RNZAF PERSEL (OASB)

[mechaneer]

Hi everyone, just wondering if anyone on here has been through the Air Force Officer and Aircrew Selection Board process before?
I am attending it in a few weeks (applying for an engineering officer role), and would appreciate anyone sharing their experiences they had and any tips they may have...what sort of things should I expect?

Thanks,
Dan

[Ace]

Dress tidy (wear a shirt and tie), be confident in what you're doing / saying.

Good luck

[mechaneer]

QUOTE (Ace @ Sep 15 2010, 04:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Dress tidy (wear a shirt and tie), be confident in what you're doing / saying.

Good luck

Thanks . Have you been through the selection board before? If so, Just wondering also what I should take in the way of clothes...
My interviewer said to wear pants (not jeans) and a shirt for the four days. Should I pack causal clothes also (such as track pants, T-shirts etc for at nights after dinner?)
And what is best to wear under the overalls for the outdoor activities?

[mfraser]

I did Persel waaaaay back in 1999 on my way to becoming a Helicopter Crewman

You've got everything right so far - so thats a good start!! You should definately turn up in dress pants, shirt and tie.......... although after the introductions you'll probably be asked to remove the tie!! And yes, no jeans during the selection (After hours is fine so have some relaxed dress to wear in the down time). None of the tasks require any real exertion and from memory overalls are supplied if the conditions warrant it.

My advice for the course........... be yourself. Don't try and guess as to what they assessors are looking for - they'll spot the fakers from a mile away!! Be positive, confident and outgoing in the exercises, but don't overdo it!! One of the guys from my selection missed out because he kept interrupting others and was a bit overbearing!! Instead, listen to the other candidates ideas and suggestions - and make your own comments and suggest improvements if appropriate. If you make a mistake and fail an exercise - DON'T FREAK OUT!! I misunderstood some of the details and probably looked a little naive during the group problem solving exercise. I also failed my leadership task and topped it off by wandering off topic during my topical speech!! You'll show more character by getting back into the conversation and remaining positive than sulking in a corner!!

Above all......... HAVE FUN!! Its a great experience and one that will probably stay with you for life!!

Best of luck!!

[mechaneer]

QUOTE (mfraser @ Sep 15 2010, 07:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I did Persel waaaaay back in 1999 on my way to becoming a Helicopter Crewman

You've got everything right so far - so thats a good start!! You should definately turn up in dress pants, shirt and tie.......... although after the introductions you'll probably be asked to remove the tie!! And yes, no jeans during the selection (After hours is fine so have some relaxed dress to wear in the down time). None of the tasks require any real exertion and from memory overalls are supplied if the conditions warrant it.

My advice for the course........... be yourself. Don't try and guess as to what they assessors are looking for - they'll spot the fakers from a mile away!! Be positive, confident and outgoing in the exercises, but don't overdo it!! One of the guys from my selection missed out because he kept interrupting others and was a bit overbearing!! Instead, listen to the other candidates ideas and suggestions - and make your own comments and suggest improvements if appropriate. If you make a mistake and fail an exercise - DON'T FREAK OUT!! I misunderstood some of the details and probably looked a little naive during the group problem solving exercise. I also failed my leadership task and topped it off by wandering off topic during my topical speech!! You'll show more character by getting back into the conversation and remaining positive than sulking in a corner!!

Above all......... HAVE FUN!! Its a great experience and one that will probably stay with you for life!!

Best of luck!!

Thanks very much! That's a big help...I'll have to go and get some clothes, because these student clothes definitely won't cut it!
I get pretty nervous doing speeches, but have got reasonably good marks in my project presentations and speeches in the past - so hopefully I don't show it!....I take it that it was an impromptu speech that you had to do?

anyway, thanks very much for your help I really appreciate it.

[Bazza]

In a career over many years, whilst not being for the same employer, I conducted many similar interviews from the "other" side of the table. I support everything previously offered
and wish you well. Most interviewers are well aware of B/s'rs and look for a genuine, sincere, but not crawling or fawning attitude. If you're caught out, admit it. One of the things I
constantly looked for, was a sign of natural intelligence, respect and potential. Easy to say, but it comes down to standing up and presenting yourself. Arrogance, know-all attitude, and
a self opinionated outlook are very easily spotted if your interviewers have been there and done that.

