How to Join NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is a U.S. government agency that carries out the country's aeronautics, space exploration, and scientific endeavors. NASA’s mission is: "To reach new heights and explore the unknown for the benefit of all humanity." There are numerous exciting job opportunities at NASA, and various ways to join the agency. Although working at NASA is intriguing, creative, and significant, it is also highly competitive, requiring candidates to meet stringent criteria. If you dream of working with NASA, we have helpful tips on how to prepare to ultimately land a job there, as well as practical advice on how to navigate the application process.

Explore job opportunities at NASA. When you think of NASA, you might first think of astronauts. However, even if you aren’t interested in space travel, you can still find a rewarding job at NASA. NASA hires professionals such as:

• Doctors, nurses, and mental health specialists.
• Researchers, engineers, geologists, microbiologists, and physicists.
• Writers, HR specialists, and communication experts.
• Computer programmers and IT professionals.

Identify your academic strengths. If you're considering a path toward working at NASA, it’s important to recognize your strengths as early as possible. This will help you develop an idea of which role at NASA suits you best. Consider the following:

• Which subjects do you excel in? For instance, if everyone enjoys working with you during physics lab sessions, you might want to consider a future role in applied physics.

Identify your passions and interests. Even if you’re exceptionally good at a subject like math or chemistry, a career at NASA will be just as challenging as the academic journey you’ve taken to get there. It’s essential to pursue a path not only where you excel but also one where your enthusiasm drives you.

Design your study program. Once you have a clear idea of your ideal job at NASA, it’s crucial to carefully plan the courses you need to take in high school and/or college. Regularly meet with academic advisors to ensure you're taking the right courses and the necessary number of subjects.

• If you want to become an astronaut, engineer, or scientist at NASA, focus on courses in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
• Also, decide as early as possible if your dream job requires graduate studies. This may influence the universities you apply to or the courses you select at the undergraduate level.

Study hard. If you were to ask a NASA employee how to get hired, they might jokingly say, "Study hard," but that’s truly the key.

• You’ll need to persist in your studies, ensuring that not only are your grades high, but you must also become highly proficient in your chosen field.

Choose the right school. If you're a high school student reading this, you're already on the right path by planning ahead for a career at NASA. Take the time to research colleges and universities with strong programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and apply to the best institution among them.

Research the backgrounds of NASA employees. A great way to discover the path to your goal is by learning how those who came before you achieved it. You can visit NASA’s website to read the biographies of successful employees working there.

• Look into where they went to college and graduate school, whether they mentioned completing internships or receiving fellowships, and other details about their experiences.

Evaluate if you can follow a similar path. Are you able to apply to these schools? If you’re already in college but feel your current program lacks depth, you can consider transferring to another university in your last two years of college.

Study abroad. While your focus will primarily be on natural sciences, don’t overlook social sciences. For example, studying philosophy, history, and/or ethics can be highly beneficial.

• These subjects will teach you to read and analyze complex texts, refine problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and help you reflect on important ethical issues. These abilities are essential for future roles at NASA.

Become a well-rounded individual. Make it a priority to develop yourself holistically: this means not only expanding your knowledge but also taking care of your body, working on developing those around you, and honing leadership skills. Additionally, you should find ways to relax and have fun outside of academics.

• Try to carve out time in your schedule for extracurricular activities that will help you achieve these goals. For example, you could join a science club, math club, debate team, run for student council, participate in volleyball, or join a school band.

Learn about NASA's Pathways Internship Program. NASA runs a program called the Pathways Program, which offers three different pathways for applicants to begin working with them. This program is intended for current college students or those who have been accepted into training programs.

• If accepted into this program, you’ll have the opportunity to work paid, develop key skills, gain relevant experience, and build connections, with the hope that it will lead to a permanent position at NASA in the future.

Search for internship opportunities within the Pathways Program. You can visit NASA’s website or USAJOBS to find all the available positions in the Pathways Program, including internships. You can also sign up to receive notifications about job openings through USAJOBS.

