Okay, the newest thing we’ve launched is a “virtual HR agent”. What’s that, you ask? You know when you shop online, whether it’s for new gadgets or it’s for a plane ticket to go somewhere or maybe it’s just for odds and ends, some websites have a virtual agent that will answer FAQs for you and guide you through the process. Our new virtual HR agent, we named her Ivy, is set up to do the same thing, but for our employees at Intel (so this is an internal tool.) If employees have questions about their pay, stock, benefits, or other HR programs, they simply bring Ivy up on the intranet and type in a question. Ivy uses a combination of natural language processing, artificial intelligence and optimized search to find the answer to the question. Also, magic. Okay, well, it’s like magic to me, so…  As of today, Ivy has 4,331 possible responses. How do I know that number so exactly? I led the team that wrote all the responses. You can bet we’re excited for the launch after all that work!

From our research, we’re the first company to implement a virtual agent like this for their employees. Ivy’s no chatbot and she’s not backed by a human “behind the curtain”. She’s all software. We’ve got lots of metrics in place to monitor her performance and our employees can give a star rating to each interaction. Using the performance data and star ratings, we can tune Ivy to make her even better. Beyond that, what’s weird is that she learns. Seriously. Her artificial intelligence gets better as employees ask her questions. Amazing. Oh, and no surprise, she runs on Intel-powered servers. You saw that coming, didn’t you?

So, we started 2013 off with a big project launch that will improve the employee experience here at Intel. And I’m back on the blog. Is it going to be a great year? You bet it is!

The post Ask Ivy appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Dear Krista:

True story. In 1993, I applied for a job at Intel. (Yes, I know you were about 12 then.) One of the people who interviewed me was an engineer. At some point, she asked me if I had children. Probably not an OK question, in retrospect, but I answered it.

She then explained to me that Intel was an intense, rigorous and demanding culture that was a much better fit for childless professionals like her and her husband, also an Intel engineer. It was not, she strongly suggested, the right place for a woman with two young children. Like me.

I took the hint, and the job at the other company.

Later, when I had another child, I figured I’d kissed any possible Intel future goodbye. If two kids were a disadvantage, surely three were a deal breaker.

Yet 20 years later, here I am, badge around my neck, accomplished AR tamer, seasoned slayer of acronyms. While Intel has indeed proven to be a demanding place to work these last seven years, it’s also, to my enormous relief, a generous and supportive environment where working mothers can thrive.

It’s been a place where I regained my financial footing after a divorce; a place where I’ve been privileged to know and work with people like you. A place where my detours as a stay-at-home mom and part-time employee haven’t kept me from a career path that has exceeded my expectations.

In just a couple of weeks, your maternity leave is going to be over. Instead of spending weekdays with your beautiful baby girl, you’ll spend them with co-workers (who, while less entrancing, have arguably better language skills). And even though you know she’ll be in good hands, I’d bet you’re dreading the transition from full-time mom to working mom. I know I did.

It won’t be easy. It’s not easy working at Intel, and it’s not easy raising a child. In both roles, we aim high and sometimes we stumble. We second guess ourselves something terrible. We are never quite caught up. We worry —oh boy, do we worry. Being a working parent means having good days when it feels like you have the best of both worlds, and bad days when it does not.

But it helps, a lot, that the Intel village you’re returning to is better equipped and more dedicated than ever to help you manage both your thrilling new role as a mom and the job you’re so good at. And your manager (moi) and your team are standing by to help in any way we can.

Your first Mother’s Day as a mom is this weekend; it’ll be my 25^th (my firstborn even arrived on Mother’s Day). As I marvel—a little wistfully, a little been-there-done-THAT—at the adventure ahead of you, I can’t help but reflect on some stuff I’ve learned, mostly the hard way.

• Get over being Supermom. Fast. There aren’t bonus points—this isn’t that kind of a game. Ask for help when you’re overwhelmed, time when you’re short, a favor when you need it.
• Don’t wait for permission. Do what you need to do, and don’t apologize.
• Once you’ve survived a long flight with a screaming child, screaming stakeholders are a piece of cake.
• Email is eternal. Childhood is not. Seize the spontaneous moment with your child.
• Stay playful. If you turn into a stressball, everyone around you will be miserable too. During the rough patches, take a deep breath, exhale, and remind yourself that this too will pass. Shake it off, smile, laugh if you can. Then book a massage.
• Set boundaries. You will teach your child that no means no. This applies to managers and colleagues as well.
• You set the tone. If your daughter sees that you like your work, she will too. If you believe your work is simply time away from her, she’ll believe that too.
• Later, when she’s older, tell her about your challenges at work, and your wins. Let her feel, and share in, your pride. She’ll be proud too.
• There will be days when it will be impossible to be both the outstanding employee and the outstanding parent you want to be. It is. On those days, accept that good enough really is good enough.
• Take notes. When you’re immersed in parenting, you think you’ll never forget the daily routines, the frustrations and pleasures of every stage and age. You will.
• In your work life there will be tough periods and difficult co-workers. In your family life these are called “adolescence” and “teenagers.” You will survive both.
• Dinner. I never really solved this one. I am a fan of crockpots, however.
• You can be anyone’s employee. Only you can be your someone’s mom. Prioritize accordingly.

OK, one last story. One day when my daughter was about four years old, she was playing with some plastic animals. She marched them along the back of the couch where I was sitting. “You never know when pandas are going to come into your world,” she informed me.

How right she was.

Happy Mother’s Day, my friend. And welcome back—we’ve missed you!

Jan

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms! If you’ve got a tip for Krista or other new moms, please share it in comments below.

The post A Mother’s Day letter to a new Intel mom appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

At Intel we have a term—‘Great Place to Work’ (GPTW). It’s also one of our values. Each year we get a new badge calendar and on the flip side are listed the Intel values. GPTW lists bullets like Win and Have Fun and Work as a Team with Respect and Trust. I’ve worked for Intel 20 years now – I’m an ol’timer. I’m also kind of a sap, because when introducing myself in meetings or at conferences I also add “…and I’ve loved every minute!”—and though I created this blog, this is my first time contributing to it. I wanted to write a love letter of sorts but first I need to give a bit of background.

I’ve learned a lot about Intel and its culture over the years. At first I remember feeling like a fish out of water. There are so many brilliant and talented people that at first I was intimated. But it was because of those brilliant and talented people that I was pushed into the deep water. I raised my hand to work on a new project and my management team said, ‘go for it’ and off I went.  My project was that new “internet-web-thingy” and how would our Staffing team get on this “World Wide Web”. We wanted to market Intel jobs to the public in the new and exciting way. We had no idea what we were doing. I had no idea what I was doing. We put together a one pager that was really only a graphic – I pressed the ENTER key and off we went. It was 1994 – eons ago in the Internet age.  I was hooked! Our site grew into our global corporate Jobs at Intel site. We’ve added bells and whistles; tried all the fads and marketing tricks. Some worked – some tanked. I’ve worked on this site for most of my Intel career as developer, architect, and designer. I feel very maternal really. My goal has always been to show the world what it’s like to work at Intel and to grow a rewarding career – just like I’ve been able to do.

Along the way I’ve worked with several talented Content Editors/Managers. These are the people that write all the words that express to our visitors what Intel is really all about. At times I’ve worked with teams of people; at other times just one person. We partner with subject matter experts (SME) all over the globe who provide content. We also work with our college, business, HR and diversity teams assisting in getting their marketing campaigns, content and jobs out to the world.  Social media and mobile are new areas for us and we are learning everyday what works and what doesn’t. Content comes from every country we hire in and it is the job of the Content Editor to make it all come together and to make sure it sounds good. It’s a tough job – challenging, stressful, but extremely rewarding as well.

Now here’s my love letter…

For the past seven years I’ve worked with Christine. She came to the job with a lot of questions, much stress and a dose of trepidation. She didn’t know if she could do the job and she worried it was too large for just one editor. I showed her around the house – where all the rooms were, where to find the life vest. I promised her that I would have her back and talk her down from the ledge if needed. I loved the job and I needed a strong editor to partner with who loved the work as well. I wanted her to succeed in every way. And succeed she did. Christine held her nose and jumped in the deep end with me. She managed a global stakeholder team, designed a work request process, juggled dozens of content projects and began the task of making the Jobs at Intel website world-class. Every word on our website was written or edited by Christine. I do the pretty pictures but content is king! She takes the messages we want to convey, along with the SMEs content and writes it in the Intel voice so that our visitors can get a feel for what it may be like to work for Intel. Every word.

On Friday, Christine is retiring from Intel. She found a beautiful stretch of beach and she and her husband will be planting their future in the sand. I’m losing my partner. My emotions are so extremely mixed. I’m so happy for her – so excited that she is finding her dreams coming true. But I’m also so sad because she has made my work life so much fun. Bouncing our creative energy around and then watching it come to life on the webpage has been so rewarding. It’s been like a marriage.  We have trust, we communicate, and we voice our opinions – go a bit mad at times but always come up with a solution. And we laugh. Christine is the kind of person that has 20 windows opened at the same time; she’s conversing with two people on IM while talking on the phone. (Her desktop looks like my real hubby’s garage [sorry sweetie, but it’s true]). At first I thought “Geez, how can you get anything done?” But this is how Christine works. Her brain is a file cabinet, and she can easily move from file to file. It’s amazing really.  She can find any file going back years. Amazing.

She is also so creative. What I like the most is she makes me better. She pushes me to find solutions, find a way to express what our customers need in new and exciting ways. She reminds me to breathe when the days are full and the schedule dates are looming. She is the Ying to my Yang, my Opus, my Thelma, my Snoopy – she’s jelly and I’m the peanut butter. I do love her and will remember my years working with her as the best (so far).

 
We don’t always give thanks. We forget to recognize. Even at Intel, thank you is not always stated because the work speaks for us. But I wanted a way to say “Thank you” that would really convey my gratitude.  Oh sure there’s going to be a party, laughs will be had, margaritas will be drunk, and hugs will be exchanged. We will toast and we will laugh. (I’ll cry later.)Her friends will gather and we will send her off well. But this is my way of sharing my gratitude and recognition in a way that would be truly unique—and what better way than to do it through a project that we both worked on together and one that would share her legacy for the world to see!

 
On behalf of Intel, I want to say Thank You Christine! I have had so much fun working with you. Thank you for the respect and the trust. Thanks for thinking of our visitors first and trying always to provide the best possible experience. Thank you for your skill, your partnership and for your passion for the job. It was so appreciated. I wish you and Jeff the greatest happiness as you journey onward. Our “marriage” may be over, but our friendship is lifelong.

YOU are the reason Intel is a Great Place to Work!

You’ve heard it before, but here’s the proof. People truly are Intel’s greatest asset and the reason why many of us come into work everyday.

The post Intel Employees: A Special Tribute to a Special Teammate appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

It is noon on Friday and we just finished one of four sessions to train seven people from Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry from the Costa Rican Government, aka MEIC. I feel a sense of pride and happiness, because this Intel volunteer activity (just one part of a larger project that a team has been working on for over a year) will not only benefit a community, it will benefit a whole country, my country.

The training included basic tools and knowledge in Project Management. By holding this training with this government team, they’ll be able to use what they learned to improve Business Process Management as a strategy, allowing my country to reduce its bureaucracy, be more competitive worldwide and make it more attractive for foreign investment.

But how did I get to this point of influence? That is a story that starts back in my hometown, Naranjo in the province of Alajuela, when I was a teenager.

When I was 12 years old, I was in my third year of high school and during a class break I asked myself,”What do I want to do with my life from this date to the future?” I set a few goals for myself at that point, the four most relevant for my professional development were: to get a technical degree as Electrician, the second to get a bachelor degree on electronics, the third one to work on a company that would allow me to grow professionally and the last one to live in another country with different culture and different language with my family, working there and being successful on that experience. I said, “If I can complete all of them (four professional and four personal goals) by the time I’m 60 years old, I’d consider myself a successful person.”

The first step: register in a technical high school to get the title of Electricity Technician. To do that, I had to leave the comfort zone of living under my parents´ protection. I had to move and live in another city.

The next two steps came together: working and save money to pay for part of the tuition fees to study Electronics Engineering at Technical Institute from Costa Rica (ITCR). This, in my opinion, is the best public university for the career in engineering I wanted to pursue and I was right–it opened many doors for me.

As an engineer, I was able to achieve another goal: to fly on an airplane and visitdifferent countries. As a child, this idea seemed impossible because I came from a poor family. My mother worked as a seamstress at home to help earning extra money to raise three boys, my two brothers and me. My father worked at a local gas station but his earnings were not enough for our family. That is why my brothers and I decided to work at a coffee plantation during our vacations around the sunny seasons, collecting ripe coffee beans to earn money to pay for our books, notebooks, uniforms and all the materials we’d need and use during the school year. All of that taught us the value of honest work, saving money and defining priorities for life.

I achieved my last goal when I started working at Intel in 2004. More than just visiting, I wanted to live in another country, immerse myself in a different culture with a foreign language and to do this with my family and while being successful during that experience. This goal was accomplished in two steps. The first one allowed my family and me to live in Santa Clara, California for little longer than than 6 months. And what an amazing experience it was! My children went to public schools there and learned the basics and fundamentals of the English language. However this was just preparation for what I considered was the true achievement of my goal. Three months after returning from California, my manager asked me to move to Israel for a year with my family.

I still remember my kids’ faces when we arrived at the airport in Israel. Everything everywhere was written in Hebrew and we did not know even know how to say “hello” in Hebrew! If that was hard, just imagine the experience going to the supermarket and trying to buy groceries!

However with time, we learned. We were able to visit many places. We learned bits of Hebrew and were able to make basic requests at stores, pharmacies, etc. We even crossed the border during our time in Israel and went to Jordan to visit Petra, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. My kids attended the unique English school available in Israel, but to do that I had to drive 160 Km a day to go to Intel´s site in Haifa from our house located close to Tel Aviv in a placed called Kfar Shmariahu. The technical knowledge I picked up during my time in Israel made me grow to a point where I could participate in several Intel conferences, allowing me to visit other continents and countries and earning significant awards at those conferences as well.

