I crashed 8 planes in the scenario but had a 98% efficiency rating and kicked the math and other sections butt.  I got WQ or Well Qualified.  I thought because i crashed I failed.  So you see?  No worries mate.


Now go finish your college career with vigor and study and make sure to put as much effort into your ATC classes as possible.  These are your bread and butter.  Know these and you will do fine.


Fast forward a few years.  CONGRATS!  You graduated college!  No small feat by any means.  Took me 10 years to do it and when I walked across that stage, I was told I had a HUGE smile.  And I deserved it.


Now what you ask.  ATC is one of those things that if you don't use it you will lose it.  If your program has a position to help teach students in ATC, DO IT.  Not only will it keep you fresh with the info, but you will be surprised on how much you LEARN!  You learn so much more when teaching because you can't tell the student something that you don't know.  They are relying on you to provide the information.  And if you do not provide the right information, you will find out about it.  *GUILTY*

When you graduate you will be given a CTI code to apply to the FAA CTI application on AVIATOR.  To expedite you application, you can pre-fill in your basic information, work experience, etc.  The only thing you can fill in when you apply is the geo-pref (what two states you want to goto). 


After graduation and filling out the application you might as well not worry about hearing from the FAA for awhile.  I was ancy and was always trying to find out what was going on.  There is a point where you can be TOO annoying.  Every once in awhile the FAA will hold a hiring panel which is based solely on how many facilities are hiring.  This number is not known and changes from week to week.  So don't ask, because no one knows.  

One thing you can do while waiting for the FAA is visit facilities.  Go to the ones you definitely want to work at and NETWORK.  This is extremely important.  In case no one told you yet, ATC and aviation in general is a VERY small network.  Everyone may not know everyone, but they will know someone that knows someone.  So be nice, professional, and NOT a know it all because frankly as a CTI graduate you don't know jack about the real world workings of ATC.  Keep that in mind.  No veteran controller wants to be corrected by a 0 time noob.  In addition to the facilities you know, take time to visit some that you may not think you like.  You might be surprised.  Not everyone likes to work at big airports.  ATC isn't about money, its about having fun at your challenging job.  Granted the money is nice, but if it ain't fun whats the point?


~Panels~
So the magic day has come there is an FAA panel taking place.  You feverishly check AVIATOR to see if your status changed.  Guess what, there is a very good chance it will say another applicant has been chosen.  If it says you are being considered, CONGRATS, just means you are in a smaller large pile.  The hiring process hierarchy goes something to this effect:  FAA-relocates (Transfers), Veteran Reinstatement Act (VRA), CTI (you), Off The Street (OTS).  With 30 some CTI schools there are plenty of fish in that pond.  Add in several VRA's and Transfers, you are really low on the totem.  NO FEAR my friend :-D  I went through 2 panels before I was actually selected.
*On a side note doing your geo-prefs*
Put a little thought into what you select.  Think of where the major CTI schools are and how many of those students are applying for the surrounding area.  Think of where the good weather places are, transfers are going to go there.  Think of states with centers, if you don't want a center, don't choose those states.  In all honesty, if you want terminal or tower, pick a place that you can get in and out after you are CPC and that others may think are "desirable".  This may help you get placed.
*End Side Note*
Now this isn't confirmed or anything but if you are selected your AVIATOR app will say you are being considered when the other state says another has been chosen.  Find someone with the state that says you are still being considered and if their status changes to another has been chosen yet yours stays considered, we think that may be a good indicator.  If you don't follow that, yeah neither do we.


So now what?  You will get a phone call probably 2,3,4 weeks after panels saying you have been selected.  Thats awesome!  Now the ball starts rolling.  You will be assigned a HR Rep and it is important that if you are on a web forum such as StuckMic or the like that you DO NOT reveal whom your HR REP is.  With that said the hr rep will email you with a ton of forms that need to be confirmed and filled out and returned before your ToL can be processed.  If you are like me and reaching that age of 31 you will make these forms and tasks priority and spend some cash to send them overnight.  Once you are given a ToL your age freezes as long as the ToL is valid.  Once  your ToL is yours, you begin the hiring process.  


The Interview.
The interview can be a very nerve racking experience.  Be prepared to answer any/all questions on the list of questions that can be found on StuckMic or google.  Most of all be prepared to answer, "So tell me about yourself."  From what I have read about that question, most of the interviewers say they don't care about your life story and that turns them off when interviewee's give them a 15 min borefest.  They want to know about how you got into ATC, how you trained, why you like atc, etc.  Short but to the point.  They will ask you about teamwork and give examples of when it worked and failed and how those situations panned out.  Don't lie, don't pad the truth, and be HONEST.  This interview is for your dream career so why jeopardize it by bullshit?


The Medical
The ATC medical is similar and different from a pilot medical at the same time.  The only real difference is that the decision is not made by the DME there in the office.  It is sent to the FAA in OKC and reviewed by the doctors there.  SO what does that mean?  It means that the decision to grant you a medical is based on paper and not actual physical examination by the doctor performing it.
*Side Note*
When starting your ATC career, goto the doctor and get a 2nd class pilot medical and blood test.  The medical will show that you are generally healthy and should get you through.  The blood test shows you what if anything is really wrong.  Some people found out things too late and cannot be ATC because of things they didn't know about.  Depending on what is wrong, you can appeal and be retested or show that you can still perform atc duties with no special help etc.
*End Side Note*


FBI Background Check.
The FBI BC for short, for en-route at least, was about 22 solid pages long going back 10 years.  This check includes EVERY, I mean EVERY last address you ever lived at no matter how long or short in the past 10 years.  (Dorms included)  You have your basic job history, residence, family members, credit history, foreign travel, etc.  Be thorough and spend money to get the best background checks you can to fill out the FBI BC form.  Now I had no problems because I was honest and listed everything I could possibly think of and didn't lie or pad the truth.  If you have 30 days delinquency on a credit card DO NOT omit it. Is it major?  No.  But if the FBI BC pulls up something negative that you didn't put down and don't fess up to it...kiss atc buh bye.


Psycho Test.
The psyc test is a 484 something question test that asks you the most odd questions. For example:  Do you listen to the voices in your head?  Well if you answer true you admit to that you have voices and you listen to them.  If you choose false, you admit you hear voices but don't listen to them.  But I guess everyone has voices.  Its only crazy if you have a conversation with them.  Go through the test as fast as possible to have the most honest answers and results.  If you think about the question you start answering the way you think the FAA wants you to answer.  Well I dived into the guts of the test and found out that it will notice that you are answering to make yourself more positive.  Which is a no no.
As with a lot of this pre-employment stuff, BE FREAKIN HONEST!!!


When this is all said and done and you medically cleared guess what?


HURRY UP AND WAIT.




Next on The En-Route Story:
ToL to FoL Part 3