The whole situation is designed to put you on the back foot, remember that, think about the questions that you are asked considering that they are designed and asked for a reason....?

Go for it buddy, I wish you well. The fact that you have mentioned this in the forum gives me hope that you are on the right track and half way there.

[mfraser]

QUOTE (mechaneer @ Sep 15 2010, 08:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks very much! That's a big help...I'll have to go and get some clothes, because these student clothes definitely won't cut it!
I get pretty nervous doing speeches, but have got reasonably good marks in my project presentations and speeches in the past - so hopefully I don't show it!....I take it that it was an impromptu speech that you had to do?

anyway, thanks very much for your help I really appreciate it.

Its not quite impromptu......... there is a table with a bunch of cards on it. Each card had a topic written on it. You get to choose two cards at random, go to a quiet room for 5 minutes to prepare, and then speak for 2 minutes about your chosen topic. It happens quite late in the assessment so you should be feeling a little more at ease with the other candidates. Just take a deep breath, speak slowly and clearly and the two minutes will be over in no time. In fact, I missed my cue and the assessor had to politely ask me to stop talking!!

So my topic was 'Capital Punishment'........ but I got a little mixed up while I was speaking and ended up talking about 'Corporal Punishment'....... big difference!!

[mechaneer]

QUOTE (Bazza @ Sep 15 2010, 09:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In a career over many years, whilst not being for the same employer, I conducted many similar interviews from the "other" side of the table. I support everything previously offered
and wish you well. Most interviewers are well aware of B/s'rs and look for a genuine, sincere, but not crawling or fawning attitude. If you're caught out, admit it. One of the things I
constantly looked for, was a sign of natural intelligence, respect and potential. Easy to say, but it comes down to standing up and presenting yourself. Arrogance, know-all attitude, and
a self opinionated outlook are very easily spotted if your interviewers have been there and done that.

The whole situation is designed to put you on the back foot, remember that, think about the questions that you are asked considering that they are designed and asked for a reason....?

Go for it buddy, I wish you well. The fact that you have mentioned this in the forum gives me hope that you are on the right track and half way there.

Thanks Bazza, it definitely sounds like being yourself and not putting on a front is the way to go (which suits me since I am horrible at lying).
It's good to hear the perspective from the "other" side of the table as you put it....

[mechaneer]

QUOTE (mfraser @ Sep 15 2010, 09:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Its not quite impromptu......... there is a table with a bunch of cards on it. Each card had a topic written on it. You get to choose two cards at random, go to a quiet room for 5 minutes to prepare, and then speak for 2 minutes about your chosen topic. It happens quite late in the assessment so you should be feeling a little more at ease with the other candidates. Just take a deep breath, speak slowly and clearly and the two minutes will be over in no time. In fact, I missed my cue and the assessor had to politely ask me to stop talking!!

So my topic was 'Capital Punishment'........ but I got a little mixed up while I was speaking and ended up talking about 'Corporal Punishment'....... big difference!!

Ok, that doesn't sound too bad. I like the idea of being able to choose the topic from the two cards you pick up (if I interpreted what you said correctly).
I would have been a bit worried I didn't know anything about the topic otherwise...

Haha, I can definitely see how you mixed up Capital and Corporal punishment- I just had to Google them then to see which one was which!

[ZKIWI]

Mechaneer,

MFraser has hit it on the head with his comments. I'll fire you a private message to confirm some of those points. Biggest thing is be yourself, the team officers are looking for someone that has potential. They aren't looking for a know it all, outspoken person which is where a lot of people fall down.

[orion]

Hey there, i'm a long time watcher of this forum but just decided to join recently.

I'm currently in Christchurch and will be attending PERSEL at the end of this month. I'm going for pilot, probably with a hundred others :-)
Some good information posted, the speech sounds like the most daunting thing to expect, but if that's all then it should be fun!

[mechaneer]

QUOTE (orion @ Sep 17 2010, 11:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey there, i'm a long time watcher of this forum but just decided to join recently.

