How to Work at SpaceX

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SpaceX is a company owned and operated by Elon Musk. They do special projects like rocket launches, space exploration, and spacecraft design. They are currently the fastest growing provider of launch services, which means that jobs there are extremely sought after. If you’ve been pining after a job at SpaceX, try to emphasize your technical skills, prepare well for your interview, and describe why you want to work for SpaceX to get that much closer to your dream job.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Writing Your Resume and Cover Letter

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  1. SpaceX is a fast growing company, so they almost always have job openings available. Check on their website to find out what positions they have open and which location they are at. You can look at job openings by visiting https://www.spacex.com/careers . [1]
    • SpaceX has locations in Texas, Florida, Washington, California, and Washington DC. If you are not located near any locations, SpaceX will pay for you to fly to the closest location for an interview.
    • If you do get a job at SpaceX, you will need to live near one of their locations. Be prepared to relocate if you are hired.
  2. There are many different career opportunities at SpaceX, most of which require experience in different fields. Engineers, electrical technicians, and machinists are always in demand at SpaceX. Look through each job opening at SpaceX and see if your degree or experience will qualify you for a specific opportunity. [2]
    • Most job openings at SpaceX require a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field. Engineering jobs may require a Master’s Degree or PhD.
    • There are positions at SpaceX that aren't specifically tech-related, like sales and administration. However, it's still important to understand the technical side of things as much as possible. Jobs at SpaceX are very competitive, so the more you know, the better your chances will be at landing a position.
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  3. Degrees are important, but so is your experience. Write down your relevant skills and achievements in your resume so that your application stands out from others. [3]
    • Be sure to highlight your passion, drive, and talent by emphasizing why you are in your line of work and what has lead you to achieving your accomplishments. SpaceX often emphasizes passion and enthusiasm in the media, so they definitely value these attributes.

    Tip: Change which skills you list in your resume depending on which position you apply for. For example, if you apply for a welding position, list your certificates and safety training.

  4. Anyone can list their accomplishments and what they’re good at, but it takes guts to show how you’ve messed up and what you did to resolve it. To make your resume stand out, show that you can adapt to bad situations by listing a mistake or misstep that has happened in your career and how you fixed it. [4]
    • For example, if you broke a tool while working at an engineering job, you might write down how you stopped production to fix the tool and then wrote a safety procedure to make sure it didn’t happen again.
    • You can add this to your resume by listing it in the skills section. “Wrote a safety procedure to ensure a tool does not break again in the future and slow down production.”
  5. Cover letters are more personal than resumes and can show specifically why you are applying to SpaceX. Make sure to detail why you want to apply for your specific position and what exactly about SpaceX makes you interested in their company. [5]
    • For example, if you love space exploration and you’ve been interested in it for a long time, write down that your passion matches the mission of SpaceX.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Nailing an Interview

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  1. Interviews can be intimidating, so it can help to practice one with a friend. Write down some potential interview questions and have a friend or family member ask you them so you get a feel for what the interview might be like. [6]
    • Answer questions like, “Why do you want to work for SpaceX?” You might answer with, “To help with your space missions and change the way we view space travel.”
    • ”What motivated you to apply for this position?” You might say, “SpaceX’s mission of revolutionizing technology seems very interesting to me, and I’d like to help you reach that goal.”
    • ”How would your skills help SpaceX reach its goal?” You could reply, “I’ve been an engineer for 10 years, and I’ve worked on a few rocket launches. I can help with creating new technology as well as implementing it.”
    • ”Why did you choose your career path?” Try saying something like, “I love advancing technology and moving society forward. I thought an engineering job would help me do that.”
    • ”Describe a leadership position that you’ve had in the past.” You might answer with, “For the past 2 years, I’ve been a project manager for my department. I assign tasks, make sure everything is on schedule, and assist wherever I’m needed.”
  2. Just like a cover letter, an interview is a chance for a company to get to know you and your values. Tell your interviewer why you applied to SpaceX and what you like about the company specifically. Reference your career path and the passion that you have for it. [7]
    • Be sure to take a look at SpaceX’s mission statement on their website to get a feel for what they want to accomplish.
    • Say something like, “SpaceX seems like it is innovative and lets its employees be creative with how they improve technology. I’d love to be a part of a team like that.”
  3. You applied to SpaceX to help with their projects. During your interview, make sure to specify what exactly your skills will help to accomplish, and how they can assist in SpaceX’s missions.
    • For example, “I’ve been a welder for 5 years now, and I have experience in machine building. I can translate this directly to rocket building as well as other niche projects if needed.”
  4. SpaceX wants to hire people that are invested in their company. Spend some time before your interview reviewing the projects that SpaceX is undertaking and what your role might be. You can talk about these in your interview to show that you care about the company enough to research what they are doing. [8]

