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Junior Professional Programme: frequently asked questions

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Do you have questions about the ESA Junior Professional Programme that have not been answered on our Careers pages? Would you like to find out more about this new programme? Our dedicated FAQ is here to support you.

The Junior Professional Programme

This is the first time that I hear about this programme. Is it new?

The Junior Professional Programme (JPP) was launched in November 2021. This is the first time that we publish vacancies for Junior Professionals, so don’t hesitate to spread the word!

Will JPP vacancies be published every year?

No, the next publication of opportunities is currently foreseen to be launched at the end of 2024.

Who can apply?

To be eligible for the Junior Professional Programme, you must have:

Master’s degree
Two to three years of professional experience. If you took part in our entry-level programmes (YGT Programme, National Trainee Programme and Research Fellow programme), the time spent at ESA counts towards the experience requirement.
Citizenship of one of the following ESA Member States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Nationals from Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia, as Associate Members, or Canada as a Cooperating State, can apply as well.

How is it different from the Young Graduate Trainee Programme or National Trainee Programme?

Like the Young Graduate Trainee Programme and National Trainee Programme, you need to be a citizen of an ESA Member State, Associate Member State or Canada as a Cooperating State and have a Master’s degree to be eligible to apply for the vacancies.

However, the Junior Professional Programme is different in that it is open to professionals with two to three years of experience. So, you must have accumulated a certain amount of professional experience after graduation before applying to a JP position, which is not the case for the YGT Programme or the National Trainee Programme.

Another key difference is the employment conditions: the Junior Professional Programme offers an ESA staff contract for a fixed-term period of three years, with the perspective of conversion to a permanent contract upon completion of the programme.

Can I apply to the Junior Professional Programme and YGT Programme at the same time?

The basic requirements in terms of professional experience are not the same: for the YGT Programme, you should be about to graduate, have recently graduated or have 1-2 years’ professional experience. For the Junior Professional Programme, you must have two to three years’ professional experience after you graduated at Master’s level. So, your level of professional experience will determine which programme you are eligible to apply to.

I was a Young Graduate Trainee or National Trainee at ESA in recent years. Am I eligible for the Young Professional Programme?

If you have a total of two to three years of professional experience, yes! Your time at ESA as a Young Graduate Trainee or National Trainee is considered a valid professional experience and counts towards the experience requirement.

Does PhD research count towards professional experience?

Yes, experience gained during PhD research/studies counts towards the experience requirement for this programme.

I have more than three years of professional experience. Can I apply to this programme?

If you have more than three years of professional experience, we recommend that you check our ESA staff vacancies here. Set up a job alert to be informed as soon as a vacancy that matches your profile is published.

Is it true that the Junior Professional Programme can lead to a permanent position at ESA?

Yes, this is correct. At the end of the three-year programme, if the Junior Professional has performed well, they will be offered a permanent position at ESA.

What is the rotation scheme and how will it work?

Rotation placements allow you to learn from diverse ESA projects. They can be within the Directorate you have been assigned to, a different Directorate or even under a secondment assignment to industry. The rotation scheme depends on factors such as the area of assignment, the activities, your profile, etc.

What is the Flexible Individual Training Plan?

Development is a fundamental element of the JPP. While all JPs will be part of a common programme, each JP will also receive training tailored to the needs and requirements of their activities at ESA, as well as to their academic and professional profile.

Is there an age limit to apply?

No, there is no age limit to apply. As long as you are a citizen of one of the ESA Member States and you have a Master’s degree with two to three years of professional experience, you are eligible to apply to the Junior Professional Programme.

If I am selected for the Junior Professional Programme at ESA, what are the terms and conditions?

Please check our Junior Professional page for full details of the terms and conditions.

Recruitment process

Where can I find the Junior Professional opportunities?

You can browse the vacancies directly on our recruitment website by clicking here.

How do I apply?

The vacancies are published here. To apply, you need to create your candidate profile, upload your CV and motivation letter, then submit. Once your application is sent, you will be able to track its status by logging into your candidate profile.

Set up a job alert to stay informed of vacancies at ESA.

What is the timeline for the selection process?

November – December: Publication of Junior Professional positions
January – April: Pre-selection and interviews of shortlisted candidates
May – June: Outcome of interviews and final selection
June – October: Successful candidates take up duty

Do you ask for a particular CV format (for example, Europass)?

No, you can send us your CV in your preferred format.

Do you have any recommendation for a motivation letter?

Your motivation letter should be clear and concise. We recommend that you keep this letter to just one page (maximum two) and it should detail any experience that could be relevant to the role you are applying for. Be sure to share your enthusiasm, your interests and your motivation for that particular position.

How will I know if I am selected for an interview?

If you are selected for an interview, you will receive an email from one of our HR colleagues. You will be asked to add some documents to your candidate profile, such as a copy of your diploma or passport/ID card prior to the interview. All the applications receive an automatic acknowledgement of receipt. Once you have applied, you will be able to track the status of your application. All candidates, whether they are selected for interview or not, are informed by email about the outcome of their application.

Will the interview take place face-to-face?

ESA interviews take place virtually by Webex or Teams. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive all necessary information by email.

Will I have to relocate to participate in the Junior Professional Programme?

Yes, if you are selected for the Junior Professional Programme, you will be asked to relocate to one of the main ESA establishments.

Due to the intensive nature of the programme, it is essential that you meet your tutor and the other ESA experts face-to-face as much as possible. Relocating also gives you the opportunity to experience first-hand the unique, multicultural ESA environment.

The location is stated in each vacancy, so make sure that you are aware of this information before applying. Please note that ESA offers a generous relocation package, the full details of which can be found here.

ESA has a teleworking policy that offers staff the possibility to work from home on an ad hoc basis. This can be discussed with your manager once you start your assignment. You can find more information here.

I applied to a vacancy but now that it is closed, I can’t find it on my candidate profile. What should I do?

Please write to us at contact.human.resources@esa.int.