I'm currently in Christchurch and will be attending PERSEL at the end of this month. I'm going for pilot, probably with a hundred others :-)
Some good information posted, the speech sounds like the most daunting thing to expect, but if that's all then it should be fun!

What dates are going? I might see you there...I'm leaving Christchurch on the 5th Oct. Just out of curiosity have you been told much about what the SMA4 test involves for pilots - it sounds pretty interesting?
Surely anyone who plays flight sim or games in general might have a bit of an advantage...

[orion]

I'm leaving on the 28th of this month with 4 or 5 others.Hopefully i'll return on the 2nd unless im unsuccessful in which case, the 1st.

Don't know much about the simulator, a search on google found Super Mario Advance 4 LOL guess we won't be playing that though.
Playing flight sim probably would help out, however i recently fried my video card

Does anybody know, approximately, how many attend persel?

[deaneb]

QUOTE (orion @ Sep 17 2010, 01:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm leaving on the 28th of this month with 4 or 5 others.Hopefully i'll return on the 2nd unless im unsuccessful in which case, the 1st.

Don't know much about the simulator, a search on google found Super Mario Advance 4 LOL guess we won't be playing that though.
Playing flight sim probably would help out, however i recently fried my video card

Does anybody know, approximately, how many attend persel?

I was part of a group of test subjects put through the "box" simulator years ago. Assuming they still use it, it consists of a small screen with a box and circle. One moves around the screen (circle from memory) and you have to keep the box around the circle by moving it up and down using the control column (joystick) and moving it left and right with rudder pedals. (Moving the stick left and right does nothing) As well as that a light comes on every now and again and you have to switch it off my moving the throttle forward. The main idea i believe is to show co-ordination and, because you get three turns at it, they are looking for improvement. As for the rest of the Selection - as others have said - be yourself, don't lie. One test will ask questions like - have you ever stolen anything - even something really cheap. Most of us have taken a pen home from an employer probably??

[orion]

Thanks for the info, the sim sounds a little tricky. Does the sim get faster and more erratic over time?

Are the rest of the aptitude tests more or less the same 'difficultness' as the ones we took before the interviews?

[redkiwi]

All the best - there isn't much you can do to prepare but be yourself, and be completely honest because over four days they'll more than likely see holes anything where you aren't straight up. Even more so you don't want to end up going through with it and then finding that it's not something you are really cut out for, so just be you.

I went back in early 09, didn't take any casual clothes which was a dumb move. You do get some down time in the evenings so take some tidy but comfortable clothes - try to stick to collared shirts or polos and tidy pants, jeans are ok in the evenings but I'd advise staying in shirt/pants until after dinner. You don't have to wear a tie all the time, but go all out for the interviews if that's what you'd usually do. I had full suit with tie and shirt etc (make sure your shoes are shiny!). I'm waiting on a call next month to find out if I get in as AWO, otherwise I'm just gonna stay out in the desert in Australia until I can check out the RAAF/RAN/Aus Army.


The test are more of the same - basically all at the 'advanced' level of what you sat for basic aptitude tests. Don't worry about the sim, doesn't apply to you as an engineering officer. Just don't try and move the ball left to right with the stick!

Best thing I'd suggest is just try to relax, and it might sound stupid, but it might pay to stay up a later than usual for a few days before you go, because when you get there you're likely to be nervous whether you like it or not and if you're already tired then it may help you get to sleep a bit better on the first night :-)

[orion]

Heya, all set to go on Tuesday so hopefuly i'll post back in 5 days ..however if unsuccessful, i might be a bit longer LoL

good luck mechaneer

[mechaneer]

QUOTE (orion @ Sep 26 2010, 10:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Heya, all set to go on Tuesday so hopefuly i'll post back in 5 days ..however if unsuccessful, i might be a bit longer LoL

good luck mechaneer

Thanks, best of luck to you also ...have fun, it sounds like it's going to be a memorable experience!

Apparently we are competing with about 140 others for 37 places this year, so I wouldn't get too down if I was unsuccessful.

[orion]

Just wondering, do we only get one shot at PERSEL?

[redkiwi]

Depends how badly you fail the first time. Sometimes they say come back in 18mths, sometimes they say you just aren't good enough to be an officer.