When we returned back from those assignments, I was just 33 years old and I had accomplished all my major goals. Wow. So there I was leaving my comfort zone, I sat to rethink my life, again.

That’s when, using the scholarship that Intel gave me, I was able pursue a master’s degree in Project Management from a private university. After getting my master’s degree, I joined the team in charge of understanding how to implement Business Process Management (BPM) in my department at the time, Quality and Reliability. Soon after, I took the leadership of that team and led my own managers and department to get BPM certification following a Project Management structure. Last year I moved to Technical Training Department, where I made significant changes in the courses we offer technician’s at Intel’s Costa Rica factory to empower them to increase their knowledge in different technical areas. In tandem, I started working as a professor a few years ago, teaching Project Management at the same university I got my Master’s degree.

Using the set of skills I developed from Project Management, Business Process Management, teaching experience and my desire to grow, I joined the volunteer team working with MEIC. Now I lead one of the sub teams, the one that teaches how by using PM and BPM, we can make a better country. That’s how I’ve gotten to where I am today—only time will tell what growth and opportunities the future will bring.

The post From Collecting Coffee Beans to Advising the Government appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Recently, one of our manufacturing groups formed a partnership with the University of Arizona to establish a pretty amazing distance learning opportunity. Employees in Intel’s Fab/Sort Manufacturing group will be able to earn their Bachelor degree in Materials Science and Engineering, while still working at Intel.

Representatives from Intel and the University of Arizona celebrated the kick-off event at Intel’s Ocotillo site

It’s very difficult to go to school and work at the same time. Believe me, I know. What’s really great about this program is that Intel will support it from a work/life standpoint. That means employees’ managers will help them balance the requirements of a busy job with the demands of their educational program. Tuition assistance will also be available to eligible employees. It’s a clear commitment to learning and will be huge to those who participate.

One of the Intel sites I visited was our fabrication site (also called a “fab”) in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. I was lucky enough to get a tour of the fab. Got to put on the bunny suit and everything. I was blown away by the extent and complexity of the engineering. After touring the fab and seeing the incredible technology there, how could you not want to learn more?

This new program facilitates that and eliminates the need for our employees to quit for a few years in order to start and/or finish school. Good thinking, guys. I like your DNA.

The post Work/Life/School—It’s All Possible at Intel appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

As a competitive individual, I constantly strive to make myself better—whether it’s at tennis, in school, or on the job. From a young age I’ve been self-critical and obsessively introspective in an effort to build up my weak points (like my volleys in tennis). On the other hand, my introspection has also been a hindrance; its had the power to mutate activities I found enjoyable (like different projects at work) into activities I come to dread because of the associated stresses. But why? Shouldn’t the idea of finding and accepting personal shortcomings to transform our weaknesses into strengths, make us better people? Not exactly. Being overly self-critical can have more negative impacts than positive ones. What do I mean? The importance we give to aspects of our lives—like analyzing our mistakes—has the power to negatively affect other parts of our lives like our mood and interactions with people. Those who are overly self-critical are in a never-ending race towards an intangible goal. It’s like you are running in front of a speeding train that just keeps going faster and faster. How many times have you lost a game (of tennis, basketball, football, or the like) and been grumpy the rest of the day? Maybe you snap at your husband/wife for putting too much sugar in your coffee, because your mind is on a hamster wheel of self-criticism. Most of us have been there and it’s not fun. And for those that reach stardom and history pages (like Ludwig Boltzmann, Nikola Tesla, and Britney Spears), the immense pressure they put on themselves drove them (one can argue) to madness. So a better question might be, “how can we be successful and happy?” And to that I say, balance. Find a balance between being forgiving and critical of your mistakes because you’re trying your best to correct them and we’re all human.

Sometimes when I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed I like to travel back to that comforting mindset of childhood nostalgia. For me, it’s the movies I grew up loving as a kid. One of my favorites was the Disney retelling of the classic Olympic zero to hero story of the Jamaican bobsled team in “Cool Runnings”. In a solemn pre-race pep talk between the coach and the sled driver, who is obsessing about winning the gold medal, the coach reminds him, “Kid, if you’re not enough without it [the gold medal] you’ll never be enough with it.” I’ve always remembered that line. It has helped to temper the voice in my head that has always pushed me to work harder and longer because success, titles, awards, and perfection is what matters most. What we need to remember is that deep down there is a more important data point that we all should strive to find within ourselves … happiness. How do you find balance?

The post The Key to Success: Balance appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

At Intel, we work very hard to lessen our impact to the environment. We may bleed Intel blue, but boy, are we green! We work to conserve energy, reuse water, and harness solar energy. Intel is the largest voluntary purchaser of green power and most recently, we matched 100% of our US electricity use with green power. You can read about our Solar facilities and learn about the other things we do by reading the Sustainability report.

We also work hard to volunteer and give back to the communities where we live and work. Intel employees volunteer millions of hours to help locally. Even better, Intel matches each hour we work with real dollars for the non-profits and educational institutions where we choose to volunteer our time. I sit on a local non-profit Board of Directors and for each hour I help them out, they get cold hard cash from Intel’s Foundation. If I donate money to my alma mater, Intel matches my donation. Talking about bang for your buck—and your time!

We also get involved when disasters strike. We fly in experts and set up networks – we help people connect with their loved ones. We go to other countries and teach teachers how to use technology in the classroom. Intel matches our personal donations to the Red Cross and other agencies around the world.

You should see our recycling percentages! I remember when recycling was just a little idea – some of the facilities guys collecting cans and getting $$ back so they could buy some new equipment to do their jobs. Now we recycle tons of waste and work with our community leaders to help recycle the harder things – old electronics, chemicals and paint.

When people ask me why I’ve stayed at Intel for so long – one of the primary reasons is because I am so proud of what this company does – and I can see what we will continue to contribute in the future.

What Intel is doing in the medical field is also amazing. We have all sorts of projects going to help our aging population live in their homes longer. We’re involved in telemedicine and research. There are a bunch of engineers here that support Stephen Hawking with his voice and computing needs.

My favorite project this year is “Girl Rising” – Intel sponsored the making of this film showing the extraordinary stories of girls around the world tackling nearly impossible odds on the road to education. I am so proud that we are working to shine a light on the importance of educating young woman across the world. As the Oregon Women @ Intel Chair, I am leading a team of Women from McAfee and Intel to help young women find their path forward. We are hosting 80 young women for three hours of speed mentoring with 60 Intel women from diverse backgrounds (engineering, legal, anthropology, construction, human resources, finance to name a few). They will be able to ask questions, gain clarity on different careers, understand what to study for each type of career and see the diversity we have here at Intel.

I hope you will join us and help us continue to extend computing to the ends of the earth while we enrich and enable people’s work and dreams.

The post Longevity – I grew up at Intel appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

When people on the street (high school and college students, friends, family members, strangers) find out that I work at Intel in our Costa Rica Assembly and Test plant, the dialogue typically goes something like this:

John Doe: Oh Intel! That’s the computer company right?

Me: Yup that’s the one; the computer chip company. We make the components that make computers work and run the internet.

John Doe: Hmm sounds cool. But what’s it like to work there?

Me: What do you think it’s like?

John Doe: I’ve heard it’s really hard work.

Me: Really? How so?

John Doe: Well, it is long hours of repetitive manual labor… kind of like a textile assembly plant… you know? Don’t you get bored?

Me: (insert chuckle and amused laugh) That’s what you think goes on at Intel?

John Doe: That’s the word on the street.

Me: Well first let me tell you that work at Intel is far from repetitive and boring. We’re in the computer electronics and semiconductor industry. Things here move extremely fast. One day you’re working on the latest generation of desktop and server microprocessors, monitoring production quality, solving complex technical problems applying statistical methods, Lean Six Sigma methods or analyzing semiconductor defects using state of the art architecture simulators, testing equipment and electron microscopes that no one else in Latin America has access to. The next day you’re on a plane flying to the USA or Asia to live and work on the development of the next generation processors, side by side with people from all nationalities, cultures and backgrounds such as engineers, chemists, physicists, designers, architects, etc. Still sounds boring?

John Doe: Wow! I had no idea you guys did all that!

Me: Yeah, all that and then some. I work in the Quality and Reliability Failure Analysis labs for example. We support the manufacturing process and make sure all our products go out the door exceeding industry standards for Quality and Reliability. We’re the gate keepers and brand ambassadors if you will.

John Doe: So what exactly do you do?

Me: Let me see… how I can put this in simple terms… Our group is like the CSI team, you know the one on the TV show?

John Doe: Oh yeah!! The guys that have to figure out why and how someone was killed and then catch the bad guy so it doesn’t happen again.

Me: That’s the one. Just change the deceased person for a computer chip, but the rest of it is pretty much the same. We get to play detective, use a bunch of fancy gadgets, catch the culprit and implement corrective actions to avoid reoccurrence. Well maybe just take away the fancy car chases and the guns.

John Doe: Man, that’s awesome! So what type of people work there?

Me: All sorts of people with different backgrounds; engineers and scientists mostly but we also have marketers, HR professionals, finance types—there are lots of different career paths at Intel. Beyond your degree we look for people that are passionate about innovation; entrepreneurs and creative types that can spot a problem and use innovative methods to solve them. Being fluent in English is also a must. Remember the part where we get on planes to work in the US and Asia? I lived 2 years in the US working with designers in Oregon, California and Arizona and I also lived in Malaysia for a year to  learn new failure analysis techniques to implement back home in Costa Rica.

John Doe: Malaysia! That must have been something!

Me: You bet! Since then I’ve been to China, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan, all with Intel. You can’t say you know about a culture until you’ve sat down to have lunch at a downtown market, eating foods whose names you can’t pronounce and swapping stories with a local about how different or similar your childhoods were. This one time I even got invited to their wedding to play guitar and sing at their reception party.

John Doe: You did all that?

Me: True story. With Intel I’ve been able to travel the world and grow not only as a professional but as a person. And for that I’m grateful. Sure it’s demanding and high paced, but it has its rewards. Did I ever think I’d be on a stage in Vietnam singing to a bunch of people I didn’t know? Never in my dreams! But that’s the thing with Intel. If you have  passion and are disciplined, the sky’s the limit. I formed a band with my co-workers back home and we play at local functions, for example. So I can be a musician and an engineer at the same time.

John Doe: So how did you join Intel?

Me: I worked with Intel even before I worked at Intel. Back in 1999 I was taking my final college courses in Electrical Engineering when we were invited to the university’s auditorium to attend an exposition by Intel recruiting. I attended the exposition and liked what I heard. That led to a field trip to their manufacturing plant and as soon as I walked through the front lobby I knew that is where I wanted to work. That field trip led to an internship position to work on a robotics project where I was in charge of developing a small robot handler to perform remote testing of parts over the internet. Oh, and the robot had to be operated from Costa Rica to run tests in the USA or Malaysia. After 6 months of hard work, I had a working system and next thing I know I’m on a plane to Oregon to install the thing. Shortly after that experience, I was formally hired as a full time Failure Analysis engineer where for 5 years I worked solving complex cases and learning as much as I could from peers all over the world. Remember my 3 years abroad in the US and Malaysia? In 2008 I went on to take a management position within the Quality and Reliability labs where I’m in charge of Operations, maintenance, thermo-mechanical stress, calibration and electro static discharge services. It’s demanding and dynamic but I also have the possibility to give back to the community through volunteer work. I started out as an intern, and over the last 13 years I’ve been a mentor to 8 different students. I also volunteer as judge at regional and national science fairs and then mentor the students that go on to compete (and win!) at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

John Doe: So it’s nothing like they say it is then?!

Me: I’m glad you got a better picture of what we do. So, you know anyone interested in working with us?

If you or someone you know is interested in joining our Intel team, check out our open positions at www.intel.com/jobs If you’d like to learn more about our culture, expore our Life at Intel site or connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to get the latest news about the company, our people and our culture.

The post The Inside Scoop on Intel Costa Rica appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

The day started with a videoconference with two successful female engineers at Intel; Elena from Russia who currently manages a team of software developers in Intel IT and Rachel in Israel who works as a Software Engineer. The meeting with Rachel and Elena was a great opportunity for students to see how successful female engineers can be and how they have made a brilliant career at Intel while still having for family and personal life. The video conference made a big impression on our guests and was also a great example to how we connect with our colleagues from different Intel’s sites.

Connecting with other employees in a similar situation is one thing, but we also wanted to help our visitor picture themselves at Intel, as employees, and show them what they could do. We took groups on site tours, including a visit to a lab, as well as the restaurants, relaxation rooms, football and volleyball courts. The feedback was overwhelming, they all agreed that Intel is a great place to work!

The day didn’t end there. Lunchtime was a good opportunity to network with Staffing team members face to face over a tasty meal. After lunch, we brought in Katarzyna (Online Sales Center) and Maria (Datacenter Software Division) to share their career path and give students some tips on career planning. While career planning resonated well with the students on what their future could look like, we also wanted to give them some guidance that could be applied to their current student life. Two of our interns put together a presentation with tips on what should students focus on during their studies and how the internships at Intel are structured. Lastly, we brought in a Talent Advisor, Jakub, lead a session related to our application process, providing valuable practical information and a handful of tips on how to start your career with Intel.

I’m sure this all sounds great—but how did it really go? In true Intel fashion, we let the data from follow-up surveys talk and every single visitor said they would DEFINITELY recommend these types of events to their friends. 95% of them said that the event encouraged them to apply for a position at Intel! (If you’re interested in a role with Intel in Poland, check out our openings!)

Clearly, the event was a success and we plan on organizing more events like this in the future! It would be fantastic, but unrealistic, to provide this type of experience for all of our candidates at all of our sites—instead, connect with us online and we’ll do our best to give you a great experience and exposure to what it’s like to work at Intel.

