YVR In-person Assessment (Jan 2019)

[Wingstofly]

Hi there, congrats on getting a seat at the assessment!

I am starting IFR training in April!
PM me and I can give you some detailed tips for the assessment
I wrote mine is May of last year.

Hi Kelsey,
Could you please PM me some detailed tips for the assessment.
Your help is much appreciated.
Thank you!

[shantz]

Has anyone heard anything back on the assessment yet?

My online profile now says "COMPLETED" with a green check... anyone elses?

[hopefulguy]

didn't it always say that after you click the link? Or are you saying that it says that now on the first page in place of "Status: Assessment"?

[aslam]

OK for those of you who attended the session in Vancouver 3 weeks ago, I have some news as to why we haven't seen any results yet...

I sent an e-mail to Joanne today and politely asked if there was any ETA on our results. I was pleasantly surprised when she responded the same day with the following logical explanation:

We are experiencing technical issues with one of our testing files. Once the issue has been resolved we will be able to upload the scores.

Sorry for this delay and thank you for your continued patience.

So I guess we'll have to practice patience for now.

[hopefulguy]

Thanks for keeping us updated aslam

[shantz]

Mine appears to have been updated - it now says 'Status: Interview"

Anyone else?

[aslam]

Mine appears to have been updated - it now says 'Status: Interview"

Anyone else?

@shantz: Thanks for the update. Were you in the same assessment in Vancouver?

So I had refreshed the page already but I was focusing on looking for a new pending task. I hadn't noticed that the status had changed. Mine is now also showing "Status: Interview".

I still haven't seen any e-mail from NavCanada so hopefully this is not an error in their system. I'll wait to see a formal e-mail from them before breathing a sigh of relief.

Anyone else have the same thing? Did anyone get a formal e-mail notice from them? @hopefulguy what say you?

[hopefulguy]

Mine appears to have been updated - it now says 'Status: Interview"

Anyone else?

Mine appears to have been updated - it now says 'Status: Interview"

Anyone else?

@shantz: Thanks for the update. Were you in the same assessment in Vancouver?

So I had refreshed the page already but I was focusing on looking for a new pending task. I hadn't noticed that the status had changed. Mine is now also showing "Status: Interview".

I still haven't seen any e-mail from NavCanada so hopefully this is not an error in their system. I'll wait to see a formal e-mail from them before breathing a sigh of relief.

Anyone else have the same thing? Did anyone get a formal e-mail notice from them? @hopefulguy what say you?

Mine also says Status: Interview now. And I also did not receive any official emails or anything yet.

I heard the new myworkdayjobs website has lots of glitches... I hope they didn't accidentally just pass us all lol but tentatively grats to us all

BTW did Joanne say anything about emailing our results? I think I was too tired from the exams and didn't listen carefully when she was explaining what happens after

Also, which stream are you guys hoping to go into? My order of preference is VFR > IFR >>>>> FSS/FIC

[YVRFlier]

I sat the morning of Jan. 23rd. Mine did the same thing. Changed from NTL to YVR and Status changed to Interview just
the other day, last Friday or Monday.
However, I've had a green check mark for since about Feb 8/9th. Maybe it was always there but never
noticed.
From what I understand, you only receive emails if you're NOT successful and emails when they
are ready for you for the next stage.
Someone can correct me if I'm misinformed.
Anyways, congrats to everyone who made it through that assessment. Good times all around

[aslam]

Ok more news to report... I emailed them and got a response from Joanne that the status change does indeed mean that we passed the in-person assessment and it is not a mistake or glitch in the system.

Here’s what she said:

Yes this does mean that you were successful. Your profile will now remain active for 18 months and it is during this time that if you are invited to move forward that we can contact you to move forward.

Unfortunately no timeline on when that might happen or what the next step would be. I seem to remember her saying at the end of the testing session that they don’t do phone interviews anymore but instead we would go straight to a panel in-person interview. I also seem to remember her saying that everyone who passed the in-person assessment session would be “guaranteed an interview”. Does anyone else remember that the next step was a panel interview and that we would be guaranteed one or did misremember that. I was also feeling some exhaustion from the testing regime so I may have heard things incorrectly.

