Testimonials



  


New publication in Australian military magazine - CONTACT - by PATS Director Jonathan Ryan

 

  

 

Michael O'Brien

Employer: Major Australian University

Position: Head of Graduate Careers and Employment Centre

 

Prior to recently returning to the private sector I spent 8 years as Head of Graduate employment at one of Australia's largest and most prestigious universities. I have spent the last 25 years employed in the human resources, recruitment and industrial psychology areas. I would endorse and recommend the PATS training courses to any final year university student. One of the reasons for this endorsement are the significant number of students at my former University who told me that they believed the training increased their aptitude test scores by between 20 to 40%. I have also sat in on a number of the training courses and can attest to their very high standard. I have moved back to one of the countries larger recruitment firms where I am a director and it is now common for recruiters to advise employment applicants to do the PATS course to boost their aptitude test performance.

 

 

John Taylor

Employer: Major Australian Resource Company

Position: Senior Financial Analyst

 

"I completed a number of the PATS online and also attended three days of courses in Melbourne. The online practice tests were great preparation for me for Testgrid and Onetest aptitude tests which I found myself almost always having to sit for senior Government and also private sector jobs as I completed my full time MBA. I simply had not seen these types of questions before and initially didn't understand the logic or have any method to tackle the problems. After completing the online practice tests I believe my test scores easily by at least 40% and more likely 50%. The program I attended in Melbourne was great preparation for the never ending SHL ability or psychometric tests that I was faced with during the job hunt.

I know that many others in my graduating MBA class used the services and found them invaluable.  I attended a leading MBA program in Australia and the staff in fact recommended we complete these practice tests. We were able to gain high standard passes put the tests behind us - and move onto the interviews."

 

 

Amanda Lee

Employer: Major Investment Bank 

Position: Graduate Credit Risk Analyst

 

"The PATS program assisted me dramatically in preparing for my ACER and SHL aptitude tests. The course is well-structured and suits my own needs based on my strength and weakness. Those materials that I found online at other web sites just could not be compared with the PATS course which covered all aspects of the aptitude tests very thoroughly. I highly recommended people who are eager to succeed to do the program."

 

 

 

 

 

Tony Hicks

Captain - Airbus A330 - Australian Low Cost Carrier

Former Cathay Pacific A330/A340 Captain

Former Singapore Airlines Learjet 45 Instructor Pilot

Aircraft Flown: Airbus A330 , Airbus A340 , Boeing 747, Learjet 45

 

"In late 2006 I applied for a position with an Australian international carrier. I soon realized I was going to need some help if I was to pass the psychometric testing required by this airline. I contacted PATS and spoke to Jonathan Ryan, who was most helpful with a course date, accommodation and transport to and from his office. His two day course was comprehensive, the content was excellent, and his hints on how to pass the various exercises were invaluable. It is no exaggeration to say that without his coaching, I wouldn't be in my present position as a Captain of a wide-body aircraft. I would highly recommend Jonathan Ryan and his employer - PATS - for anyone who seeks an aviation career in an  airline, or the military." Tony Hicks

 

 

Sean Dempsey

 

Captain - Airbus A320 - Australian Low Cost Carrier

Aircraft Flown: Airbus A320 , BAE Jetstream 32

 

"Prior to being offered a contract by my present employer I attended a two day PATS course in Melbourne to prepare for the aptitude testing component of selection. The course assisted me immensely with my preparation for selection testing and I think it is a must for anyone who is serious about getting the job. PATS staff also gave me invaluable advice in preparing for the interview - which was a great help and also a real confidence booster. Many pilots at my airline (Captains and First Officers) have told me that they also attended a PATS course and that they believe the course was the only reason they passed selection testing." Sean Dempsey

 

 

Paul O'Halloran

Senior Check Captain - Boeing 737 - Major Australian Airline

Aircraft Flown: Boeing 737 , Boeing 747-400

"As a Senior Check Captain I often get asked for advice on how to best prepare for selection testing by both direct entry and cadet applicants.  I would strongly endorse and recommend the PATS training program to all applicants - primarily because I have sat in on the course and witnessed the success rate of people I know who attended. The course I sat in on was first class in terms of the computer presentation and the technical knowledge and skill of the instructor - it is one of the best courses I have seen and I have attended many courses during my career to date. I know dozens of people who have attended this course and are now flying at my airline or completing the cadet pilot training program - which is a result that speaks for itself." Paul O'Halloran

