Young graduate training opportunities provide hands-on experience in all ESA activities, but mainly those in the engineering and scientific fields. On occasion, however, there are also opportunities in support areas such as finance, contracts, public relations, human resources, etc. Graduate trainees work as part of a team under the supervision of an experienced specialist or ‘mentor’.  
 
Who can apply?
 
The YGT Programme is open to recently graduated young men and women, nationals of ESA Member States and its Cooperating States: Member States include Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Canada is a Cooperating State and Hungary, Romania, Poland, Estonia and Slovenia are European Cooperating States (ECS).

Applicants should have just completed, or be in their final year, of a higher education course typically at Masters level and probably in a technical or scientific discipline at a university or equivalent institute. They should be fluent in either English or French, which are the official languages of the Agency.

Although applicants may have some relevant work experience as an intern or maybe through summer employment, in principle this should be their first full-time position.

Candidates may plan to pursue doctoral studies in the future and want to gain valuable work experience in the meanwhile. ESA has a separate programme for post-doctoral students called the Postdoctoral research fellowships programme.
 
 
Working conditions
 
Contracts are for one year and non-renewable. ESA will provide:

• monthly remuneration: in 2006 the basic net salary for a single expatriate YGT ranged from €2061 to €2323 per month, depending on the establishment, including expatriation allowance
• monthly expatriation allowance for those not resident in the country to which they are assigned, plus an installation allowance upon arrival
• travel expenses at the beginning and end of the contract (including travel expenses for spouse and children if they reside with the trainee during the contract)
• 2.5 days paid leave per month
• health cover under ESA’s Social Security scheme

YGT Davina Maria Di Cara

After reviewing all the available Training Opportunities, a maximum of three can be selected. Candidates should apply via the on line application form, however ONLY for their first choice. The relevant vacancy number for the first choice will appear automatically on the form. YGT candidates should also attach one file containing both their CV together with a mandatory cover letter providing their motivation for applying, and indicating the title and relevant reference number of their second and third choices, if applicable.

YGT candidates may rightly consider that a number of sections of the on-line application form are not applicable to their profile. It is indeed a generic application form used for both junior and experienced candidates. This is why YGT applicants should only complete the relevant and appropriate sections of the form that make sense (for i.e. the section "current/previous employer" should be completed only if the candidate has acquired a first professional experience as an intern or through summer employment). The form can then be submitted electronically and an automatic message will be received acknowledging its receipt. Candidates will be contacted again only if selected for interview. It is important to emphasise that no more than one on-line application form should be sent per candidate.
 
 
Selection process
 
Interviews normally take place in February/March with successful candidates commencing work between April and July. If called for an interview, candidates are usually interviewed for the post given as their first choice. Candidates may also be interviewed for their second and third choices in the unlikely event that no suitable candidates for these posts are found. Typically interviews are conducted by the mentor responsible for the post together with a human resources representative from the establishment where the training opportunity is located.

ESA makes every attempt to ensure adequate representation of nationalities while taking into account the various fields of activity of the Agency. Before a contract can be finalised candidates selected for a YGT post have to pass a medical examination with their family doctor to show that they satisfy the required physical fitness conditions and obtain the approval of the Agency's medical officer.
 
 
Why should you apply?
 
YGT’s gain valuable experience that can qualify them for the many exciting opportunities within Europe’s space industry and renowned research institutes. Some of the best YGTs may be employed by ESA once they have gained a few years experience working either in the public or private sector. This, in addition to the rich personal experience of living and working in another country and in a diverse and international environment, make this a very popular programme.