    Tip: You can find projects on the SpaceX website by visiting this link: https://www.spacex.com/ .

  5. SpaceX is a hugely technical company, and they only want to hire people who can contribute to their projects. Prepare yourself for a test of your technical skills that you wrote in your resume in the interview. This may come in the form of a quiz or test, or it can be an in-person workshop. [9]
    • This may happen at a later interview stage, like a second or third.
  6. Depending on the position you apply for, you may need to dress more or less formal. A welder, for instance, probably should wear a button-down shirt and slacks, while an engineer might wear a suit. SpaceX is an elite company, so you need to look the part before you can work there.
    • SpaceX may interview you over the phone before an in-person interview. If you start with a phone interview, make sure you are not distracted by anything in your environment and that you use professional and respectful language.
  7. SpaceX often says that it wants their employees to be able to do a little bit of all of their projects. Sit up straight and keep your arms uncrossed to show that you are excited about their work and that you are interested in what your interviewer is saying. [10]
    • Slouching or looking away from your interviewer can express that you don’t want to be there, even if you actually do.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Applying for an Internship

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  1. Internships at SpaceX are for students enrolled in college. You also need to be pursuing a relevant degree, like engineering. Masters and PhD students can apply for an internship, but they are mostly for undergraduate students. [11]
    • Your university or college must be accredited.
  2. SpaceX only hires the top percentage of people in their field, and their internships are no exception. Although you can apply for an internship with a GPA lower than 3.5, you will have a much higher chance at getting one if you have a GPA above 3.5. [12]
  3. A strong resume is important, even for an internship. Make sure that your resume describes your university, your major, your GPA, and any projects you’ve completed in school. List any relevant job experience you’ve had on your resume as well. [13]
  4. Internships at SpaceX are like jobs, except you’ll be doing a little bit of everything. Your interview will mostly consist of a technical test to make sure that you are able to handle the responsibilities of working at SpaceX and that you’d be an asset to whatever team you are assigned to. [14]
    • You should also be prepared to go into detail about any projects that you listed on your resume.
  5. If you’ve gotten any certificates, awards, or special achievements in your field, be sure to emphasize them on your resume and in your interview. Describe in detail any projects that you have completed and what your specific role in them was. [15]

    Tip: SpaceX wants interns that don’t need much training. If you can prove that you know your stuff, you are much more likely to get an internship.

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.spacex.com/careers
      2. ↑ https://www.spacex.com/careers/
      3. ↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/21/heres-how-you-can-get-a-job-working-for-elon-musks-spacex.html
      4. ↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/21/heres-how-you-can-get-a-job-working-for-elon-musks-spacex.html
      5. ↑ https://www.engineering.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/departments/career%20services/Cover%20Letter%20Guide%20(accessible%20for%20website).pdf
      6. ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/top-interview-questions-and-answers
      7. ↑ https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/how-to-get-a-job-at-spacex/
      8. ↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/21/heres-how-you-can-get-a-job-working-for-elon-musks-spacex.html
      9. ↑ https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/21/heres-how-you-can-get-a-job-working-for-elon-musks-spacex.html
      1. ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/body-language-during-interview
      2. ↑ https://www.spacex.com/internships
      3. ↑ https://www.spacex.com/internships
      4. ↑ https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/findajob/resources/write-good-resume
      5. ↑ https://www.spacex.com/internships
      6. ↑ https://www.spacex.com/internships

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