Applying to ESA this summer? Here’s how to make the most of it

Even if you don’t spot the perfect role today, the vacancies currently online are a valuable resource. Read through several job descriptions and look for recurring themes. Which technical skills, competencies or types of experience consistently appear? You may notice that project management, stakeholder engagement, international collaboration or specific software tools are mentioned across multiple roles.

This can help you identify strengths to highlight in your CV and motivation letter, as well as any skills you could develop for future opportunities. It is also a great way to become familiar with how ESA vacancy notices are structured and what recruiters are looking for.

It can be tempting to submit the same CV and motivation letter for multiple roles, especially when there are so many exciting opportunities available. However, recruiters can quickly tell when an application has been written with a specific role in mind or if you are using a template to apply for many roles at the same time.

Start by reading the vacancy carefully and identifying the essential requirements before looking at the “asset” criteria. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t meet every desirable qualification. Focus first on demonstrating that you meet the key requirements of the role, then use your motivation letter to show how your additional skills and experience could bring value.

Once you’ve identified what’s most important, tailor your CV and motivation letter accordingly. For example, if a role places particular emphasis on stakeholder management or international collaboration, make sure your experience is those areas is clearly demonstrated rather than buried further down your application. Check your application for any unnecessary detail so that you are highlighting only the relevant aspects of your background: this makes it much easier for a recruiter to zoom in on them.

Your job title tells recruiters what you were expected to do. Your achievements tell them what you actually accomplished.

Instead of writing that you “managed projects”, explain what those projects achieved. Did you improve an existing process? Deliver a project ahead of schedule? Coordinate an international team? Introduce a new tool that made colleagues’ work easier? Whenever possible, include measurable results, but even qualitative examples that demonstrate initiative, problem solving or teamwork can help bring your experience to life.

When people think of ESA, engineering is often the first thing that comes to mind. While engineers play a vital role, every mission depends on professionals from many different backgrounds.

Our current vacancies are in areas including communications, finance, human resources, legal services, procurement, information technology, project support, education and more. Even if your previous experience has been outside the space sector, the skills you’ve developed may still be highly relevant. Instead of asking yourself, “Have I worked in space before?”, ask, “How is my expertise relevant to the position and how can I contribute to ESA’s mission?”

Familiarise yourself with ESA’s mission and ambitions. What speaks to you and inspires you about them? We want to hear about your enthusiasm for space and for being a part of Europe’s future in it. ESA offers a truly unique working environment, so take some time to learn about it and tell us how you would be a good fit for our international, multicultural team working together across sites and countries. Prior experience in the space sector isn’t always required, but an interest in space is key and will help you make that lasting impression if you are invited for an interview!

Knowing what happens after you click “Submit” can help you prepare with confidence. After submitting your application through ESA’s recruitment portal, you can track its progress through your candidate profile. Once the application deadline has passed, shortlisted candidates may be invited to a pre-screening activity, such as an on-demand video interview, online interview or written test, depending on the role. Successful candidates are then invited to a final interview, which is usually held online with an ESA selection board.

A little preparation can save a lot of time, particularly if you’re interested in applying for more than one role.

Start by creating your candidate profile. This is the foundation for your application(s) and also for creating a job alert.

A strong application is rarely written in one sitting. If possible, after writing a draft, leave it for a day and then read it again with fresh eyes. Check for spelling and grammar, make sure dates are consistent across your CV and application, and ask yourself whether your key strengths are immediately obvious.

If you can, ask a trusted colleague, friend or mentor to review your application as well. They may spot unclear wording or identify achievements that you have unintentionally overlooked. Using AI to help refine your application can also help, but use it only when necessary. Humans review every application at ESA, so we want to be introduced to the real you through your own words. This will also make you stand out.

Don’t leave applying to the last minute. You may encounter technical issues and, if you make a mistake, you cannot update it if the post has closed. We recommend that you apply at least several days, if not one week, before the closing date.