The post Highlighting Our Culture: Female Technical Day at Intel Poland appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Proceed with caution here people. I keep getting a question from my student audience and felt it was probably time I answered the question for the masses, vs responding one by one with the same information.

Apparently, students want to know this:

“What courses should I take to land a job in xyz?” OR “What skills do I need to work at Intel?”

Well, this is where my disclaimer comes in handy: I am not a guidance counselor. I do not have any formal training as a guidance counselor. None whatsoever. It would be like me trying to consult you on how to do your taxes to avoid an audit. I have experience doing my OWN taxes, but that does not in any way qualify me to do yours. (Trust me)

So, how would I answer these general questions that keep coming my way?

To get started:

1. Figure out what you enjoy FIRST. Just because your training will land you a gig doing a job at a company you admire doesn’t mean you will like said job. Passion for your work will make it MUCH easier to come to the office every day.
2. *IF* you then discover that the work we do here at Intel is attractive to you, and you are passionate about software engineering, process engineering, hardware engineering, marketing, etc., then it’s time to start digging a bit deeper.

Now that you know you are dying to land a gig with Intel, visit our ‘Where do I Fit’ application. This is a very cool app that will guide you through the various roles at Intel. Why not see an actual employee and understand what we ask them to do on a day to day basis? They know what their job is WAY better than I could ever explain it to you.

Then, you should consider checking out LinkedIn* profiles of current employees doing work in a division you find interesting. A lot of our employees are on LinkedIn, and many have pretty detailed profiles of the many roles they’ve filled at Intel. An easy way to see who you’re connected to at Intel is to visit our LinkedIn company page–and while you’re there, you might as well start following us for updates about the company, career opportunities and other things we’re doing.

Now, I know what you are thinking. These are not earth shattering revelations. But they do get the job done. Both of those sources will give you a feel for actual roles and responsibilities as well as a look at what real employees at Intel like about their work, etc.

Now, don’t stop there. This last tip is probably the best advice I could give, and it’s the one thing I tell EVERY student that asks me what to study to land a role in XYZ group.

Are you ready for it?

Here goes. Visit our job postings here. Search our active positions and enter in a few key words that capture your specific passions and interests. Then, browse the job requirements. What do hiring managers list in their requirements? What skills do THEY say are required to fill the position? It seems like a no brainer, but honestly, why not take the word of our hiring teams on what they want you to know before they will offer you the job?

Seriously. I warned you I was not an expert, but I can promise you that doing a little research on the jobs being posted out of our business groups will take you a long way! Oh, and after you’ve done that…. why not actually stop in and see a career advisor at your university? I’m pretty sure there is a reason they get paid to guide and counsel their students ;)

The post Guidance from a Recruiter — Follow at Your Own Risk appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

The rules were simple: create a video that shows what life at Intel is like—and if you inspire some people along the way, that’s cool, too. All the teams had to use their own equipment, scripts, and music.

Challenge accepted.

These videos star our own interns and student workers across Latin America. From great programmers to social media experts to finance to HR and everything in between,, you will find some great minds with amazing passionate hearts who just love to make tomorrow a better day.

Now we need your help! Who will win the Intel Factor Film Cup? Your votes will decide!

Check out the 5 videos below and vote your favorite by “Liking” it on our YouTube channel. The winning team not only gets the glory of being the first winners of this contest, but we’ll hook them up with an Intel-powered tablet so they can keep on capturing and sharing their adventures from where ever they are! Remember to vote by Friday, March 8th, 2013! The contest ends at 3pm PST.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJNkKTwtJCM&feature=youtu.be

The post Who Will Win the Intel Factor Film Cup? Help Decide! appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Photos provided by the Intel employees profiled in the article

Can you imagine working across the aisle from your brother? Accidentally receiving your son’s email? Or how about fielding action items that were intended for your sister? For some Intel employees, work doesn’t just follow them home—home follows them to work. We talked to five employees from around the world who shared stories about what it’s like to work at the same company as a family member.

What’s the best part of having a family member who also works at Intel? 

Ghery (bottom) works as a regulatory compliance manager in the Technology Manufacturing Group (TMG) and his son (also named Ghery) works in the server performance lab. They both live in Dupont.

Ghery: Confusing people is fun, especially when you have the same name. My son has been a blue badge (full-time Intel employee) since April, but he’s been here as a green badge (contractor) for the last 10-plus years. And I remember one time his manager at the time accidentally put my e-mail address in a distribution list, and I was in Oregon that day, so my out-of-office agent bounced it. And I get a message back from the manager saying, you’re supposed to check with me before you go to Oregon. So I was left with, okay. How do I politely tell him to get lost without getting my son in trouble? No, I don’t have to check with you. You’ve got the wrong one.

Medha (right) and her sister Mugdha both work on Ivy Bridge-based servers and sit just a few cubes away from each other in Santa Clara.

Medha: My sister and I get kicks out of confusing people. We’ve got similar first names and the same last name and we work in the same group. People walk down the aisle, and they’re like, oh my God, you are two different people? We’re not even twins, and when we were growing up, we looked really different. So, yeah, it’s a lot of fun. Some bright spots when you’re working so hard.

Bill: I think probably the most fun part is connecting with other folks in the organization. It’s always nice to hear how well [your brother] is doing, or how he’s helped. It’s always kind of fun when I’m in a meeting and someone says “The expert on this is your brother, right?”

And of course that opens up the door to take your pot shots at your brother. To be like that guy, he really gave you a good recommendation? So you get to tease him a bit, which is nice.

Bill (left) is a principal engineer in IT and has two brothers, Kent and Michael, who also work in IT in Hillsboro.

Another thing that is nice—because we’re all based in Hillsboro—somebody will catch a Great Place To Work event, sign up, and we’ll end up going to those things as a mini extended-family event, whether it’s at the Coliseum, or the movies. Essentially Intel is paying for your family to go out.

Has there ever been a time when you wished that you didn’t work at the same company, and why? 

Medha: I worked for two different companies before I moved to Intel. I avoided coming here for four years because growing up, people treated me and my sister like the same person and I didn’t want that again. But then I couldn’t help it—Intel’s the right place to be right now.

Vishal (left) works on hardware graphics design in Bangalore, India. His brother, Vik, is located halfway around the world in Folsom and also works on hardware design.

Vishal: With another family member working for the same company, you can’t bluff the rest of your family about how hard you work or how tough your job is. There’s always a second perspective.

Bill: It’s certainly harder to disconnect from work. When we’re at family gatherings, we have to catch ourselves. Our mom and wives and siblings say ‘Stop talking Intel!”

Medha: At one point, until last year, my husband worked at Intel as well. So there were three family members working at Intel, and my poor brother-in-law would be like, okay, now maybe I should just join Intel, so we can all talk Intel stuff.

What’s the funniest Intel-related story that you tell that involves your sibling? 

Vishal: Before my brother was at Intel, he used to always tease me about going to the BUM (Business Update Meeting) and ask me “Who’s BUM did you go to today?’ since the word has another funny meaning. But now we both go to BUMs.

Medha: When I first joined Intel, people would see my sister, and they would start asking her about the deliverables, and she would be like, “Do I know you? What’s going on?” I think it took a few months for people to realize that we are not the same person.

Now I’m on the same project as her, and our cubes are close together, so if one of us is talking, and the other person’s talking at the same time, it’s like a stereo effect. It’s pretty funny.

Kathi (left) works in HR in Munich, Germany; her sister, Eva, works at the same site in a different HR group.

Kathi: My sister and I have different last names so people don’t really know we’re related. I have pictures of my nephew and my niece, my sister’s children. And sometimes people ask me if they are mine and notice that they look so much like the photos in the cube a few aisles down. I say, it’s the same children, but down there is the mom and I’m just the auntie.

Bill: I think there have been times where, given you work in the same organization, you get an email, and you don’t realize that it’s actually not for you. My younger brother took over an area that I used to own, around architecture definition, and so I get replied back to an email I received on the topic. I thought, “Maybe it’s a ‘you never leave your old job’ type of thing.” So I gave pretty detailed direction on what should happen from an architecture strategy perspective, and turns out it wasn’t even directed to me.

Did one family member help the other one get a job? 

Medha: My sister didn’t help me get my job, but she definitely eased my ramp-up in this project, because she’s been there, she knows the people. It definitely helped. And I know she’s going to give me advice on what I need to do, what I should be doing, what I could do better, and I’m pretty sure it’s going to continue for the rest of my life. The latest one [piece of advice] was, oh, when you write an e-mail, you may want to change the font, so it looks a little more professional. Believe me, I’m not a junior engineer. But I get advice like that.

Ghery: I didn’t have to help my son get a job, because he was already working here 10 years as a green badge. But when I found out that they had created a [blue-badge] req and he was supposed to apply, I was the typical parent, gave him a good swift kick in the rear end, and told him to get going.

Vishal: I would have loved to help my brother find a job, so that I got the referral bonus [laughs]. He found other friends in Intel to refer his resume. And in a way it was good, because if I were to forward a resume, I would have done it in a biased way and suggested joining certain groups.

Kathi: When I started, my sister helped me understand the acronyms. When you don’t want to ask your colleagues around you, it is just easier to get information from your sibling. And what she also helped me explain how things like SPP [stock purchase plan] work. If you ask someone who works on SPP how it works, the explanation sometimes can be confusing, and if you have no clue about it, then it’s easier if someone you know explains it to you in plain English.

Does it help to have someone else in your family understand all those Intelisms, things like constructive criticism, ARs, work weeks? Do you talk in that language at home? 

Bill: Probably more often than we should. I mean, it is nice to be able bounce things off each other. Like if I’ve got a proposal going at senior staff, I can ask them what’s your perspective coming from a different part of the business.

Kathi: It helps a lot. Most of my family all work for German companies, which is very different than Intel. And no one understands the words if I say something about work. No one. It’s just my sister who would understand me, and she would be nodding and saying, oh, yeah, you had a hard day. And my family is just sitting there and looking at me like I’m talking Chinese. So it’s really helpful sometimes.

Bill: Given that me and my two brothers are all in IT now, over the last few years there’s been a lot more inadvertent e-mail coming our way. And so what we attach now in response is just a footer that says, Thank you for using the Giard Routing Excellence And Technical System (GREAT System, or GreatSys for short). We work hard to provide you with a stable messaging system with full redundancy. Our features include multiple email systems for MBC (messaging business continuity), service with a smile, and free car washes from the youngest infrastructure component (aka Mike). 

The post Generations of Intel, Employees That Is appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Ask questions at the end of interview

Before you leave the interview, ask the interviewer for a business card so you have their contact information. Ask when you can expect to hear back, and if you may follow-up if you have not heard back within that time frame. For example you might say, “I enjoyed our conversation, and I’m very interested in this opportunity. If I haven’t heard from you within two weeks, may I follow up to check on the status?” If they don’t have cards, ask for a phone # or email address.

Follow up via email

If you don’t hear back within the stated time frame, do take the time to send an email. This will be at least the second email you have sent, since you already sent a thank you email immediately after the interview, right? Following up politely will not hinder your chances, and it could be positive because it demonstrates your strong interest (and continued availability). Here is a sample email:

Dear Mr. /Ms. Last Name:

I wanted to follow up with regarding the Software Engineer we discussed on 11/25. I remain highly interested in the opportunity, and I believe this is a strong fit with my education and skills. I can provide any additional information you need upon request.

Please feel free to contact me at any time if further information is needed. My cell phone number is (555) 111-1111. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you again for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Your Name

The extra interaction that you have with the manager helps build the relationship, particularly if you get and accept the offer. In addition, even if you end up as the second choice for one job, you might be considered for another position in the organization, based on your enthusiasm. If you and this particular interviewer had an exchange during your interview, feel free to mention it again. For example, I’ve had an interview where I’ve asked the interviewer what publications they read regularly to stay up to date. In a follow-up email I might mention how I looked into the publication and what I learned from or liked about it. Do this only if you’ve followed through—don’t lie about it.

Keep Looking

You should continue seeking other opportunities, even if you felt very positive about an interview. There are factors beyond your control (hiring freeze?) so until you have an actual offer, keep looking. If you do get another offer, then you may have the leverage to accelerate a hiring decision, one way or the other.

Following up does not guarantee a job offer, but it keeps the communication going! If you do something different, I’d love to hear about it—leave a comment to share!

The post After the Interview appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

I’ve heard it all before—marketing is fun and cool but I want to focus on technology. Is it really possible to do both? You mean have my cake and eat it to? I love marketing and I love technology. How many jobs out there do you think allow you to do both? There are many reasons why these seemingly simple questions pose a true challenge. Most will have a certain level of educational focus or experience swaying you to one side or the other or you may live in an area with a shortage of technology based companies.

After receiving any job offer its common (and best) practice to make your list of pros/cons. After all, you need to learn about the company as much (if not more) than they learn about you. Work ethic, rapport with interviewers, industry, and location should all be top of mind when evaluating a position. Thankfully, Intel was capable of crossing all of these off my list with high marks. How does this tie back to having my cake and eating it to?

Having been with Intel for just over a year, I feel I’ve personally made it through the “learning curve” and I’ve been told that I have acclimated exceptionally well – remember this is a 100,000+ global tech company. What aided this success AND provided me and others the ability to have our cake and eat it too is my involvement as one of the lead drivers of the Intel Tablet Smart Squad.

The Tablet Smart Squad was created to help educate consumers in an effort to simplify their decision making during the purchase experience for tablets. Come again? You know that techy friend you call before you buy any new electronics? Or maybe you have a friend who’s really into cars and your go-to for any automative advice. We wanted to do the same thing, but with tablets. We created the Tablet Smart Squad to give people who were thinking about buying a tablet (and even some who weren’t thinking about it) access to PEOPLE that could help them decide what tablet would work for them. Does that sound fun and cool? Maybe, maybe not. If you keep reading, I’ll guarantee you will think it is!( I apologize that this was written using more than 140 characters, but it’s worth it.)

