Do your homework. To get a job, one must know what is happening in the industry. It is a good idea to read magazines such as Space News and Aviation Week & Space Technology and learn which companies are getting new space contracts and pursue them. The Internet is a good source to learn the strong and weak points of each organization one would like to join.

Set your goals, but be flexible. You may have your sights set on a specific career goal, but it’s wise to keep an open mind and realize that there are many potential career paths and many ways to reach that goal. Government contractors offer lucrative starting opportunities for a number of our graduates, but the growing private sector is also hiring graduates because of their knowledge concerning space program operations. In addition, new companies involved in satellite communications, remote sensing, and GPS offer ever increasing opportunities for employment.

It’s who you know as much as what you know. The contacts you develop here will prove invaluable when seeking a job in the space industry. The student you meet today may be your inside connection in your workplace of choice tomorrow. And at UND, the relationships you will be able to develop with people in the industry will help you be even more competitive in your job search. The faculty can also be valuable contacts, as they frequently receive calls from organizations seeking our graduates for a position. The faculty have many connections with different areas of the space community, and are willing to assist graduates with their job search.

Stay in touch. Finally, important sources of employment information and job leads are fellow Space Studies graduates and current online students. Our 650+ alumni are working in space-related jobs and they know where the greatest needs are at any given moment. Students must seek out opportunities and be aggressive to obtain a job in the space field. Organizations that have hired our graduates include: ANSER Analytical Services Forces Earth Observation Sciences Futron Hughes Aircraft Jet Propulsion Laboratory Lockheed-Martin Microsoft NASA National Imaging and Mapping Agency National Missile Agency NOAA Space Commerce Canada U.S. Air Force and Army Space Commands U.S. General Accounting Office United Space Alliance

D. Conly, 2003 Space Studies Graduate, Biomedical Flight Controller at NASA Johnson Space Center