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The long journey up Now the world's leading semiconductor equipment manufacturer, Applied Materials was founded in 1967 in the Santa Clara Valley. As an industry pioneer, the company grew quickly and went public in 1972. Its growth was tempered, however, by slowdowns in the U.S. economy and the semiconductor industry. To revitalize business, the company made changes in its upper-level management, and James Morgan was picked in 1976 to replace founder Michael McNeilly as CEO. In 1979, Morgan foresaw opportunity in Asia, and Applied moved into Japan with a joint venture. Morgan's strategy paid off - the company's understanding of Japanese markets and business practices enabled Applied to beat out its American competitors as Japan became a world leader in production of semiconductors. AM takes its lumps When hard times hit the industry again in the mid-80s, Applied Materials reacted by concentrating on research and development budget. Applied unveiled a silicon wafer-production process that revolutionized the industry and launched the company to the top. In 1998, the company's historically happy relationship with Asia would lead to problems, as the troubled state of Asian economies pushed already sagging demand for semiconductors drastically downward. With its earnings faltering, Applied was forced to cut 2,000 jobs worldwide - 15 percent of its workforce. The company fought its way back in 1999, bringing back up its employee numbers, landing a 51 percent sales jump to $1.12 billion in May, and earning one of the Environmental Protection Agency's 1999 Climate Protection Awards for its technical innovation and leadership. Sales reached a record $2.19 billion level only a year later in May 2000, proving that Applied Materials had regained the track of success. Paving the information superhighway High-visibility companies such as Microsoft and Intel may be leading the parade on the information superhighway, but Applied Materials helped pave the silicon road. The company is the world's leading producer of equipment used to transform silicon wafers into semiconductors, the base for a computer's microprocessors. As the company says, "We make the systems that make the chips that make the products that change the world." Applied Materials machinery is the equipment of choice for many segments of the chip-making industry, including deposition (deposition of film on silicon wafers, chemically or otherwise), etching (etching semiconductor layers), and ion implantation. Not surprisingly, the company's largest customer is Intel. On the acquisition prowl Along with its troubles, Applied Materials has also seen its share of triumphs. In 1998, the company bought Consilium, a semiconductor manufacturing software and services provider, in a $42 million stock swap. Analysts greeted the move favorably, especially given the transition of chipmakers to 300 millimeter manufacturing process technology. In 1999 the company again strengthened its position through acquisition, adding chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) machines to its line through its $135.5 million purchase of Obsidian Inc. Applied Materials grabbed attention in March 2000 when it acquired Etec Systems in a $1.9 billion stock-for-stock merger, the industry's largest acquisition deal to date.
Applied Materials provides extensive hiring information at www.appliedmaterials.com. In addition to job listings, the page provides a recruiting calendar, describes various college and campus programs, and allows the candidate to email resumes or construct them using a resume builder. Students with backgrounds in materials science, computer science, physics, chemistry, and mechanical, electrical, chemical, or manufacturing engineering information systems should consider Applied Materials' New College Graduate Training Program: a six-month, project-based experience that exposes participants to many aspects of Applied's business. Don't expect a cakewalk at Applied Materials. While insiders report that Applied generally doesn't hand out "brainteasers," they note the process can be "stressful." Candidates can expect at least three interviews that will last anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours. Naturally, some interviews will be technical, and may even involve completing written tests. Other interviews are aimed more at "seeing if you are the type of person they would like to work with." The latter will likely mean some behavioral questions, which we have listed below. Finally, our contacts warn that Applied Materials interviewers must be unanimous on their feelings about a particular candidate. Better make a good first impresssion!
Competition, even chaos, at Applied Materials Employees at Applied Materials are "tough and competitive" people, who are "proud" of their equally tough and competitive company. As one technical supporter engineer put it, "The general mindset is that it is our right to be number one in market share with every one of our products." Applied Materials employees "don't settle for mediocrity" and "do whatever it takes to get the job done." Another insider puts it somewhat cryptically: "Want to be mediocre, want not to work, have it really easy, forget about Applied." Don't think, however, that Applied employees are a group of hard-driving straight arrows. In the words of an insider: "Applied is a very interesting place to work. It is far from normal, so it depends on your adaptability. It's near chaotic but also very interesting and rewarding." If anything, Applied employee's are proud of "completely cutting edge technology in its marketplace." Average pay, Great benefits Although Applied Materials employees generally describe themselves as "quite well compensated," salaries don't seem to be the reason. "Far from astronomical," describes one contact when asked about salary. "The salaries are average," notes another. Other forms of compensation, however, win praise. For example, new employees receive stock options that have in the past "quickly doubled in value," and also participate in a profit sharing program that makes up "about 15 percent" of salaries. Insiders also "appreciate" the "excellent medical and dental benefits." And for those who want the chance to advance within the company or elsewhere, the "superb tuition reimbursement program" gives them the chance. Note however, that like nearly every other company we have surveyed with a presence in Silicon Valley, many complain about the difficulty of finding "affordable" housing near the company's Santa Clara, CA headquarters.
Human Resources
Silicon wafer production and finishing equipment;Chemical mechanical polishing ;Chemical vapor depositionl;Physical vapor deposition;Etching;Ion implantation;Rapid thermal processing
AG Associates;Canon;Nanometrics;Nikon Corporation;Novellus Systems;Planar Systems;Silicon Valley Group;SubMicron Systems More Company Profiles For more career information, go to Vault.com ©2000, Vault.com Inc
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