Who, where, how is the Smart Squad making it happen? Hint: this is where it gets cool.

The Smart Squad is open to all employees to join and is currently comprised of approx. 255 Intel employees (and growing every day) from a diverse set of backgrounds, business units, locations and levels of expertise. All Smart Squad participants were provided product, messaging and social media training. Intel even went to the extent of providing 1/3 of these participants with tablets for their own use and to aid in the online conversation, education and awareness this team is driving all with the hashtag – #IntelTablets. Check out the hashtag on your favorite social networks like Twitter and Instagram and you’ll get a feel for what the smart squad has done. From #TabletTipTuesday to sharing photos of how they use tablets to help with their every day life to creating videos to show you some of the bells and whistles their tablets have to boiling it down to their new favorite (addictive) games, the squad is made up of employees, just like you, who are testing their tablet limits to see what kind of fun (and sometimes trouble) they can get themselves into!

This my friends is how I and my colleagues were capable of having our cake and eating it to. It’s not often, if at all, that an organization will allow “non-marketers” the opportunity to facilitate a marketing function. In addition to providing new opportunities for veteran colleagues to learn a new skill and broaden their horizons while staying the course in their current role. As for me, yeah, I like cake, but I much prefer being directly responsible for the positive morale of my colleagues and helping our consumers.

Note: Scott and a few other Tablet Smart Squad members will be at CES this week showing off their tablets and answering questions. Follow the hashtag to see what they’re up to!

The post How the Intel Tablet Smart Squad Came to Be and What It Can Do For You! appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

What are your objectives?

I figured out for myself that people join MBA courses for two main reasons:

a)      the formal acknowledgment an MBA degree brings

An interesting (and a bit paradoxical) observation in my opinion – if you’re looking to learn new things in management, then you shouldn’t be looking for an MBA. Keep working and learn new things from separate highly-focused courses or read more—those are some methods for learning new things. It’s not that a formal business education doesn’t open new things to you, it does, but you’ll be much more efficient if you already know these and learn to apply them to different situations. I realized that it’s not that much that a person with many years of managerial experience may learn. It’s rather new perspectives we see – new applications of our knowledge, sharing with fellow-students (and learning from them).

b)     expanding their existing people network (to be used immediately or at a later time).

Similar thing about the network – if you’re looking forward to build it from the scratch then it’s too early to think about an MBA degree. You have to have something interesting to offer to course mates. (I wrote a post on the value of networking some time ago that might help if you’re trying to network.) For the two remaining objectives (if they resonate with yours) – they primarily define the course or business school you should be looking at.

When I was going through my MBA, I made another interesting observation: it’s very good to get back to studies in our 30s, some 10 years after we graduated from the university. I found out I lost some skills, mostly related to finding & structuring information, complying with formal requirements for preparing documents (the ones not common in business world – like essays, tasks solving and graduation thesis). And refreshing these is very good, too. As we critically look at these university/business school forms, norms and requirements we refresh our view on the work we do daily. My studies helped me to improve my work processes simply because I’ve got a fresh look at them.

So to summarize my points – I believe that a formal business degree should be seriously considered by seasoned managers of some 10+ years of experience if they are looking for a refresh in their careers. And if employers care about their future leaders then they should consider paying for business education for them. I’m happy to share that (after several years of negotiations, considering various options and discussions with my manager), Intel paid for my MBA studies. (Don’t count on the same happening for you on your second day at Intel, but if you’re committed to your managerial career then you’ll have brilliant opportunities here, at Intel, including pursuing educational opportunities.)

So would you agree to my observations about the business education objectives? If you got yours – do you share my views on the outcomes? And finally, has your employer paid for your business school? And if yes – did it help to increase your commitment to that employer?

The post The Value of an MBA appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Talent is hard to find nowadays and the usual career fair might not be around the corner for everyone, so why not try it online? After collaborating with the experienced Virtual Events team in the US, we eventually had a rough picture in mind of what, who and when. Well equipped to organise an innovative virtual job fair, targeting students and college graduates all over Europe, our idea was to provide future talent with interactive, virtual information about Intel Europe and our Mobile and Communications Group. This was to be achieved by a virtual presentation held by Günther Harrasser (Manager Test and Build Automation) and an interactive element, our virtual “booths”, where Intel engineers and recruiters would be chatting with possible future candidates.

Promotion in the weeks before the event was running wild. Several postings via Intel’s Social Media channels, as well as targeted Facebook Ads and a Facebook event were utilised as well as promotions on our Jobs at Intel Facebook page. Moreover, supported by some internal helpers, our team got in contact with around 4000 people from our Taleo  candidate databases and LinkedIn connections in our group and company page and above 100 professors and staff at target universities throughout Europe. We definitely wanted to get the message out there!

After three months of intensive preparation, the day was finally here and we were finally ready to go! During the event, 8 engineers and 3 recruiters sat around a big table at our IMC Campeon site in Munich. The evening did actually look a little like a LAN Party, with all those cables and screens. Everyone stuck to their laptop, striving to answer every question asked in our Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and HR virtual chat booths. In order to avoid food or drink cravings, we had some Oktoberfest elements organised in advance, as it was that time of the year in Munich:). So the atmosphere during the event was fun, yet professional – just how we like it! At 8 p.m., after two hours of interacting with a bunch of very interested potential candidates, people in the chats thanked us for the great event, our laptops were shut down and 11 happy faces went home.

The next day we figured out our event was a great success. We had over 800 people register for the event, which included Günther’s presentation group chats in our virtual booths. Mission accomplished! – Thanks to each and every individual who contributed to this event, on the Intel side and the candidate side! Were you at the event? What feedback do you have for us? If you haven’t attended an Intel Virtual Event, be sure to check out our calendar and attend our next event!

The post An Inside Look at Intel in Europe appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

The case continued…

Me: I’d now like to call to the stand our presiding expert. Michael, you have a deep understanding of the impact of impressions, correct?

Michael: Yes

Me: Can you please share your thoughts with the jury and use real life examples and case studies to illustrate your point?

Michael: Sure—people like to think that they are rational calculating creatures, using reason to judge others without prejudice or bias. And if the world were a perfect place, as Kevin envisions it, you would be judged solely on the quality of your work and the strength of your character. Opinions would be molded over time and first impressions wouldn’t matter. Unfortunately, (for Kevin and the rest of us) they do matter. The fact is we instinctually form opinions of others at first glance. We don’t like to admit it but most of these opinions are made viscerally and within the first few seconds of meeting someone. We, as a species, are hardwired to judge a book by its cover. There is no better illustration of this than in the world of politics. Think to yourself, why is it that some seemingly unqualified politicians skyrocket to the top while other, brighter, policy wonks struggle unnoticed in the dungeons of some Washington think-tank? It’s charisma, presentation, attractiveness, style, and confidence; all of the superficial attributes that people like Kevin want to believe don’t matter in the big scheme of things but in actuality they do.

Me: Have you ever read Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Blink?”

Michael: Yes. Malcolm Gladwell summarized this phenomenon in what he coined “the Warren G Harding effect” (named after the 29^th President). Harding, in Gladwell’s analysis, was a feckless politician whose actual intelligence should never have allowed him to be considered for the highest office in the land. However, his impressive stature, presence, and determined look caused voters to subconsciously view him as a viable leader. He looked presidential and because of that, voters were more likely to consider voting for him. The way you present yourself can have a significant impact on how people view you and your actions. A well put-together ensemble or a clean look might make someone take a second look instead of just passing you by. And sometimes a second look is all you need. An extra millisecond of consideration can make the difference between winning an interview and being overlooked, between getting asked out on a date and watching “Samantha Who?” reruns alone with your cat, or becoming President of the United States instead of a has-been talking head on cable news.

Me: Are you saying superficial impressions are the only things that matter?

Michael: No, I’m not saying substance doesn’t matter nor am I saying image is everything (sorry Andre Agassi L). We work for a company that values results, and in the business world results (dollars and cents) matter. But just because we care about the bottom line that doesn’t mean impressions do not matter. Yes, results do matter, but those results don’t mean anything if you aren’t taken seriously in the first place.

Closing Remarks

Me: The corporate world is a jungle and it is survival of the fittest. If you don’t put yourself in the best possible light to succeed then it will be somebody else who gets the next big project, promotion, and recognition. So the next time you are thinking of just throwing on the same old pair of jeans for work because they are comfortable, easy, and they smell “sort of clean”, think about what your image is saying about your personal brand. What first impression do you want to make today? Who knows … someone might just take a second look.

Kevin: Sure, impressions matter. And sure, what you wear to work helps form others’ impressions of you. In fact, there are lots of variables that affect others’ impressions of you. Things like: how you speak, where you went to school, whether or not you’re nice, and even your age. Some variables have merit and others are questionable. My point is, at work (and in life), we should set aside superficial variables and focus on what is measurable—task orientation, results, and ability to make and meet commitments. Who’s to say it’s right or wrong to wear jeans? Who’s to say it’s right or wrong to wear a suit? We’re all Intel, and we all work toward one company goal.

Who do you agree with?

The post REP: The Expert’s Opinion on ImpREssions in the Workplace appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Last month, I had the honor of being part of a ceremony where our CEO, Paul Otellini spoke to a representative sample of Military Veterans and personally handed out commemorative coins (see pictures below) to each of the Vets. Honestly, it was a very touching event and Paul opened with some very heart felt words where he stated :

“We – our country, our company and I – owe you a huge debt as members of our armed forces who risked your lives to protect our freedom … to secure our homeland … and to defend democracy worldwide.”

He went on to make several other interesting points, such as how Veterans tend to exhibit the qualities that Intel values. Additionally, he explained how Intel is in the process of expanding its programs and services for US Veterans, as well as hiring two veterans specifically for the purposes of running these programs and as a dedicated military recruiter – a common practice among top performing companies. There was mention of the fact that Intel was joining with more than 75 other companies as part of the 100,000 Jobs Mission, a coalition of companies with a goal to hire at least 100,000 military veterans by 2020. Altogether, I thought this was a great speech and, personally, I was very happy to hear it!

So, all in told, roughly 50 veterans were able to individually shake hands with Paul, get handed his or her coin, and snap a picture. It went smoothly, with the Veterans standing, row-by-row and getting in line smartly in typical military fashion. But, for those few seconds, we each got to shake hands with the man at the helm of the largest semiconductor company in the world, and that, truly was an honor. We had folks from Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and even at least one former Coast Guardsman.

It should be noted that Paul said there was one thing that he wanted to be very clear about. While he was very glad to be holding this event, he was adamant that this was not a “one-time Veterans’ Day” event, but rather a start of a long-term revitalization of a long-standing principle whereby Intel has been a great supporter of Veterans in general. While I won’t bore you with all the policies (but feel free to read them yourself), I have known that there are many things that Intel does to not only honor its Veterans, but also does various things to those employees that are in the reserves and the like that do have to, from time-to-time, have to deploy. Also, the American Veterans of Intel hosts local efforts, such as collecting toiletries for our troops overseas and raising money for efforts such as helping Homeless Veterans.

However, I don’t want to overlook the importance of hiring a specific person, who is a veteran, to lead the “military recruiting” efforts for Intel. In my opinion, this is critical because it is somewhat difficult to explain how hard it is for a member of our Armed Forces to transition into (or back into, if you will) “civilian life.” Not only does the day-to-day activities change greatly (I have YET to “march in formation” since working at Intel), but perhaps the biggest obstacle is how does the newly minted Veteran translate all the experience that he or she has had in the field into something that a prospective employer would find valuable.

To use specific example, there is a friend of mine that had worked as a Logistics Officer in the US Marine Corp. He left some 2 decades ago and started working in an Intel distribution center. Now, one could argue that Logistics for the USMC is completely different from shipping semiconductors all over the place, but in my opinion, those two activities have a lot more in common with each other than different! If you think about what Marines ship around – everything from bullets to beans – they’ve got to be really careful of what goes where, especially with the ammunition. Not only is it important for the troops that need it to get it, but it’s also important that they don’t get lost in transit and end up some place they shouldn’t. Similarly, a “box” of processors in trays can literally cost tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars, so when it gets shipped, it is critical that it goes to the right place. Not only because it is very valuable, but also because if it doesn’t get to the right customer at the right time, it could impact their supply chain. So, when you take away what is *in* the boxes and pay attention to the activities *around* the boxes, the skills he learned working for Uncle Sam is the same that he needs to use working for Intel. Unfortunately, the vocabulary used to describe what he did in uniform could be (and usually is) VASTLY different than if had, for example, came from a different large company, say one in retail.

And he’s got one of the most clean cut examples – very much a (red) apples to (green) apples comparison. But what about the young Army Captain that was in charge of a Tank Division. Or the Naval Lieutenant that was on a Submarine (that would be me)? And, of course, the Air Force Captain that worked for Space Systems Command? How many Tanks, Submarines, or Spy Satellites do you think there are outside of the military? (Hopefully the answer is “none”.) So, does this mean that these young officers, or anyone of our fine enlisted folks that served this great land, have picked up zero transferable skills in the 5, 10, 15, 20, or more years in the military? In my opinion, the answer is “no” – but let me use an analogy to help explain.

Remember the original “Karate Kid” movie? One of the more interesting scenes was when Daniel Larusso was getting sick and tired of doing (what felt like) nothing but chores for Mr. Miyagi, such as waxing his car. So, Mr. Miyagi throws a punch and Daniel instinctively blocks. Another punch is thrown and it is matched with another instinctive block. In that critical moment, Daniel learns that all the “Wax On & Wax Off” motions he’s been doing are exactly the same motions he’s use in his Karate matches. In other words, the motions were the same, even if what they were called was different. And, in my opinion, that is what like hiring someone out of the military is like. That are innate qualities that most Veterans gain from their service that are invaluable in the world of business, such as discipline, attention to detail, the ability to work together as a tight nit team. I don’t care if you making semiconductors or wands for conductors, you want these qualities in your team. And that’s what hiring a Veteran usually gives you.

