Prepare your job application

At the start of your space sector journey, it’s important to reflect on your interests, strengths, and goals. Ask yourself: Which field excites me? What are my skills and strengths? Do I want to work in industry, research, start-ups, or public institutions? Which type of organization or work environment best suits my interests? What skills do I need to develop for my preferred field?  

According to the ASTRAIOS project's analysis of workforce demand in the European space sector and the ASTRAIOS Space Sector Soft Skills Report, employers increasingly seek candidates who combine strong technical expertise with transversal skills such as communication, teamwork, adaptability, creative thinking and problem-solving. These competencies are becoming increasingly important alongside specialised technical knowledge as the sector evolves and adopts new ways of working. 

Creating a structured career plan can help align your education, experience, and ambitions with opportunities in the space sector. Once you have identified suitable opportunities, preparing strong application materials is a critical next step. Your Europass CV should clearly present your education, experience, projects, skills, and achievements in a concise and relevant way. A cover letter should complement your CV by explaining your motivation, interests, and suitability for the specific role, ensuring a compelling and tailored application. 

Create your Europass CV here!

Beyond formal qualifications, employers increasingly value a combination of technical and transversal skills. According to the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Report 2025, analytical thinking, adaptability, resilience, leadership, communication, collaboration and lifelong learning are among the most important skills required across industries. Within the European space sector, these competencies complement technical expertise and can be demonstrated through academic projects, research activities, competitions, volunteering, certifications and interdisciplinary experiences. 

As you pursue employment opportunities in the space sector, it’s important to approach your applications thoughtfully. Take the time to explore job openings that genuinely interest you and research the companies offering them. Utilise resources like corporate websites and job portals to familiarise yourself with each employer’s unique application processes but also their company or institutional culture. Each organisation has different needs, priorities and cultures. Tailoring your application materials to each opportunity can significantly strengthen your chances to succeed. 

Use the Space Career Launchpad to: 

• Identify relevant opportunities  

• Better understand employer expectations  

• Adapt your Europass CV and cover letter accordingly  

• Highlight the most relevant skills and experiences for each application  

• A targeted application demonstrates both preparation and motivation. 

The Europass CV provides a structured and standardised framework for presenting qualifications, skills and experience across Europe. 

Using Europass supports: 

• Clarity and comparability across borders  

• Easier recognition of qualifications  

• More efficient evaluation by employers and institutions  

Within the Space Career Launchpad ecosystem, structured and consistent profiles can improve visibility to organisations across Europe. 

Whilst hunting for jobs or internships, especially in fields that value innovation and initiative, don’t underestimate the power of spontaneous and initiative applications. Not all opportunities are publicly advertised. Some organisations recruit continuously or identify candidates through spontaneous applications and networking activities. Proactively approaching organisations can therefore open additional opportunities across the space ecosystem. 

Spontaneous applications demonstrate: 

• Initiative  

• Motivation  

• Curiosity  

• Interest in a specific organisation or field  

The Space Career Launchpad encourages users to engage actively with organisations and ecosystem actors across Europe. 

Your CV is often the first impression you make on a potential employer. It should be clear, concise and tailored to the opportunity you are applying for, highlighting the skills, experiences and achievements that are most relevant to the role. 

Step 1: Build your CV 

When building your CV, prioritise clarity, relevance and structure. 

Typical sections may include: 

• Personal information  

• Professional summary  

• Work experience  

• Education  

• Skills (technical, digital, soft skills and languages)  

• Projects and achievements  

• Publications or presentations  

• Professional affiliations  

• References (upon request)  

Your CV should be adapted to the role you are applying for and highlight measurable achievements wherever possible. 

Step 2: Focus on the content  

If you have limited professional experience, focus on demonstrating your skills, motivation and potential through other forms of experience. The European Commission LifeComp Framework identifies initiative, adaptability, collaboration and lifelong learning as key competences for personal and professional development. Research projects, academic achievements and extracurricular activities can therefore play an important role in strengthening your profile and demonstrating your readiness to contribute to the space sector. 

• Research projects 

• University work 

• Technical projects 

• Competitions and hackathons 

• Extracurricular activities 

• Interdisciplinary or innovative initiatives 

These experiences can help demonstrate curiosity, initiative, problem-solving abilities, teamwork and commitment to continuous learning, all of which are increasingly valued across the European space ecosystem. 