Meet the application eligibility requirements. To be eligible to apply for an internship position at NASA, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 16 years old by the time your internship starts, enrolled in a degree program, and accepted or enrolled in an accredited educational institution.

• Your GPA must be at least 2.9 on a 4.0 scale.

Fulfill additional requirements. For certain positions, you will need to meet the qualifications specific to NASA’s aerospace, science, and engineering fields. These qualifications will be detailed in the internship announcement.

Apply for the Pathways Program. When you apply, your browser will be directed to USAJOBS’s online application system. Below, we will provide more information on how to manage your application submission.

Consider applying for the Pathways Recent Graduates Program (RGP). Don’t worry if you didn’t know about this internship program while you were in college. If you’ve just graduated or are set to graduate this year, you might be eligible to apply for the RGP.

• If your application is accepted, you’ll join a one-year career development program (with a possibility of a one-year extension). After this program, there’s a chance to be transitioned into a more permanent position.

Meet the eligibility requirements for the RGP. To apply for the RGP, you must have recently graduated from an educational institution within the past two years, unless you are a qualified veteran.

• If you had to delay your graduation due to military service, you can apply within six years after your graduation or receiving your degree.

Apply for the RGP. To apply, visit NASA’s website or directly head to USAJOBS to search for open positions within the RGP.

Learn about the Pathways Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF). This final Pathways program is designed for individuals who have recently completed their graduate studies. Selected candidates will participate in an advanced leadership development program, preparing them for rapid advancement into key government roles.

Determine if you’re eligible for the PMF. If you’ve earned a graduate degree within the last two years (or are about to graduate this year), you may be eligible to apply for the fellowship.

Chọn vị trí cộng sự mà bạn muốn thi tuyển vào. Có nhiều tổ chức chính phủ tham gia vào chương trình cạnh tranh và uy tín này (trên 100 tổ chức), và NASA là một trong số đó.

• Bạn sẽ vào trang web PMF (www.pmf.gov) để tìm hiểu các yêu cầu và thủ tục nộp hồ sơ ứng tuyển.

Tìm hiểu về Chương trình Ứng viên Phi hành gia. Nếu bạn thích trở thành phi hành gia và đang làm việc tại Chương trình Không gian Quốc tế, bạn nên nộp hồ sơ xin làm Ứng viên Phi hành gia.

• Nếu được tuyển, bạn sẽ nhận nhiệm vụ tại Văn phòng Phi hành gia ở Trung tâm Không gian Johnson, Houston, Texas, tại đây bạn sẽ trải qua hai năm đào tạo chuyên sâu, sau đó được đánh giá về năng lực làm phi hành gia.

Thỏa mãn các yêu cầu học vấn cơ bản để có thể ứng tuyển vào Chương trình Ứng viên Phi hành gia. Để hồ sơ được xem xét thì bạn phải có bằng cấp phù hợp:

• Bạn phải có bằng cử nhân của một cơ sở giáo dục được chứng nhận, thuộc một hay nhiều lĩnh vực sau: toán học, kỹ thuật, khoa học sinh học hay khoa học vật lý.
• Lưu ý rằng một số bằng cấp giúp bạn đáp ứng điều kiện để làm các công việc khác tại NASA nhưng không đủ để làm Ứng viên Phi hành gia. Ví dụ, các bằng cấp về Điều dưỡng, Công nghệ và/hoặc Hàng không sẽ không được xem là đáp ứng yêu cầu.

Kiếm thêm kinh nghiệm trước khi xin vào Chương trình Ứng viên Phi hành gia. Sau khi tốt nghiệp đại học, bạn phải có tối thiểu ba năm kinh nghiệm chuyên môn làm trong lĩnh vực liên quan trước khi nộp hồ sơ xin vào chương trình này.