For more information on Intel’s Veteran Hiring program, check out our landing page on the topic or leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you.

The post Intel CEO Honors His Veterans appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

The interview is clearly a key part of the job search process.  In a tight job market, it becomes even more critical to be at your best when the opportunity of a job interview arises.

Here are five key strategies to a successful job interview:

KNOW THE COMPANY

Many job seekers know very little about the organizations they apply to, and some only spend a few minutes on the company’s website as their preparation for an interview.  You will stand out as an interested, and well-prepared candidate if really do your homework.  For example, you can find friends, or connect to folks on Linkedin to get more information. You can go to GlassDoor.com to read what former employees say about a company. You can also block out several hours to research the company through its’ own website, press releases, recent news articles, etc. to better understand the company’s current business projects and issues

KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS

I recommend you share their job-related strengths immediately.  Questions such as “Tell me about yourself.”, “Why should I hire you?” and “What are your top qualities/strengths?” are all opportunities for you to sell yourself to the interviewer.  An example of a good answer might be, “I have extensive Computer Engineering coursework, I have experience leading class projects and dividing up work, and I’ve written over 1000 lines of C++ code.”

PREPARE SOME “SUCCESS STORIES”

Most employers ask Behavior-based interview questions which require specific examples from your past.  The task of trying to come up with good examples off the top of your head is one of the biggest sources of stress before and during an interview.  The solution is to prepare some success stories prior to the interview.  Sketch out some stories in a Situation-Action-Result format that you could apply to multiple questions.

For example, I led a class project team of four in building a robot. One class member dropped out mid-term.  I re-organized the work between the three of us. We completed the project on time and got an “A”.

This story could be used to respond to questions about: Teamwork, Meeting deadlines, Flexibility, etc.

PREPARE QUESTIONS TO ASK

If you do not ask even one question, the interviewer may feel he/she has no interest in the position. Since some of your questions may be answered during the interview, type up 10-12 questions to be safe.  Ask questions about key job duties, training/development opportunities, and areas that truly matter to you (culture, manager’s style, work content, advancement opportunities, etc.)

ASK FOR THE POSITION

Like a salesperson who asks for the sale, you must ask for the job.  For example, a candidate can close the interview by saying, “I’m very interested in this position, and I believe I would be a strong fit on this team!  I look forward to hearing back from you soon.”    In a competitive hiring situation, a candidate who expresses sincere interest and excitement about the position, may be the one who ultimately gets the job.

Use these tips to fully prepare yourself before an interview, and you greatly increase your chances of success.

The post Ace the Job Interview appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

In recent weeks, there seem to be so many significant life challenges impacting my co-workers, friends and family. It’s hit me particularly hard as I prepare to fly out of town to support my younger brother who is going into the hospital. The fact is we all face personal challenges, often more frequently than we admit or disclose.

How do people manage? Challenges come in all shapes and sizes. When combined with the pressure of work, the stress can be overwhelming. I’m not just talking about the big challenges either, but every day ones too. Choices like these: driving your kid to daycare, making a decision whether to attend your son’s after school soccer game; watching your daughter’s concert; volunteering on a non-profit broad or mentoring a child in need. If there is an easy answer on how people manage their blurring professional and life commitments, I’d love to hear it.

I bring this subject up because I’ve been thinking a lot about the choices we make.  One of the top questions I receive as a professional, aside from “What if someone thinks you’re a b*tch?” is “How do you manage work life balance?” The fact is I don’t have the balance I would like, but greatly appreciate that some people think I’m doing it well. I think in the high tech and marketing fields, the pace of innovation, change and complexity make it increasingly hard for all of us to feel that we are completely caught up on our own professional sphere let alone life responsibilities. This statement is for both men and women.

So what do I do? I learned a helpful trick a few months ago that brought really valuable perspective. I wish I could give credit to the source but honestly i can’t remember. The point was that when we all have conflicts and our knee jerk reaction tends to be “I have to”. How many times have you had a meeting scheduled over a prior commitment and told your team/family/secretary “I have to take it”.  The fact is if you change your vocabulary and switch “I have to” with “I chose to” it brings an additional level of thought to your action. I admit, I still chose to reprioritize but I find I am increasingly not making changes as well. The pressure I felt to just do something because it was expected was lifted when I remembered the power was in my choice and action.

We live in a fast paced, chaotic, exciting and challenging world. No one will ever ask less of us. We need to feel personally empowered to make choices that work for us and all the people that depend on this. Trusting people’s choices is also important. Let your team and co-workers make their choices and don’t second guess or criticize. An oldie but goodie says you don’t know until you walk a mile in someone’s shoes. Let’s all start making more choices and not feel pressured to just respond. In the end, it will make us better managers, employees, spouses, fathers/mothers, people.

My choice for the next few days is to support my family. Work will manage and if they need me, they can find me.

The post Choosing Life appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Photo credit: Sebastian from Intel’s Internal Employee Communications Team in EMEA

Jacek has watched Intel’s R&D site in Gdańsk, Poland, grow right before his eyes. Compared with other Intel sites worldwide, Intel Poland has in the past been relatively little-known. But with almost 1,000 employees, Poland is now one of the biggest Intel sites in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region.

As the leader of PC Client Services Engineering organization, Jacek’s job is to help build a stronger team by encouraging cross-site collaboration and knowledge sharing, and developing the people who work for him.

We followed Jacek for a day in his life in Gdańsk, shortly before he decided that he and his family will relocate to Folsom, where Jacek will join the IDGz Chipset and SoC Strategic Planning group.

8:10 a.m.—Jacek is up at 6:45 a.m, and at work 90 minutes later. This week, his team moved to the new “green” building in Gdańsk which features freshly painted offices, conference rooms and state- of-the-art labs.

8:20 a.m.—Time to go through emails on his new PC, a Toshiba Ultrabook. The site sponsor for the Gdansk Great Place to Work team, Jacek is a sought-after trainer and coach; he also coordinates and leads site level initiatives like Business Update Meetings and senior leader visits. He gets many emails on these subjects as well as those that related to his day job.

8:50 a.m.—Jacek shares his plans for a busy day with his administrative assistant.

9:00 a.m.—Jacek meets with the Engineers in a new lab. The labs in Gdańsk host development systems, computation intensive work, and test infrastructure.

This lab is not fully functioning yet, and the four discuss the issues that may arise if the rest of team’s equipment is not moved into the lab within two days. However, Jacek is pleased that it took only two days instead of four to move, reconfigure, and make dozens of high compute servers and 120 test platforms fully operational.

9:35 a.m.—Jacek believes that one key every team’s success is keeping team members motivated and eager to work. When Jacek is delivering employee personal results, he sees it as a chance to share his team’s vision and make sure each employee is aligned to it.

10:30 a.m.—Jacek’s group uses Agile methodology to drive their projects: a daily Scrum. This method enables the team to run software projects in a tight, iterative way. They stay close to customer needs, deliver value rapidly, and adapt quickly to new requirements.

Those who can’t attend in person call in. They discuss success in performance tuning; changing an approach to resolve a bottleneck; a new anti-theft service beta release; and final touches on some McAfee software.

11:30 a.m.—Jacek discuss with other members of the management about the best way to train contingent workers.

12:30 p.m.—Can’t run on an empty stomach: “I like to eat everything, especially in good company,” says Jacek. On the menu in the canteen today: spicy oriental soup, crispy American chicken slices, spaghetti Bolognese, mixed grilled vegetables, and cheesecake. Jacek meets one of the Principal Engineers, who is in charge of the technical leadership pipeline in Poland. They collaborate on a pressing problem: as a remote site, Gdańsk lacks many conventional opportunities to grow people, so they need to be creative to support employees.

1:30 p.m.— Jacek bumps into one of his employees, software application engineer. They talk about different possibilities to improve the automated build infrastructure used in all of the projects of PC Client Division. He is very enthusiastic: “It will be so much faster and will add a flexibility vector for our engineers. They will love it!”

2:00 p.m.— The Great Place To Work team is taking care of the social side of Intel life. Here they are debating about building a new soccer field for Intel Gdańsk employees. Jacek loves sports. He shares his ideas on organizing a competition with prizes for local Intel soccer teams. Jacek also manages large-scale volunteering programs and since Intel invests a lot of effort in protecting the environment, the GPTW team plans to have volunteers clean up some nearby forestland.

2:55 p.m.—Because the Gdańsk campus is growing, employees move among three buildings. How does he shift gears between very different kinds of meetings? “The thing I use to reset myself is picturing my wife when she is smiling. It’s amazing how fast you can reach a positive state of mind when doing that–it’s a very powerful technique.”

3:00 p.m.—Apart from his strong presentation and storytelling skills, Jacek also shares his knowledge and experience with others as a certified transition coach and trainer for “Strengthening Managers Skills.” This means he is helping new managers to transit from individual contributor to manager. He meets regularly with one of the employees, a Visual and Parallel Computing Group (VCG) software engineer, to go through his Transitional Coach program.

4:30 p.m.—Jacek leaves work, heading home to his family. Thursday is the only day when he manages to take off early. Jacek moves some of his meetings to a later time and is able to get home by 6-7 p.m. A few years ago, Jacek didn’t have many late meetings so maintaining work/life balance was easier. “Being an employee at a remote site and having a nine-hour time difference with the U.S. does have a price. The more responsible the job, the more you have to fit it to the U.S. working hours,” Jacek comments.

5:30 p.m.—Jacek, his wife Magdalena, and their three kids are big fans of water sports. They love to spend time together and often go swimming in the local pool. This is a great break in a busy day that will soon resume with more meetings.

9:00 p.m.—There are two more meetings before Jacek can finally call it a day. Nora, his loyal German Shepherd, always accompanies him. “No matter what you do, at the end of every day there are still piles of tasks that you haven’t managed to close. The most important thing for me is to check whether I did everything I could to make my family happy and my team successful. Whatever I have achieved at Intel is because of my family: the support I got from my beloved wife and the happiness I experience from taking part in my kids’ lives. With such a great foundation it is easy to put 100% of yourself in the job and succeed.”

Are you interested in joining our team in Poland? Check out our job openings!

To know more about current opportunities at Intel and connect with the recruiters you can join our social community at Facebook, Twitter or Goldenline.

The post My Day: Growing in Gdansk appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

I can’t believe I first wrote to you a few weeks ago about SWE and here I am, post-SWE, still buzzing from all of the energy from the conference! I said it once, and I’ll say it again, SWE is THE conference to go to if you’re looking for career development, networking with really cool and smart people and for the latest and greatest in technology. I’m jazzed about next year in Baltimore, and you should be too! What’s getting me so excited? Well, let me share my SWE experience with you…

SWE Day 1 – Insights from the SWE Conference

What a tremendous day the first day was. The conference kicked off with an awesome keynote presentation from Dr. Ellen Ochoa, a physicist and astronaut at NASA. And I really do mean AWE-some. She shared photos and videos of her time on space shuttles and at the international space station. To witness science in action like that was truly amazing. Seeing collaboration on such a national—and international—scale; testing biology, physiology, and technology in space to understand how properties may work back on Earth; seeing images of our planet as the backdrop of photos of the space station—breathtaking. And where else but at an engineering conference do you hear someone talk about a sunrise, saying “it happens pretty quickly when you’re traveling at 5 miles per second”?!?!? (BTW, if you just had an instinct to see how fast that was in miles per hour…you might be an engineer.)  :-)

After the inspiring keynote, we broke off into workshop sessions. I had the opportunity to present, with my infectious colleague Renee Defeo, about Intel’s amazing Intel Education Service Corp program and the impact we had teaching computer literacy in remote parts of the world, exposing children to technology. We spoke about Intel’s commitment to education and how others can (re-)ignite their passion for community outreach in a corporate environment. We also heard other great “Lightening Sessions” from women at MWV, on process efficiency, and an instructor from Louisiana State University who highlighted her school’s innovative and progressive international engineering program where students spend 5 weeks exploring how engineering is done in a foreign country (Germany).

At lunch, some of us Intel-ers sat with Roz, from Dow. A phenomenal woman with a Masters in ChemE and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering, she is the mother of 8 year old triplets. And she started graduate school AFTER she had her babies! Talk about an inspiration. We had a fabulous discussion about how moms and dads make family and work work. Whatever your solution—day care, part-time, stay-at-home parent, nanny, in-law help—we all agree it takes a village to get it done. Key takeaway: it’s okay to ask for and accept help. Do what it takes to make it work and still feel passionately inspired to remain a woman in technology!

My afternoon was just as busy and engaging. I chose to attend the session about how (and when and why) to say “No!”—something so many of us working professionals could use a lesson in. Fascinating to see data from both employees and managers saying it’s okay—in fact preferred—to say no when appropriate. Focus on what’s most important and succeed at that (rather than do a mediocre job at everything, and not bring your best to any of it). I also loved the idea of a “To Do” List…and a “Stop Doing” List. Focus on what brings the most value, and let other “opportunities” go.

After lunch, I moved into teacher mode again, presenting to 150+ women (and men) about Communicating Effectively in a Data-Driven Workplace. It was an amazing opportunity—I could just feel I was channeling my mentor Marne at one point. In fact, it was very empowering, sharing 15 years of Intel stories, bringing the best of what I’d learned from the influencers and experiences in my life, to help others learn and grow. One thing I love so much about this conference and engaging with others in the industry is seeing just how much we have in common. How various experiences transcend age, gender, degree, and corporate job focus. How people can relate to the concept, if not the specific circumstance.

Whether an electrical engineer designing chips in the semiconductor industry, a chemical engineer improving products at Kimberly-Clark, a mechanical engineer designing tires for Goodyear, or a physicist reaching new heights (literally!) at NASA, the concepts of integrity, hard work, effective communication, focused feedback, and re-igniting your passion impact us all. And thanks to Day 1, we’re all better equipped to go out and make a substantial difference at our companies and our communities.