Step 3: Finalise your CV 

As you near the final stages of preparing your CV, it’s important to think about including references. References legitimise your claims and add seniority by adding the option for potential employers to “fact check” any of your statements by a third-party. It’s crucial to only list people who have previously agreed to be included in your CV. This shows respect for their privacy and ensures they’re ready to support your application honestly. Oh and, it sure helps if they agreed to only speak positively about your skills and character. 

Information about references should include: 

• Their full name 

• Their latest position and affiliation to a company, institution, or organisation 

• Contact details (email or phone number). 

If the details or position of a person has changed significantly since your engagement with them, maybe add a little background info of what their affiliation was before – this can be especially important if for example a person switches from private to public sector or vice versa. 

When finalising your CV, it’s important to ensure it is short yet thorough. Ideally try to summarise the most important points of your CV in only two pages. Of course, if you have a very extensive list of publications and deem them important for the position it is better to add them to the CV – but in general try to be short and precise. 

Have someone carefully check your documents for any mistakes or unclarities. This step isn’t just about fixing errors; it’s about making sure your qualifications are clearly communicated. Whilst they are at it, let them check your cover letter as well. A well-checked CV and cover letter represent you in the job market, showing your attention to detail and consideration for the reader’s time. They should present your qualifications clearly and accurately, demonstrating your professionalism and dedication to excellence in the space sector. Remember, clear and accurate documents can leave a good impression, setting the stage for a successful first interaction with potential employers. 

Your cover letter is your opportunity to present your professional identity and explain your motivation for joining the space sector. 

Rather than repeating your CV, the cover letter should: 

• Highlight your motivation and interests  

• Explain why you are interested in a specific role or organisation  

• Showcase relevant experiences and achievements 

• Demonstrate communication skills and professionalism 

Personal experiences, projects, competitions or moments that sparked your interest in space can help make your application more distinctive and authentic. 

In today’s digital era, keeping your online presence updated may be just as important as your application itself. It’s important to ensure that your LinkedIn profile and any other professional social media accounts you use accurately reflect the information in your CV. This consistency ensures that potential employers see a coherent story of your professional journey. 

Take the time to review each section of your online profiles, including your education, work history, skills, and endorsements. Make sure these digital platforms not only showcase your current qualifications but also align with the career path you’re aiming for. A consistent and polished online presence can enhance your professional image and boost your visibility in the job market, especially in the dynamic space sector. 

Remember, in professional networking, your digital presence often forms the first impression. Make sure it’s a positive one. 

The recruitment process in the space sector may involve multiple stages designed to evaluate both your technical skills and your potential to succeed within an organisation. Beyond reviewing your application materials, some organisations may invite candidates to complete assessment tests or participate in one or more interviews. 

Assessment Tests 

These tests often assess: 

• Technical knowledge and sector-specific expertise  

• Problem-solving and analytical thinking skills  

• Ability to work under pressure and manage deadlines  

Familiarising yourself with the test format, reviewing relevant technical concepts, and practising problem-solving exercises can help improve both performance and confidence. 

Interviews 

Interviews give you the opportunity to demonstrate not only your technical skills, but also your motivation, communication abilities, and alignment with the organisation’s mission and values. Employers use interviews to understand how you approach challenges, collaborate with others, and contribute to a team. 

Before attending an interview: 

• Research the organisation and its activities  

• Understand the requirements of the role  

• Prepare concrete examples that showcase your skills, achievements, and experience  

• Ensure a professional setup for virtual interviews  

• Bring all relevant documents for in-person meetings  

While technical expertise is important, employers also value strong communication, preparation, professionalism, and genuine interest in the role. Demonstrating these qualities can help you stand out and increase your chances of success. 

The European space sector continues to evolve alongside developments in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, sustainability, data-driven services, digital technologies, entrepreneurship and innovation. These changes are increasing the demand for technical and transversal skills, making continuous learning, upskilling, and reskilling essential. 

The Space Career Launchpad aims to help you identify the skills you may need to enter, progress within or transition into the European space ecosystem by connecting you with opportunities and resources. Those will help you develop technical skills, training resources, skills development initiatives, educational materials, EU space-related learning opportunities and innovation or entrepreneurship programmes.  

Find relevant resources for each group: 

• Students: Access student resources on learning, internships, and career guidance  

• Professionals: Explore professional training and development opportunities  

• Employers: Discover tools to find talent and post opportunities  

• Teachers: View educational resources and programmes to support learners