@hopefulguy, I do not remember hearing anything about the results being emailed. As far as I know, they always stay confidential and we will likely never know exactly what they were.

My preference is the same as yours. I just know I would do better in a VFR scenario and I prefer that style of interaction than the IFR one.

I sat the morning of Jan. 23rd. Mine did the same thing. Changed from NTL to YVR and Status changed to Interview just
the other day, last Friday or Monday.

@YVRFlier: if you sat the exam on Wed the 23rd, we were in the same session. Where were you sitting? I was the one at the far left of the front row as you faced Joanne.

I’m curious, where do you see the change from National to YVR? I can’t see that on mine. Is it in the title at the top of the page? If so, mine still says National. Did you indicate you would be available for a posting outside of the YVR FIR on your initial application? If not, that might be why yours now says YVR.

Now I guess we have to wait for the next step. Have any of you heard any indication on when that next step might happen?

[hopefulguy]

Thanks for the update, Aslam and YVRFlier.

I also recall Joanne saying no more phone interviews. Now that you mention being guaranteed an in-person interview, I seem to recall that too, although I would not have remembered it at all if you didn't mention it.

When I said "results", I just meant pass/fail, like a "Congratulations, you have moved on to the next round" or something like that.

I’m curious, where do you see the change from National to YVR? I can’t see that on mine. Is it in the title at the top of the page? If so, mine still says National. Did you indicate you would be available for a posting outside of the YVR FIR on your initial application? If not, that might be why yours now says YVR.

Now I guess we have to wait for the next step. Have any of you heard any indication on when that next step might happen?

In terms of where it says YVR, YVRFlier is talking about https://imgur.com/a/lSiI2jb See how the blue link now says ATS YVR Air Traffic Services instead of ATS NTL Air Traffic Services?

I did send Joanne an email asking for an approximate range of dates for when the interviews might possibly happen, as I am planning to leave the country for a few months and I want to plan it around it if possible. But, no response yet. I think she's still in Edmonton proctoring their exams. Or at least she was until Friday, so she didn't have time to answer yet.

Also, I was in the Jan 22nd sitting, we seemed to have sat in the same place, Aslam

[YVRFlier]

Ok more news to report... I emailed them and got a response from Joanne that the status change does indeed mean that we passed the in-person assessment and it is not a mistake or glitch in the system.

Here’s what she said:

Yes this does mean that you were successful. Your profile will now remain active for 18 months and it is during this time that if you are invited to move forward that we can contact you to move forward.

Unfortunately no timeline on when that might happen or what the next step would be. I seem to remember her saying at the end of the testing session that they don’t do phone interviews anymore but instead we would go straight to a panel in-person interview. I also seem to remember her saying that everyone who passed the in-person assessment session would be “guaranteed an interview”. Does anyone else remember that the next step was a panel interview and that we would be guaranteed one or did misremember that. I was also feeling some exhaustion from the testing regime so I may have heard things incorrectly.

@hopefulguy, I do not remember hearing anything about the results being emailed. As far as I know, they always stay confidential and we will likely never know exactly what they were.

My preference is the same as yours. I just know I would do better in a VFR scenario and I prefer that style of interaction than the IFR one.

I sat the morning of Jan. 23rd. Mine did the same thing. Changed from NTL to YVR and Status changed to Interview just
the other day, last Friday or Monday.

@YVRFlier: if you sat the exam on Wed the 23rd, we were in the same session. Where were you sitting? I was the one at the far left of the front row as you faced Joanne.

I’m curious, where do you see the change from National to YVR? I can’t see that on mine. Is it in the title at the top of the page? If so, mine still says National. Did you indicate you would be available for a posting outside of the YVR FIR on your initial application? If not, that might be why yours now says YVR.

Now I guess we have to wait for the next step. Have any of you heard any indication on when that next step might happen?

I was the last one to enter the room that morning. Sat back middle table, left seat.

[aslam]

I also recall Joanne saying no more phone interviews. Now that you mention being guaranteed an in-person interview, I seem to recall that too, although I would not have remembered it at all if you didn't mention it.

...

I did send Joanne an email asking for an approximate range of dates for when the interviews might possibly happen, as I am planning to leave the country for a few months and I want to plan it around it if possible. But, no response yet. I think she's still in Edmonton proctoring their exams. Or at least she was until Friday, so she didn't have time to answer yet.

