NASA Astronauts Answer The Web’s Most Searched Questions | WIRED
Interviews for Top Jobs at NASA
Pathways Interview
I interviewed at NASA
Interview
Smooth interview process but also very long. Questions were mostly about yourself and your past experiences. Training session given by NASA for this interview helps. Lot of competition for the Pathways positions.
- Explain a situation where you had to overcome a team conflict.
Project Intern Interview
I interviewed at NASA
Interview
Very positive experience, organized 1round interview. A panel of interviewers asked general questions that match Glassdoors, they ask about your interests why you want to work, how your goals align to nasa
- Why do you want to work here?
I just returned from a second interview down at NASA, and I wanted to do my best to share with you the experiences I had. There are confidentiality agreements in place to maintain the integrity of the process with impartial and unbiased looks at all of the candidates. As such, there is a limited amount of information that I can pass along. Mrs. Gomez and Mr. Ross have checked the content to ensure that I havent divulged any proprietary information.
I can think of three things I stumbled on in the interview. When I started with my story, one of the astronauts interrupted and asked me a few questions about my family. I think it was an honest attempt to get me to relax and just talk rather than present. Somewhere early on, they asked me what sports I did in High School. Truth is I was a geeky guy, and did swimming. They said, “Well, thats nice, but how about any t-e-a-m sports?” In my head I was thinking, “Really, after almost 2 decades out of High School, and after a decade of military crew (team) aircraft deployments around the world, I need to have a team High School sport? Uggh…” Im sure my answer didnt satisfy them.
The second thing I did was not keep track of time. I remember the first 5 minutes, thinking Id talk for about another 15 minutes. Instead, I looked up at the clock and had talked for nearly 50 minutes non-stop! Wrong answer!! I immediately wrapped up my speaking and asked them if they had any questions. I think an interview would go much better if you left lots of time for back and forth.
Tuesday night is a team exercise (which is a lot of fun), and Wednesday night is another social with astronauts and board members, just like during the first round of interviews. Of course, shortly after that social, everyone is off to the ice cream parlor to stuff their bellies until midnight, at which time you have go cold turkey on solid food until Friday morning after your date with Mr. Colonoscopy.
If you have nobody to look over your application package or prep you for the week of interviews, give me a call. After doing this for 20 years and talking with dozens of peers, and being friends with those that have both been accepted, and those that havent, Im convinced that simply understanding the process and removing the “bogeyman unknown” can really improve your chances and put you at ease.
FAQ
How do I prepare for an astronaut interview?
- Since when did you want to become an astronaut? ( …
- What equipment do you use? ( …
- How do you feel before going to space? ( …
- If one of you gets sick, what do you do? ( …
- What studies do we need to become an astronaut? (
What questions should I ask NASA?
- 1: Is it cool to work in space? …
- 2: How old do you have to be to go into space? …
- 3: How do you eat in space? …
- 4: How long do astronauts have to train before going into space? …
- 5: How many female astronauts are there? …
- 6: Why do astronauts get weaker in space? …
- 7: Why do astronauts wear suits?
What are 10 facts about astronauts?
- Astronauts need to wear a special type of diaper. …
- All American astronauts need to be able to read Russian. …
- In space, bone and muscle wastage is a real risk. …
- Astronauts actually stretch in space. …
- Charles Duke, an astronaut on the Apollo 16 mission, landed on the Moon in 1972.