• Nếu bạn đã học xong chương trình sau đại học thì đó có thể được tính là một vài năm hay tất cả số năm kinh nghiệm theo yêu cầu. Để biết thêm thông tin, hãy xem hướng dẫn nộp hồ sơ ứng tuyển trên USAJOBS.

Thỏa mãn các yêu cầu về thể chất đối với Chương trình Ứng viên Phi hành gia. Bạn sẽ phải vượt qua bài kiểm tra thể chất của NASA về khả năng thực hiện chuyến bay dài ngày. Một số yêu cầu điển hình là:

• Thị lực phải đạt điểm 20/20 và nếu bạn đã phẫu thuật mắt thì phải chờ tối thiểu một năm sau đó để xem có biến chứng nào hay không.
• Huyết áp khi ngồi không được cao hơn 140/90.
• Bạn không được thấp hơn 1,58m và không cao hơn 1,9m.

Submit your application through USAJOBS. If you're a civilian, you'll need to apply through USAJOBS to be considered for the astronaut position.

• If you are currently serving in the military, you'll still apply through USAJOBS, but there may be additional application steps through your military unit (for example, contact your local military personnel office for further details).

Apply to NASA even if you are not part of any Pathways program. There are various “paths” to securing a job at NASA. While the Pathways program offers excellent opportunities, you can still apply directly to NASA if you’ve already graduated from college or are serving in the military.

Visit USAJOBS to find NASA job openings. It’s a good idea to start by visiting NASA’s website to learn more about the organization, the people they’ve hired, and the projects they’re working on. However, you’ll ultimately be redirected to the USAJOBS website to find and apply for specific job openings.

• Use the search function on USAJOBS to filter results and identify suitable positions at NASA.

Use the notification service on USAJOBS. If you're concerned about missing NASA job alerts, you can sign up to receive email notifications from USAJOBS whenever positions matching your qualifications and criteria are posted.

• Just make sure to check your email regularly and set up your spam filters to prevent alerts from being sent to the wrong folder or blocked.

Only apply for advertised jobs. NASA does not review applications that have not been invited. As mentioned above, you should search for available positions through the USAJOBS website, and/or sign up for email alerts to receive notifications of new job openings.

Carefully consider mailing your application. After finding a suitable position, you need to prepare your resume. While NASA accepts hard copy resumes sent by mail (to the address listed in the job announcement), they emphasize that you should use the electronic submission process via USAJOBS.

• It is best to submit your application in the way they prioritize, and avoid sending unnecessary documents.

Prepare your resume for submission through USAJOBS. You can create and store up to five resumes on the USAJOBS website. Once you've done so, you will need to select one to apply for a specific position. If you’re applying for multiple positions within the government or various jobs at NASA, it’s best to create different resumes to highlight the relevant skills for each job.

• For example, one resume could focus on your teaching experience if applying for a training or instructional position, while another might highlight your research experience.
• Carefully review the job announcement to choose the resume that best demonstrates the skills and qualifications needed for the position.
• Be sure to track which resume version you used for each application; NASA does not retain the name you assign to the resume.

Keep your resume formatting simple. Avoid using bullet points or non-alphanumeric characters in your resume. NASA’s computer systems may not interpret these correctly, causing your resume to appear disorganized.

• However, you can use hyphens to highlight content or list your experience.

Avoid copy-pasting your resume. While drafting and editing your resume in a word processing program is a good idea rather than starting from scratch on the USAJOBS site, they recommend not copying and pasting from a document into the resume builder.

• Programs like Microsoft Word generate special characters and hidden codes that USAJOBS systems may not recognize.
• If you prepare your resume in a plain text file, copying and pasting will be much easier without encountering issues.

Regularly review job postings while crafting your resume. It's a good idea to highlight important keywords in the job announcements for easy reference while working on your resume. Be sure to incorporate these terms when outlining your work experience, skills, and competencies.

• Also, make sure to include relevant technical terminology specific to your field.

Avoid making your resume too lengthy. NASA suggests that you focus on the job you're applying for and avoid using unnecessary adjectives when describing your experience. Additionally, refrain from padding your work history with irrelevant experiences.