Favorite Quotes from Day 1:

“We were traveling 17,500 miles per hour.” – Dr. Ellen Ochoa

“Yeah, she’s pretty much a bad ass.” – Senior Intel Engineering Manager, referring to astronaut Dr. Ellen Ochoa

“Oh, great! She’s texting me in Japanese! I wonder if there’s a translator on this thing.” – Speaker, Engineering and Commodity Manager at Intel

“I was like ‘Daaaaad! Just help me find the answer. I want to go outside and play!” – Akron, OH Mechanical Engineering student, lovingly sharing a story about her dad helping her with her homework as a kid

“Saying ‘No’ is a bit like getting your legs waxed. It feels very uncomfortable for a short period of time, but the long-term is really worth it.” – (Referenced in a presentation) Heather McGregor, Author

“Who says you can’t be five feet and model? I do it all day long…in Excel!” – Industrial Engineering Graduate

Key Takeaways / Things to Remember on Day 1:

[On Stress] Differentiate between beneficial challenges and unnecessary stress. Make a “Stop Doing” List.

[On Giving and Receiving Feedback] Listen! Listen! Listen! / Seek first to understand. / Assume positive intent.

[On Developing Yourself and Your Teams] Leveraging your strengths leads to higher engagement which leads to passion. And that leads to great results.

[On Communicating] Have confidence in yourself, your knowledge, and your data / Questions show a sign of interest, not disagreement.

[On Fueling Passion] To love what you do and know that it matters…. How could anything be more fun?

SWE Day 2 – More Insights from the SWE Conference

I started Day 2 attending the plenary (which I’ve discovered is a fancy word for “panel discussion”) titled “Women Leaders in Emerging Technologies.” There I heard from tremendous senior women leaders including McAfee’s Senior Vice President and General Manager of Endpoint Security, Candace Worley. Candace spoke about needing a corporate culture where taking risks is accepted, and how her aspiration is for her team to challenge her. Hearing direct, open, and honest engagement from senior leaders was very inspiring. Not only did it help from a career development perspective, gaining insight, it tore down that perception of senior leaders as untouchable and far removed from a new hire or mid-career person’s day-to-day experiences. The approachable and seasoned panelists made recommendations about navigating in the real world and determining when it was time for a change. They gave advice like “do pilots,” which tend to be non-threatening even to those most deeply entrenched in their ways; focus on the skills that transcend technical experience, like accountability, authenticity, innovation, and caring; and be resilient—remember it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Hearing first-hand, personal accounts (including shortcomings & mis-steps) from senior leaders who’ve been through the ranks in corporate America was simultaneously inspiring, humbling, and very empowering.

Later that day, I attended a class about white men as full diversity partners exploring one large engineering company’s efforts to build a culture of full inclusion that supports and retains talented women. I was impressed by how they started the dialogue from the male’s perspective. One leader spoke about how he initially thought women would come talk to him and tell him what he was doing wrong, then he realized he was the one who needed to change, seeing the environment through other people’s eyes. The men and women on the panel talked about the importance of seeing the unseen, recognizing blind spots, and taking advantage of moments when we DO see gaps, to do something about them. It reinforced for me that everyone is constantly growing and developing, we all have opportunities to learn and grow, and creating a culture of inclusion for all people is an on-going, iterative process. One panelist asserted: “We don’t have to get it right. We just have to make it better.”

Lunchtime took me to the career fair where I was fabulously inspired by Intel’s booth and the people there. Front center was the Intel booth showcasing our tremendous leadership in technology and the passion we have for innovation. Recruiters were talking to students and professionals alike, answering questions about our company, our products, and opportunities to be a technical professional at Intel Corporation. A 15 year veteran, I myself learned something new from the fabulous Intel staff. Katie from AZ informed me about the many Intel fabs at locations around the world and how you can determine the location by last digit of the number of the fab (ends in a 2—Arizona; ends in a 4—Ireland; ends in an 8—Israel (usually, anyway…), and Fab 11x is in New Mexico).

Whether you’re a robotics aficionado excited to share your knowledge about sync packets, a process engineer with in-depth experience on Intel fabs, an electrical-engineer-now-biz-ops-manager who loves to teach and inspire new generations to find their passion, or a senior VP leading the way on endpoint security, there are so many ways to be an engineer. And all of these opportunities are available and encouraged both in the industry and at our amazing company. I couldn’t be prouder to be a technical female at Intel.

Speaking of women at Intel, day 2 wrapped up with an awards banquet honoring four phenomenal Intel females—all recipients of SWE’s Emerging Leader Award. Sincerest congratulations go out to Deborah, Divya, Kimberly, and Suzi for your tremendous accomplishments. You inspire us all.

Day 2 Quotes

“At the point where you’re comfortable, you’re likely not growing.” – Candace Worley, Senior VP & GM of Endpoint Security, McAfee

“I don’t control the perceptions others have. But I do control what I do and what I say to influence getting them to the awareness I truly believe is reality.” – “Women Leaders in Emerging Technologies” panelist

“The day we’re not paying attention is the day we fail our customers.” – Candace Worley, Senior VP & GM of Endpoint Security, McAfee

“Often when I see a surprise, I’ve bumped into an assumption I didn’t know I had.” – Moderator, “White Males as Full Diversity Partners” session

Key Takeaways / Things to Remember on Day 2:

[On Professional Growth] Reach out beyond your functional team.  Leverage the skills of others. Take risks.

[On Engaging Students in Science] Leverage resources at www.familyengineering.org for parent-child activities for K-5 students.  / Older students gravitate toward college students because they connect the dots on how doing science activities applies to a job one day.

[On Progressing to Goals] We measure what we treasure.

For those who didn’t have the opportunity to experience these amazing courses, events, and ceremonies in person, check out SWE’s website for more information. Mark your calendars for WE’13 in Baltimore, Oct. 24-26, 2013. And, in the interim, get engaged with your local SWE chapter. Opportunities abound all around us to get engaged, ask questions, and support phenomenal career- and personal growth for women in technology.

In the words of Intel co-founder Robert Noyce: “Go off and do something wonderful.” SWE was that wonderful for me, and it could be for you too!

The post Women at SWE are Out of this World! appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

This special group of employees I’m talking about is Intel employees who are U.S. military veterans. Paul held a special meeting with 50 of the 3,000+ employees at Intel who are U.S. military veterans, and a guest of theirs, to thank them for their service to the country and to Intel. Paul presented this group with a “challenge coin,” a memento that reflects a U.S. military tradition meant to boost morale, recognize service and accomplishments. The Intel challenge coin reads, “Intel Military Veterans—You Make Us Stronger.”

Jeanne was among the vets who met with Paul. Her reaction to the event? “We arrived about 15 minutes before the CEO, and the feeling was of anticipation. The room was beautiful and there was just a lot of camaraderie between everyone. Seven flags representing [the state, the country and] all branches of our Military were there. It was exciting to see people you have known for years but didn’t know they were military and now we’re coming together in this way too.” Jeanne shared how much she wished one of her fellow Intel colleagues and friend, Carlton, also of Arizona, could have attended. He is one of 8 U.S. employees currently taking leave from work to actively serve our country.

This event was just one of the ways that the company wanted to show our appreciation for veterans. It was also our way to show our support to our veterans and to hire people who exemplify Intel Values—and we’ve found that the same values that exemplify America’s military make veterans an ideal fit for Intel. In the words of our HR VP, Ardine Williams, a veteran herself after serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, “This Veteran’s Day, we say thank you for what you have done for our country and what you do for our company and our communities.”

Transitioning from military life to civilian life is no easy feat, but according to several Intel military veterans, Intel made it easy. After graduating college, Jeanne served in the U.S. Air Force for seven years on active duty before joining Intel 16 years ago. “The values are so similar you can slide into Intel and it’s a pretty easy transition because those leadership and results orientation skills just help that along. I’ve been proud to serve for both [Air Force and Intel], and this event connected those two careers for me in a way that felt like being at home with family.”

Brian joined Intel 11 days after his decision to take retirement from the Air Force last September. “The transition wasn’t a big adjustment—I was used to doing what I’d been doing for the last 22 years in the Air Force, and Intel wasn’t so different, we’re just troubleshooting electronics on a different scale. And what I like is at Intel I have more freedom to be creative and make things better.”

For those of you who are going to be making the transition, we know how overwhelming it can be. Brian shared, “If you’re retiring or separating from the Military, it can be overwhelming. You feel like you are out there shaking the bushes to find out what’s available to you and you’re on your own. So when a corporation is out there wanting to come and get you and bring you and your skills on board, that sticks out as meaningful to me.” If you’re a veteran, or know a veteran, who is looking to make the transition and searching for a job, learn more about Intel’s military hiring initiative to see if we have an opportunity for you. And if you’re making the transition and looking for some help, John, a Navy veteran with 18 years at Intel, wrote a great blog post on transitioning and gives advice on finding the right job and planning for transition.

While Paul can’t reach every veteran personally, a challenge coin will be given to all U.S. employees who currently serve or have ever served in the military. His parting words? “This is the nicest thing I’ve been able to do in a while. Thank you!”

Thank you to all of our veterans and your families for your sacrifice, service, and commitment!

The post Thank You Veterans – You Make Us Stronger appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Note from the editor: Intel takes a strong stance when it comes to encouraging and empowering people to pursue a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) career. One of the ways we do that is through our Global Diversity, Education and External Relations team. Our guest blogger today comes from that team and wants to share a recent honor Intel received. Ernesto is the Diversity Education Manager for Intel. In this role, one of his responsibilities is to work with external organizations in the community, like SHPE, the

There I was, starting my day like I always do—in the café getting my morning green tea when I received a call. But not just any call, this was THE call. My caller ID indicated a number I didn’t recognize with a Los Angeles area code. I almost didn’t answer it; who could be calling me this early (before 7:30am) from the west coast?! But curiosity got the best of me and as I filled my cup, I answered my phone. It was Pilar Montoya, the CEO of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). As we exchanged good mornings, I wondered what was on Pilar’s mind. She had just been at the Intel facility in Folsom the week before to meet with small team of Intel employees and an Intel Computer Clubhouse Network employee, so my initial thought went to what we had discussed the previous week. I was wrong.

Pilar said she had some good news for me. “SHPE has selected Intel as our company of the year!” It really didn’t register at first. The only word that came out of my mouth was “Great!…Uh, can you tell me what this means?”Pilar kept talking but my mind was still wondering how we got selected—I knew we hadn’t applied for this award What I did know was that we had really worked hard with SHPE this past year, but we had worked hard in years past too. In 2011 we partnered with SHPE to launch the first ever Latina Track, a day of workshops focused on women engineers. We have also sponsored the President’s Breakfast, Pre-college Symposium and the Dean’s Summit. And I can’t forget that we hired over 30 diverse engineers as a result of our 2011 recruiting efforts at SHPE. With all these thoughts racing in my brain, the conversation ended. I was happy, I even told a few people in the café that Intel had been identified as SHPE’s company of the year, and I made my way back to my desk.

Once I got to my desk, I had to call Pilar back: I now had questions. I called Pilar and asked her, “What criteria were used? What other companies have received this award? Does this require Intel to purchase ad space? How will Intel get recognized?” She told me that previous companies recognized were IBM, P&G, Exelon, and others. She shared that Intel will be featured in the magazine in an article and continued by saying that SHPE really valued Intel’s partnership over the years and the company’s dedication to the advancement of Hispanics in STEM as well as our work with public schools to support these efforts.. As she talked, it was becoming clear: we didn’t apply for this, this wasn’t a way to get us to provide more sponsorship, but we were being recognized for the great work that we do! THIS WAS REALLY COOL! Our hard work to advance STEM in the Hispanic community was being recognized by our long-time partner, SHPE! This was a big deal especially because Hispanics are the fastest growing minority group in the U.S.—making it even more important that we enter STEM education tracks in order for the U.S. to increase the number of engineers entering the labor force. Intel’s work with SHPE has gone on for many years and this award is deserved by a cast of many who have supported Intel and the work we do with SHPE. At this year’s conference Intel is the sole sponsor of the Latina Luncheon & Track. We are co-sponsoring the technical paper competition and pre-college workshop where students will be introduced to robotics. Our cast of volunteers includes several members of the Intel Hispanic Leadership Council, Intel Black Leadership Council as well as a number of other leaders that will be delivering technical and leadership workshops at the conference. We can’t forget about our recruiting team representing various Intel business groups that will be there looking for technical talent.

We’ll be receiving the award at this year’s conference from November 14 – 18 in Fort Worth, Texas, making us even more excited for the conference this year! Why, you ask? The SHPE conference is a great place for Intel to showcase our technical talent and support of STEM in the Hispanic community. It’s also a great place to develop your technical skills by attending many of the workshops and to network with peers from other companies. You should consider attending, if not this year, next. If you plan to attend this year’s conference in Fort Worth, TX and haven’t registered, you are able to register on site. Check out some of the Intel-led sessions at this year’s conference:

• “Retail Shopping in the Future-How Digital Signs Will Impact Your Experience” presented by Alexander Flores on Thursday, November 15 at 10am in Texas C-D
• “Moving Forward-Cloud Computing Software Systems & Architecture” presented by John Vicente on Thursday, November 15 at 2:45pm in FWCC 203B
• “Technical Leadership Our Own Way” presented by Lakecia Gunter and John Vicente on Friday, November 16 at 11am in FWCC 103B
• “Designing for the Total Experience” presented by Tony Salvador on Friday, November 16 at 1:30pm in FWCC 203A

For more information on the conference visit the conference website and download the full agenda.

Don’t forget to to meet our recruiters (look out for the big Intel sign at booth #1101) at the career fair or submit your resume for consideration prior to the conference by applying to req number 624297. See you at SHPE!

The post SHPE Names Intel 2012 Company of the Year appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Hi all! My name is Lisa, and I’m a people-centric technical female at Intel with a passion for helping people achieve their personal and career- best. I started with Intel as an Intern, spent a year in the Rotational Engineering Program (REP), then spent a decade supporting successful implementation of our processor and chipset products via various Technical Marketing and Program Management roles. I am currently a Business Operations Manager in Intel’s Business Client Platforms Division, responsible for infrastructure development and support strategy. (Check out the vPro Expert Center to see what great things we’re up to!)