Glad I didn’t hear that incorrectly. So then let’s hope they schedule in-person interviews soon. Let us know what you hear back from her. I’m travelling at the end of March/early-April so I really hope they are not at that time.

When I said "results", I just meant pass/fail, like a "Congratulations, you have moved on to the next round" or something like that.

That makes sense now. Yes I remember her saying we would be receiving an email either way. Maybe she’ll send those once she’s back from Edmonton.

I’m curious, where do you see the change from National to YVR? I can’t see that on mine. Is it in the title at the top of the page? If so, mine still says National. Did you indicate you would be available for a posting outside of the YVR FIR on your initial application? If not, that might be why yours now says YVR.

In terms of where it says YVR, YVRFlier is talking about https://imgur.com/a/lSiI2jb See how the blue link now says ATS YVR Air Traffic Services instead of ATS NTL Air Traffic Services?

Thanks for the screenshot. Ok so mine still shows “National” at that same spot. I’m curious, what did you say in your initial application under the section where it asks if you would consider training/postings in another FIR? Did you say yes and if so, which FIRs did you indicate you would be interested in? I’m wondering if that is the difference. I did say yes and that I would consider training/posting in the Toronto and Montreal FIRs.

Also, I was in the Jan 22nd sitting, we seemed to have sat in the same place, Aslam

Either it was a lucky spot or great minds think alike.

[hopefulguy]

Thanks for the screenshot. Ok so mine still shows “National” at that same spot. I’m curious, what did you say in your initial application under the section where it asks if you would consider training/postings in another FIR? Did you say yes and if so, which FIRs did you indicate you would be interested in? I’m wondering if that is the difference. I did say yes and that I would consider training/posting in the Toronto and Montreal FIRs.

Did you apply in the new system or the old system? I applied late last June in the old system, it's been a long time, I don't remember if I even had an option to indicate that. Certainly I'm pretty sure I wasn't given choices for individual FIRs. At most, it was either national or just within the region. And if such an option was given, I'm sure I would have indicated national back then.

I wonder if I can change it. Vancouver/BC is certainly nice, but I'll take anything I can get.

*Fingers Crossed I don't get posted to iles-de-la-nowhere for FSS *

[aslam]

Did you apply in the new system or the old system? I applied late last June in the old system, it's been a long time, I don't remember if I even had an option to indicate that. Certainly I'm pretty sure I wasn't given choices for individual FIRs. At most, it was either national or just within the region. And if such an option was given, I'm sure I would have indicated national back then.

I applied in December so it was in the new system where there was a question asking what region you were applying from (drop down to select one region) and a second question asking what other regions you are interested in applying for (checkboxes to select multiple other regions or “no other region” option). I answered Vancouver for the first and Toronto and Montreal for the second.

I wonder if I can change it. Vancouver/BC is certainly nice, but I'll take anything I can get.

*Fingers Crossed I don't get posted to iles-de-la-nowhere for FSS *

That would be a question for Joanne or something to mention during your interview. However, as you’ve noted, there’s a pro and a con to that. You might get a chance to go somewhere interesting but you might also get posted to “iles-de-la-nowhere”.

[hopefulguy]

So, Joanne responded to the 3 questions in my email.

I am not aware of the timeline for interviews for the Vancouver FIR

You would receive an invitation in the same format as you did for the testing session

And she confirmed that we would no longer have a phone interview.

[aslam]

Thanks for the update, @hopefulguy. I hope that they don’t schedule them for when either of us are out of town.
If anyone hears about potential dates for the next round of interviews in Vancouver, please let us know.

[rcminvcr]

Well, as of today, my file was moved back from YWG to YVR after successfully completing the in-person assessment in YWG. Back in the YVR pool.

I tried asking about an interview timeline, but it sounds like no dates are set yet. Hoping either April or July-Sept time frames.

[hopefulguy]

Got an email for interview dates! So excited.

[YVRFlier]

Got an email for interview dates! So excited.

I got mine yesterday. Still a little Can't wait and counting down the days! Congrats

[aslam]

Got an email for interview dates! So excited.