Leave out irrelevant work experience. You don’t need to include every job you’ve had on your resume when applying to NASA. For instance, they don’t expect you to list summer jobs like picking male flowers in a cornfield or part-time work as a bartender during college.

• However, make sure to include your current job, even if it isn’t directly related to the position you’re applying for at NASA.

Provide complete details for all listed work experience. Once you’ve decided which jobs to include on your resume, ensure you provide the dates of employment, salary information, company addresses, and the names and contact details of your supervisors.

Be ready to provide additional details if you are or have been a federal employee. If you've worked for the government, you'll need to list those positions. Prepare to provide your position serial number, exact employment dates, promotion dates, and the highest level of responsibility you held.

Provide full details of your educational background. Be sure to include the full names and addresses of the schools you’ve attended. Clearly state your major, graduation date, GPA (and the grading scale), and any degrees awarded.

• Most NASA jobs require a four-year undergraduate degree, often a graduate degree as well. It’s important that your degree comes from an accredited educational institution, not from a “diploma mill.”

List your accomplishments. Your resume should include any awards you’ve won, training programs you’ve participated in, publications you’ve authored or co-authored, and similar achievements. Be sure to include titles and specific dates.

• It’s also helpful to mention any computer software, tools, and/or equipment you are proficient in that are relevant to the job you're applying for.

Keep it concise. While USAJOBS doesn’t limit the length of your resume, NASA does. They will not review resumes longer than six pages (roughly 20,000 characters).

Skip recommendation letters. NASA does not accept recommendation letters as part of the application process, nor do they accept documents like SF-171, OF-612, DD-214, SF-50, or SF-15.

Read the job announcement to check for additional document requirements. Typically, NASA does not ask for supplemental documents when you apply for a position for the first time. However, you should carefully read the job announcement in case of any exceptions.

• Be sure to monitor your inbox closely for any requests that may come after you’ve submitted your application.
• For instance, some jobs may ask for your college transcripts, or you may need to follow specific instructions if you're applying for veterans' preference. These requests usually arise later in the selection process.

Submit your resume through USAJOBS. After you finish drafting your resume on USAJOBS, it will be transferred to NASA’s Human Resources System (NASA STARS). This system will extract the necessary information from your basic resume on USAJOBS as per NASA’s requirements.

Review your resume after it’s extracted from USAJOBS. Please note that not all data fields are extracted. For instance, NASA does not pull information from the “Languages,” “Organization/Branch,” or “References” sections.

• It’s fine to fill out these sections on your general resume on USAJOBS, but don’t be upset if you don’t see them reflected on your NASA STARS resume.

Answer the screening questions. After your resume is extracted, NASA STARS might ask you to answer some additional questions. These are designed to confirm that you meet the minimum qualifications and are genuinely interested in the position.

Respond to supplementary questions. While creating your resume on USAJOBS, you may be asked to answer extra questions. If this happens, your answers will be sent to NASA, but you need to verify that they are submitted completely. This is your chance to revise your responses.

Answer additional job-specific questions. For instance, certain SES (Senior Executive Service) positions may ask you to respond to questions related to Executive Core Qualifications and Executive Technical Qualifications. NASA advises you to draft your responses in a simple word processor and then enter them into the application after carefully considering your answers.

• These questions aim to assess whether you have the required management, leadership, and technical skills necessary for the position.

Make sure you receive the acknowledgment notice. After answering the additional questions, you will receive an email from NASA confirming that they have received your application.

• If you don't receive this confirmation, it’s a good idea to double-check your application to see if any steps were missed.

Track the status of your application on the “Application Status” page of USAJOBS. You can check the USAJOBS site anytime to see where your application stands in the review process.

• For example, you’ll be able to see if your application has been received, if the review process has started, whether you meet the qualifications for the position, if you’ve been selected for an interview, or if the position has been filled or canceled.
• Good luck!