I have traveled the world for work, connecting with amazing individuals in Germany, China, Taiwan, Japan, Costa Rica, Kenya, and throughout the U.S. I am forever inspired by the amazing people around me and the opportunities for us all to learn and grow. I was a mentoring coordinator for the fabulously inspiring “Stay With It^TM” campaign this summer, have a passion for inspiring & mentoring youth, and regularly coach men and women inside and outside the company. Nothing makes me happier than helping others, especially in connecting with people to find their passion & achieve it.

It’s that time of the year again. No, not Halloween. Not crisp fall weather. Time for the National Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Conference! I get so excited this time of year because it’s the most amazing opportunity I’ve found, to connect to other women in technology. I’ve been to on-campus events, attended local professional development conferences, watched webinars, and the like, but the SWE conference is the only place I’ve ever been where I’m surrounded by 5000 other professionals. Just. Like. Me.

The first thing you notice at the conference (besides more women than you may have seen in a single place in a very long time) is the excitement. The energy. The passion for learning and growth. From speakers to workshop leaders, mentors to career booths, everyone is there to inform and support other women in technology, to achieve their career best. When I walked around last year, connecting with women from various companies, engineering disciplines, geographic areas, ages, etc.—I noticed how diverse the group was, while still appreciating the common thread that ran between us. These are ladies who are going through (or went through) similar experiences as women in technology. Being the lone female in the room, working to balance a career and kids, learning to speak up and go toe-to-toe with men in the workplace—they’ve been there and have amazing stories and advice to share. Whether you have education, motherhood, or workplace growth and development on the brain, this conference offers it all. Join us in Houston November 8-10 and see for yourself! The National SWE conference is an opportunity to interact and engage with a myriad of people all inspired to excel—and help you excel—in the field of technology, as women.

Not only is this a great personal opportunity for me, I’m proud to see my company have such a tremendous presence at this conference each year as well. In addition to corporate sponsorship and hosting a career booth (meet a recruiter and drop off a resume at booth 609! You can also submit a resume in advance by applying to req 624294), Intel sends many technical professionals to the conference to learn, share and grow. In 2011, Heather Monigan-Berger’s class “Engineering with the Customer in Mind” was tremendous, and very eye-opening.  And the panel of Intel women who’d balanced work and kids, endured breast cancer, navigated part-time employment, and climbed the career ladder was hugely inspirational. At the 2012 Conference, many Intel females are again teaching seminars. Check out Jennifer Graeber’s “Writing Effective Self-Evaluations” class on Friday at 1:30pm at GBCC in room 342or Catherine Spence’s “Possibility Thinking About Cloud Computing” Saturday at 10am in GBCC in room 342DE. Are you looking for sage advice from experts who’ve been there? Join Allison Goodman’s “Speed Mentoring” session on Thursday at 3:30pm at GBCC in room 361AB to talk to a host of experts. Excited about corporate outreach? Come meet me in person, and sit in on Renee Defeo’s and my Lightening Session Thursday at 10:30am in GBCC in room 340 where we recount our experiences teaching computer literacy in Vietnam and Kenya through the Intel Education Service Corps (IESC). Struggling with presenting to management and/or technically-minded audiences? Check out my class on “Communicating Effectively in a Data-Driven Workplace” on Thursday at 2:45pm in GBCC 320AB.  Whatever your passion and areas of interest, SWE has a broad range of tracks to serve your career development needs. Check out the conference schedule for more details!

It’s going to be an amazing and infectious three days. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to meet and celebrate women in engineering. From the inspiring keynote speaker, to lectures, to workshops on everything from time management to leading without authority, join the discussion. Come down and celebrate amazing things happening for women in engineering!

The post Heading to Texas for SWE 2012! appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Do you remember our fantastic, Polish HR Team from previous entries?

This team is focused on helping our employees solve their everyday problems. If an Intel employee has any job-related issues or concerns, these are the people who will take care of it.

Irina is a part of our HR department which is responsible for providing such support for the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region. She relocated from Russia to support the Russian speaking part of the Intel’s world.

Meet Irina – she is sharing her point of view on Polish stereotypes and working perspectives in Gdansk branch of Intel.

My name is Irina (or Irena in Polish style :-) ), and I am from Russia, Nizhny Novgorod. I am a part of Human Resources Enterprise Services (HRES) group, specifically, the Greater Europe Region (GER) Global Employee support team. Our team is responsible for providing employee support across HR products and services, with a strong focus on quality, efficiency and customer service. Right now I am a Customer Care representative for GER region, which means that I’m working with complex cross-functional HR issues, urgent / time sensitive issues, service extensions etc. I’ve been with Intel for 4.5 years, and all this time I’ve spent with GES team.

What do you like the most in Intel-Gdansk?

Everything :-) The first, and the most important thing to know is that “Intel’s greatest asset is people”, and I can say that people at Intel-Gdansk are great! Open, ready to help and support, easy-going! I truly appreciate the support which I received as a foreigner. And of course it’s great to have an opportunity to go to the beach after business hours :-)

What are the cultural differences?

Well, frankly speaking, there are more common things than different things. I can say that Polish people are a little bit more open and friendly than Russians. I would say there were some funny stereotypes that they have about Russia :-)

Why have you decided to work in Polish branch of Intel?

It was a great and unique opportunity! I was the first one from Global Employee Support team to move here and start to establish a new organization, so it was an exciting offer.

What did you think about Poland before you came here? Did you have any concerns about coming to Gdansk?

I knew something from school history course, but not many really. I didn’t have any concerns about Gdansk or Poland, only great perspectives. I’m fond of history, and this move is a great opportunity to see beautiful and famous historical places. And of course living by the sea side is great :-)

What do you like the most in your job? HR is always about working with employees, who are our customers. And this is what I like most – work with people and provide an excellent service.

Interested in joining us? Check job openings in Poland HR group! Apply here 

The post Intel Poland – Global Employee Support appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

After a few years at Intel, he found himself without a project. The project he had been working on had been cancelled for a variety of reasons. As he looked around at what was available, he couldn’t find anything that fit his skill set or was of interest. He had heard about a start-up project in Oregon that was risky – it was new and bleeding-edge and not quite on the road map. He hunted down the leader of the new project and offered himself up as a temporary resource. He explained to the leader what he was good at and said, “I’ll do whatever you need done to make your project successful.” The leader was happy to accommodate and gave the veteran a one-year temporary assignment on the project. The veteran then remembered that he worked on that project with a laser-focus. He poured everything he had into making it successful – most especially in his area of interest. He honed his skills. He focused. After a year, he asked for a permanent assignment to the project team. He was rewarded with a permanent transfer and key position. His career took off from there. You could say he experienced focusuccess—his focus lead to his success.  

A month or so ago, I met with a woman who had been fired from her last position. She was depressed and angry. She didn’t understand what went wrong. She had been asking questions of her supervisors and trying to learn the new position. As we dove into the details of the job, I realized that what she was describing had nothing to do with her interests, passions or strengths. In fact, the more she discussed the issues, the more convinced I was that she and the job were a total mismatch. I asked her why she took the job in the first place. It really boiled down to economics. She needed a job. They were the first to offer so she took it. I asked her about her technique for sourcing and applying for jobs. I realized that her criteria were very broad and very vague. She had applied to anything and everything she could find that she might be able to do.  It was a recipe for disaster. A large part of what makes you successful is your passion and drive to do a great job. If you get hired for a job that is not even close to your interests and you can’t reconcile how you will be interested and devoted to that role – you will fail. Sometimes you fail quickly – sometimes slowly. Her lack of focus lead to failure.

My advice this month – hone your focus! Focus on what makes you happy, passionate, engaged, interested, intrigued, and excited. Get in touch with your feelings and your strengths. When you apply for those jobs that fit your criteria, you will show up excited and energetic without even trying. The interviewer will sense your excitement. Let them see it. Tell them why it the opportunity resonates with you. You will surprise them. They will want you to work for them. Don’t fake it. If you do, they’ll see through you. If you fake it and land the job – you will eventually fail.

Some of us pursue careers and education for the wrong reasons. Reasons include trying to meet our parents’ expectations, trying to make enough money to survive, or because we fool ourselves into believing the career we’ve chosen will provide us with money and security. After years of mentoring and coaching people, I can tell you – this is a recipe for disaster. Yes, I understand that we have to get insurance, make enough money to eat and pay the bills. However, if you don’t understand yourself enough to plan to get to a job where you will tap into your passions and talents; it will be all for naught. Don’t wait. Don’t get distracted by others. Plan it out. Focus! And go for the career you really want.

What will your focus be? How will you find it? 

The post FocuSuccess and Failing to Focus appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

You spoke. We asked people who were exploring jobs at Intel what we could do to make things better. We learned that many were not familiar with—and perhaps baffled by— our hiring process. Apparently, it was a mystery to many of you what to expect, who will contact you, how to prepare for an interview…

We listened. We’re thrilled to introduce a new applet which pulls back the proverbial curtain to reveal the five steps to getting a job at Intel! Accessible from every page on our web site, it provides a clear explanation and visual representation of our Hiring Process at Intel. And, you can easily reveal additional insights and tips—if needed—on getting a job here.

Go ahead, take it for a test drive! >

After you’ve taken it for a spin, we would love to hear back from you. Did you find it useful? Are there other improvements you would like to see? Today’s job market can be tough; we want to make things better. So, go ahead and give us your feedback!

The post The Hiring Process at Intel—Cloaked in mystery…no more! appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Online Sales Group is responsible for enlisting new clients, extending sales range and optimisation of existing distribution channels. Employees are taking care of building and maintaining relations with corporate customers – this includes a deep understanding of customer needs. OSG is a cultural mixture of people from different parts of the world who have chosen Gdansk as a place to live and work.

One of its members is Paulo – a Brazilian citizen who decided to join our team. Let’s take a closer look at his job and hear about his experience as a newbie in Poland. What surprised him in Poland? What is the biggest challenge of living in a new country?

My name is Paulo, and I am originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil. My family is split between German and Italian descendants and I moved to Europe 7 years ago.

I started working at Intel in Gdansk in 2010 and was working on the piloting stages of the Online Sales Center which is now fully operational.

What do you like the most in Intel-Gdansk?

As I am part of Sales and Marketing, Intel-Gdansk offers me a different angle to provide my customers with the support they need.

It is important to understand processes in place and to be able to identify key internal contacts to help me with my sales and marketing efforts. Some technologies I talk to my customers about are developed here, in Intel Gdansk. We are now in the process of developing a smart resource networking so our customers can take advantage of the resources we offer them with.

What are the cultural differences ?

Being originally from Brazil and having spent a considerable amount of time in the UK, I can say that Polish culture is very much like the Brazilian culture. By highlighting that, I don’t mean to say that you’re ‘fanatic’ about football or even Carnival (just kidding – there’s more to Brazil than JUST that!!). The whole family union approach to life is very similar as well as religious beliefs, etc.

One difficulty I have to mention is with the language! I suppose I am not the first foreigner raising this as Polish itself is very difficult to learn (at least in my eyes…)

Having said that, one may think that my experience in Gdansk has been dreadful, however I have been pleasantly surprised with the hospitality of the Polish and their willingness to help when it comes to the language/communication barrier. From the nice lady at the supermarket counter (teaching me how to say ‘plastic bag’) to the younger generation that speaks a good level of English, I can say that the language itself has become a detail (an important one, but not the monster I thought it was!).

Why have you decided to work in Polish branch of Intel?

Intel is a great company to work for and I saw this opportunity as a great step towards my career development goals as well as an exciting chance to experience a bit of the Polish culture.

What did you think about Poland before you came here? Did you have any concerns about coming to Gdansk?

As I previously mentioned, I was quite skeptical about my experience with locals in regards to the communication barrier. Having lived in the UK for some time, I have a lot of Polish friends so my expectations were not high or low, they were simply neutral.

What do you like the most in your job?

I guess that being part of a dynamic team is key. Every day is different, every customer is different and being able to apply that and to dynamically adapt myself to different scenarios, is something I am appreciating more and more as far as customer relationship engagements are concerned.

Interested in joining us? Check jobs opportunities in Poland! Apply here 

The post Intel Technology Poland: Development in Sales appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

In case you need a refresher, the Visual and Parallel Processing Group in Gdansk‘s main objective is to design, implement and validate the 3D graphic drivers for GPU integrated with Intel’s processors. They provide software to drivers according to Direct3D® and OpenGL standards for operational systems: Windows®and Linux. Members of VPG team are very experienced in terms of code optimization, efficiency compilers construction and parallel programming – we simply hire the best!

Check out how Wojtek enjoys living in Tricity and why he is worried about his fiancée :)

Hi, I’m Wojtek and I came from Poznań, but last two years I’ve spent in Warsaw working as a Hardware Design Engineer. Recently I’ve taken a position at Intel-Gdańsk where my key responsibilities are: preparation of HDL designs (System Verilog) of future Intel graphic cores (in pre-silicon stages) for emulation and running them on a FPGA-based emulator so our SW teams can execute driver tests more efficiently than for example in simulation environment.

What do you like the most in Intel-Gdańsk?

This is my first ‘corporate’ job. Previously I’ve worked at Poznań University of Technology and in a middle-sized private company in Warsaw. The first thing that have struck me here (positively of course) is how the company cares about every employee and organizes huge amount of activities we can participate in, like sailing club, swimming pools, climbing. What is more also since end of May we have our own football and beach volleyball courts just outside one of our buildings. Plus there are lots of small perks that were missing in my previous jobs. Apart from all that there are people in your team who really support your entrance into Intel world (which by the way is full of cryptic acronyms like: AR, BKM, VPG, and the list goes on :-)). We have also a quarterly integration when the whole team goes out to enjoy some time outside of work (some sports, dinner and so on).