 

 

 

Michael Lee

Senior First Officer - Boeing 777 - Major Asian Airline

Aircraft Flown: Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777

"The PATS program assisted me immeasurably in preparing for both the aptitude tests and the interview process at my  airline. I applied along with several hundred others for a place in a sponsored pilot cadetship with my airline - so competition was very tough. Attending the PATS course involved for me international travel to Melbourne so it was a serious financial commitment. The course was excellent and the instructor Mr Jonathan Ryan covered all aspects of the aptitude tests very thoroughly -  providing very clear and effective techniques to tackle the different components of the aptitude tests. In my view the PATS course is the primary reason I was able to win a place on the cadetship program."

 

 

 

Andrew Jones 

Senior First Officer - Boeing 747-400 - Major British Airline

Aircraft Flown: Airbus 320 , Boeing  747- 400

"As I neared the completion of my integrated CPL/IR program in the UK things began to get serious on the employment front - most airlines in the UK were hiring fresh graduates. I sought advice on how to prepare for the aptitude tests in the UK from colleagues, pilots and flying instructors- the advice I received was unanimous - that you cannot prepare for these type of tests - DON'T BELIEVE THIS.

After a few conversations with PATS Staff I decided to attend their course in Melbourne. As I was coming from the UK I decided to do a four day course - rather than just two days so  it was a significant outlay but the strength of Sterling assisted.

The course was superb - all the relevant types of tests were covered and worked on to the nth degree. Jonathan Ryan explained and detailed excellent methods and procedures for solving the problems. My particular area of weakness was mathematics - so many hours were spent on this area. Jonathan Ryan is a fantastic maths instructor and he built my confidence as we repeated effective step by step methods of solving problems. When it came to sitting the actual aptitude tests I would typically complete around 80 to 90% of all maths sections - and I am confident that the accuracy rate was very high.

When I returned to the UK I passed the aptitude tests at four different UK airlines and finished up receiving three offers of employment. I accepted a start date with a large UK airline - that most pilots in the UK would regard as the best airline for a pilot to work at. A significant amount of credit for this success is due to the PATS course."

 

Jack Smith

Employer: Major Australian Fire Service

 

"Like many people, I have dreamed about being a fire-fighter since I was young. I am strong and swift. But when it comes to sitting down and working out numbers, I lose my confidence. Fortunately, I heard many good things about PATS from a newly recruited fire-fighter who have taken PATS fire brigade course before.

Under his recommendation, I took the two day course in Melbourne and then found out the course was really helpful in term of preparing ACER aptitude test. The course is an individual face-to-face training, therefore can be customized for people's personal needs. I would recommend this course to everyone who is dreaming about being a firefighter."

 

 

David Jackson

Employer: Major Australian State Fire Service

 

"Before I did the PATS course, I failed the aptitude selection testing twice.The actual selection test was the ACER battery - verbal,numerical and mechanical - PATS knew this test battery like the back of their hand. I didn't prepare for the testing at the first time ‘cause I thought it goanna be pretty easy. Of course, it turned out to be the opposite when the test had a time limit. I learned the lesson and spent some time to study on my own for my second shot. However, I failed again.

Just before I gave up on this, I came across PATS and bang - it really worked. The training was packed in two days with many computer based materials about verbal, numerical and mechanical reasoning. Those bits and pieces materials that I found online before were just cannot compared with the well-structured PATS courses. It covers all the things you need to know in the real test. I wish I have done PATS training programme at the first place. If that, I would become a fire-fighter years ago."

 

 

'THE JOBS' MARKET' Article by Jonathan Ryan, PATS Director - Contact Magazine - militarycontact.com

 

 

 

 

    

Media Publicity about PATS

On the right is an interview that the PATS CEO Jonathan Ryan completed in 2007 for The Melbourne Age. PATS is regularly asked to provide advice to both public and private institutions regarding aptitude and ability tests particularly in terms of advising on the most appropriate tests to use for a selection process. We are also asked on a regular basis to provide speakers to both the University and Secondary sectors to advise students on how to best prepare for aptitude testing.
Increasingly we have been providing speakers to secondary school information nights and we can speak on a variety of topics including careers in Aviation and the Australian Defence Force. We have particular expertise in advising secondary students on applying for the Australian Defence Force - in particular getting the optimum timing of ADF selection testing with your Year 11 and Year 12 academic commitments.

© PATS 2007