When are you booked in for? I'm booked info this Wednesday morning. Are you before or after that? Also, what are you doing to prep?

[aslam]

Got an email for interview dates! So excited.

I got mine yesterday. Still a little Can't wait and counting down the days! Congrats

Congratulations. When are you booked in for? I've got mine on Wednesday (26th) first thing in the morning. Also, what are you doing to prep?

[hopefulguy]

Got an email for interview dates! So excited.

When are you booked in for? I'm booked info this Wednesday morning. Are you before or after that? Also, what are you doing to prep?

I had my interview on the 20th. It went okay, not great but not absolutely horribly, although I am less confident now than I had been the previous few months waiting for the interview.

The interviewers told us not to talk about the interview much, and we weren't allowed to bring notes from the interview back. But hopefully they don't mind me sharing a post someone else made like a year ago...

yah I think she said end of the week or early next week whether I passed or not.
Not sure when/if stream will be assigned at the same time. I think stream is assigned late?
Lisa, any input on that?

Honestly, they were very nice...

They will ask you to talk about yourself.
what stream you would like and why
5-6 behavioural questions "describe a time when"
and basic knowledge about the company

after they talked about the upcoming courses, general info, and asked if I had any questions for them.
it was pretty straight forward!

good luck and let us know how it goes!!!

Also, what was really disappointing for me was that the interviewer said that because of contract negotiations, there are no VFR courses planned for the forseeable future (maybe not even for the 18 months that our applications remain active). Can you help confirm this at your interview? Also a confirmation on the dates for the next FSS/IFR classes would be much appreciated.

From what I remember, there's a 4-person FSS planned in october, and another one sometime early next year, and an IFR class in april.

[HRoy]

Also, what was really disappointing for me was that the interviewer said that because of contract negotiations, there are no VFR courses planned for the forseeable future (maybe not even for the 18 months that our applications remain active). Can you help confirm this at your interview? Also a confirmation on the dates for the next FSS/IFR classes would be much appreciated.

I'm currently waiting got the next in-person assessment in YVR. Your comment above doesn't sound very promising for any responses soon. I'm interested in FSS and VFR. I guess it's a little frustrating when your interview is quite a few months after the assessment, as compared to other regions where it seems to be a couple weeks after.

Thanks for keeping us updated hopefulguy!

[aslam]

Also, what was really disappointing for me was that the interviewer said that because of contract negotiations, there are no VFR courses planned for the forseeable future (maybe not even for the 18 months that our applications remain active). Can you help confirm this at your interview? Also a confirmation on the dates for the next FSS/IFR classes would be much appreciated.

From what I remember, there's a 4-person FSS planned in october, and another one sometime early next year, and an IFR class in april.

Did my interview today and I feel pretty good about it. Of course there were a couple things I realized I should have said that I thought about after I left but that always happens. And I struggled to come up with a good scenario for one of the questions but overall I think I did pretty well. However just due to my prior work as an independent consultant, I've done a ton of interviewing so I'm fairly confident in those settings.

As to your questions, here's what I heard from them:

He confirmed for me that they will be having an FSS course in October and another one early next year. He also confirmed for me that he runs IFR classes pretty much every April and that is expected to continue as such. Regarding VFR, he also told me that the current collective agreement has expired and so they aren't scheduling any more of those courses until a new agreement is in place. He told me that generally when he has run VFR courses, he is placing for anything that is a Grade 3 or lower tower (that's everything in the FIR except for YVR and YYJ). That is because the old collective agreement had a freeze on Grade 3 and above.

What another controller told me is that if the new agreement removes that freeze, then you can expect to see a whole bunch of existing controllers bidding to go and work at YVR or YYJ (more money, more overtime and the possibility of doing night shifts). In that case, it'll create demand for positions at lower grade towers which will create an increased demand for VFR controllers in general and that will mean they will need to run some big training cohorts. But the short answer is that, yes, don't expect a VFR course in the next few months. If you want VFR only, then you better expect to wait a while and even risk timing out. If you're willing to take IFR, then you might want to do that. And if you're streamed FSS, none of this matters or affects you.

Good luck to anyone else who has their interview coming up. I can confirm that the advice provided by wanderlust_xx previously is correct, btw.