How will your experiences early in your career lend to your success in this position?

What You Need to Know
1st Answer Example
2nd Answer Example
Mechanical Engineer Example
Manufacturing Engineer Example

The interviewers want to know about your formative years in your career and how those early experiences shaped your mindset, work ethic, and professional character. Many hiring managers agree that the best employees have 'grit' and have held a 'dirty job' or two in their lives. Talk to the interviewer about your early work experiences, the lessons you learned, and how they shaped your attitude and passion for your profession. As they state on their website, "SpaceX is looking for world-class talent ready to tackle challenging projects that will ultimately enable life on other planets."

"I have been working since I was just 14 years old. My first job was as a shop hand for my father, a mechanic. I had to sweep, clean, greet customers, and order parts. It was a great way to get my hands dirty, and the job taught me excellent customer service skills. Everything I learned during that time has helped me to stay grounded and humble in my career."

"I started my career working in an office, so I quickly understood how important it is to stay organized and maintain clear communication with everyone on the team. My early experience will help me succeed in this position because it caused me to form good habits from the beginning."

"Early in my career, I worked with a number of engineers that were close to retirement. They had given up and would not get much done. This made me realize I was different.
I would not "coast" in a job, no matter what, I would work hard. This got me recognized and eventually promoted. This reinforced the work hard mentality."

"In my early years, I have been able to have extensive experience overseeing the production and testing of many aerospace thruster valves for space applications. As a result, I am very familiar with the types of processes used and the types of tests performed for space applications."