Have you felt any difference between Tricity and your former place of residence? 

There is definitely big difference between Warsaw and Tricity, but not so much between Poznań and Tricity (apart from the sea). During last two years I’ve got really fond of Warsaw and sometimes I miss all the attractions you have there (I really enjoyed visiting Zachęta Gallery and Center of Contemporary Art). I’ve been few times to the Old Town in Gdańsk and I must admit I really like it there: the architecture is great and you can find lots of interesting places to dine and enjoy. Also for me a big plus of Tricity is access to the beach and sea. I am coming from cities that don’t have much water around them. In the same time I am an active sailor for almost all my live and kitesurfer for about 5 years so it’s really a great feeling to just go and hit the beach on the weekend or after work. I also think that there is big part of Gdańsk that was spoiled by the shipyard and its infrastructure (for example, workers’ housing districts), and definitely Gdańsk has lots of space for improvement in those areas.

Why have you decided to work in Gdańsk branch of Intel?

For me it was a great opportunity, the Intel Talent Advisor, Jakub, contacted me with a job offer at just the right moment for me. I’ve decided that this will be a step in the right direction, although if Intel was located somewhere else in Poland I’d probably think longer about moving. Over some period of time I’ve wanted to move closer to the sea, so after all it wasn’t a hard decision.

Did you have any concerns about coming to Gdańsk?

My main concern was the job market for my fiancée, but we are working on it :-)

What do you like the most in your job?

I like every challenge, although I would be really pleased if there were some more hardware design tasks here. I enjoy the job as a whole: people I work with, the site, everything.

Interested in joining us? Check out jobs opportunities in Poland! Apply here 

The post Intel Poland: More Insight into the Visual and Parallel Processing Group appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

The Case…

Prosecution (me) believes: dressing for style matters and it influences others’ impressions of us at work and in life.

Defendant (Kevin) believes: dress for style should NOT matter. Impressions should be shaped (mostly, if not completely) by our ability to deliver results and our character.

Kevin [10:40 AM]:

hey Kirsten!

:-)

Kirsten [10:40 AM]:

:-P

[…skips to the good stuff…]

Kevin [10:42 AM]:

Ah, I hate dressing up!

Kirsten [10:42 AM]:

Dressing up? For what?

Kevin [10:43 AM]:

I lost a bet to my brother

Kirsten [10:43 AM]:

Oh?

Doesn’t seem like such a bad bet to lose

Kevin [10:43 AM]:

But it is!! :-(

Kirsten [10:43 AM]:

Really??

O_o…wait…

You know who you’re speaking to, right? :-P

Kevin [10:44 AM]:

LOL, that’s right—I should realize my audience

You dress up all the time

Haha, I bet you’ve never worn PJs to work ;-)

Kirsten [10:44 AM]:

PJs??? Haha!

 Never….pure blasphemy!

Kevin [10:45 AM]:

Haha! Yeah, I wore PJs to work yesterday

*waits for tomatoes to be thrown*

Kirsten [10:45 AM]:

:-O

Noooo

…really??

When?

Lies!

Kevin [10:45 AM]:

Technically it was at night.

I went in to work at night to check my tool.

It was relaxing.

I need to do it again :-)

Would you ever wear PJs to work?

Kirsten [10:46 AM]:

Never.

Not once.

I felt awkward wearing a t-shirt the other day, haha!

Kevin [10:46 AM]:

Why not?

It’s amazing!

Kirsten [10:47 AM]:

PJs sound relaxing. But, I wouldn’t want to run into anyone.

Can you imagine???

Impressions matter.

You never know who you’ll see (cute boy/girl? VP? Will.i.am?)

I’m surprised more people don’t dress up for work

Kevin [10:48 AM]:

But it’s what’s on the inside that counts, no? ;-)

Kirsten [10:48 AM]:

-_-

Kevin [10:48 AM]:

If you do your job well that’s all that should matter.

Results matter, right?

Stylish clothes don’t make someone work harder

Kirsten [10:48 AM]:

O_O

The inside that counts?

 LOL! Umm… Lots more to it!

It’s why you wear a suit to an interview

…why Michelle Obama is a style icon

Kirsten [10:49 AM]:

Results matter—yes. But! Presentation and impressions matter too.

Haven’t you ever heard “dress for the job you want?”

Kevin [10:49 AM]:

Yes, but it should be about delivering good work.

…the merit of your work.

And, I do dress for the job I want! Haha!

Haven’t you noticed the most technically influential people at Intel dress like me—comfortably, haha! :-P

Kirsten [10:50 AM]:

Agreed, at Intel, results matter.

As engineers, technical merit is priority

But!!!! Humans evolved to make split choice decisions

And we base those decisions on first impressions.

It’s the difference between getting the job and not getting the job.

Being taken seriously, or being thought of as the weird guy in the corner.

Kirsten [10:51 AM]:

Example 1: Bob and Ryan are equally good job candidates.

The difference between them is Ryan wears suits, looks polished, projects when he speaks, and stands tall.

Bob wears PJs to work-cough- cough ;-)

and dresses comfortably .

…all else being equal, who would YOU give the job to?

Kevin [10:52 AM]:

-_-

Kirsten [10:53 AM]:

Example 2: Lauren and Michelle are equally attractive. Lauren wears sweats, a stained t-shirt, has messy hair.

Michelle wears skirts, styles her hair, and wears lip gloss.

You can ask EITHER girl out on a date (without fear of rejection).

Who do you ask?

Kevin [10:54 AM]:

Depends…

Can Michelle cook? ;-)

From our IM chat, you can tell Kevin and I have different perspectives on whether dressing up for work is important.  Kevin believes results and task-orientation are more important than what shirt he’ll wear to work.  And I think Kevin is over-simplifying the situation and self-presentation (in this case, how you dress for work) is important, because people make snapshot judgments of others based on their looks.  What do you think?  Do you agree with Kevin?  Do you think I’m right?  Or do have a different point of view?

The post REP: ImpREssions in the Workplace appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

But first I’d like to confess – not every job I had at Intel was my dream job. Even worse, in the past nine years there were several assignments which I almost hated. There were different reasons for such an attitude – I didn’t like most of the stakeholders I had to deal with, the timelines provided weren’t realistic and put extra pressure on me, etc. There were cases when after working for some time in a team, I realized that I didn’t like my manager (and he didn’t quite like me as well). You’re not surprised these things happen at Intel, are you? It’s not something we could be proud of, certainly but what I can be proud of and what I like about my company is that I didn’t have to quit because I found myself in one of these situations. And here’s where the importance of patience (and sometimes even persistence) comes to play.

At Intel, all of us have a lot of interesting and challenging opportunities. Our corporate culture values the diversity of opinion and experience individuals bring and as nobody is perfect, there may be situations when team members don’t fit together very well. In such a situation, it could be better for the team and its members if one or several people find another job within the company. But it requires patience and persistence. While new opportunities flourish, they’re not available all the time. So it takes time to find new role, make initial arrangements with gaining and losing managers, all while keeping up with your current work regardless of how difficult or unpleasant it may seem. And sometimes it seems that just quitting is the best way out. But remember the quote I put forward in the beginning? If you give up you never get the reward of getting what you wanted, so keep trying! Being patient always pays off.

Before closing with a more or less traditional request for comments I’d like to make another point. At Intel we have a zero tolerance policy for harassment of any kind. So when I mentioned these difficulties between team members or employee and manager, they are more or less in a “never-ending storming phase” of team development. No case of conscious misconduct is tolerated and there are solid procedures in place across the corporation to ensure it. But this is a topic for another story. And now – back to the point. Do you agree it pays back to be patient in surviving ‘storms’ and persistent in pursuing your goal?

The post The Value of Patience appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

She posted this without any explanation. As I read it a few times, I felt myself go through a series of emotions. My first thought – ‘wow, that’s cynical’. My second thought was ‘that’s sad – she doesn’t see the value in other people’s advice’. My third thought was ‘I am insulted by that statement.’

As we bantered back and forth, she corrected the quote to say “Free advice is OFTEN over-priced.” That made me be a little more accepting of the statement and I shifted from insulted back to sad. Let me tell you why.

Mentors. That’s why. I am a Mentor and I have Mentors. From what others wrote on her wall, not everyone has had the benefit or the experience of being or having a Mentor.

I have done both. First, some background, as a Mentor. For many years I have participated in the Mentoring Programs at Intel, and there are many! Some are group specific, some are discipline specific and others are ad hoc. Many Intel Employees put themselves out there for others to contact. Some don’t volunteer and are contacted anyway and are happy to help. Usually my Mentees fall into one of these categories: new hires, new managers, finance professionals and women. Our conversations center around Career Development and how they can either set up their careers, learn new things for their new role, or change the seat they are in to better fit their passion and skillsets. We spend an hour every few weeks talking about ways for them to plan or participate in activities for them to ensure they are on the right track and setting and achieving their goals. I enjoy this activity and look forward to it. I do it for FREE. I spend a lot of time listening, especially where there is a deep or complicated issue and then pose questions or give suggestions on things to try so they find their way or get back on track. The best relationships come when the Mentee is open to ideas, follows thru and comes back with feedback and /or additional questions. If the Mentee isn’t willing to try or the Mentor isn’t listening to hear the real problem, it doesn’t work. The Mentor may be disappointed that the Mentee doesn’t try any of the suggestions or the Mentee may become unhappy because they aren’t being heard. The relationship will fizzle and die.

Finding the right Mentor is a lot like dating. You may have to meet with many different people until you find the right one. The Mentor should challenge you, ask questions, open your eyes to new paths forward or force you to deal with issues you have been avoiding. The relationship needs to be built on trust and mutual respect. If your first Mentor isn’t giving you what you need, it’s time to end the relationship and put your effort and time where you’ll get the most help.

As a Mentee, I recently found myself in a situation where I needed to talk to someone about some career choices I needed to make. In my monthly review of my development plan, I realized it was time for new challenges and for me to work more strategically to achieve my goals and have a positive effect on the organization I work in. I had found several opportunities to pursue but was unsure of the path I wanted to take. I called one of my Mentors. I chose her because she was a peer and would be able to provide me with more questions I needed to ask myself and would help me evaluate the options.  And WOW!  Her help was exactly what I needed.  Over three short meetings and several e-mails, she helped me sort through and eliminate some options quickly based on my criteria and her knowledge of the group I was targeting. She asked me some key questions that had me working to understand what my real goal was in making a change at this time.

My advice this month – get involved in Mentoring!

1- Get a Mentor! It might not happen overnight, you may have to ask several people before you find someone you connect with and who will help you. It’s more than okay to have more than one Mentor. You may need one for your field of study, another for job-hunting, another for interviewing and still another for resume writing. It’s rare that you will find someone who fits all of your developmental needs. Keep in mind, some mentoring relationships may be quick and some may be multi-year. Ending a mentoring relationship that no longer is helping you should be like a ‘no fault’ divorce. You thank the person and tell them what you learned and then tell them you’re ready to move on or move in a different direction.

2 - Sign up to be a Mentor. You have something to share with others. Regardless of what you think you don’t know – your questioning and different experience will help someone else evaluate options and plan for the future. You have something to give to others. When you give of your time, your energy, your advice and expertise you will grow and develop and give back to others what you got from your mentors. The best expression for this in English is: ‘Pay it Forward!’

Do you have a mentor who has helped you?  Do you mentor someone?  Are you thinking about starting a mentoring relationship?  Tell me about it below – I would love to read and learn from your experiences!

The post Career Development: The Value of a Mentor appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Such special needs can be seen in our Global Employee Support Group which is focussing on providing  outstanding quality support to Intel employees by managing issues that span through whole EMEA region (Europe, Middle East and Europe).

This group solves day-to-day queries and cases such as problems connected with: retirement services, business HR tools, reporting, questions data, health benefits, stock and relocation, payroll or payment inaccuracies. This group provides support for the whole EMEA region. This is an international team consisting of members from different countries in many languages.  It’s not unusual to find people speaking Russian, German, English or Hebrew here.

One such employee is Nadav – he decided to move to Poland from Ireland to support our Polish team. Check out what he thought about the country before coming here and what has surprised him!

My name is Nadav and though I relocated from Ireland, I am from Israel. I am a part of the HRES group, in GER Global Employee support precisely.  Currently I work as a HR Customer Care representative. I’ve worked for Intel 5 months already.

What do you like the most in Intel-Gdansk?

I like the Intel culture Gdansk, everybody are very friendly and willing to help you especially if you are new and not from here.

What are the cultural differences?

I went on a kayak trip and I couldn’t believe that you can brush your teeth with beer and eat sausages all day long J! I was really surprised to discover that Polish people are very warm and welcoming people.

Why have you decided to work in Polish branch of Intel?

I have a Polish passport and I wanted to live and work outside of Israel. Intel gave me this opportunity and I’m very happy and glad I made this decision.

What did you think about Poland before you came here? Did you have any concerns about coming to Gdansk?

I thought I would not be able to make friends so easily due to the language barriers, but I was wrong. I met so many new people and some of them become close friends. I thought Poland will be cold most of the year however I was very surprised by the warm weather and the sea site.

What do you like the most in your job?

Intel is a great place to work in general. I love to help and solve issues for others and this job in Intel lets me to do that. In my job I have the chance to share and pass my skills and knowledge, which lets me see the positive impact my job can have.

Interested in joining us? Check job openings in Poland HR group! Apply here 

The post Intel Poland: More HR Opportunities appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Special thanks to Intel Studios for helping us capture the excitement!

The post An Ultimate Engineering Experience – Do YOU have what it takes? appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Guest Blogger: Elizabeth from Intel’s Internal Employee Communications Team

Graphic created by Amy from Intel’s Internal Employee Communications Team

Working Mother magazine released its annual Working Mother 100 Best Companies list today and for the 10^th time, Intel is honored.

Rosalind Hudnell, Intel director of Global Diversity, Education and External Relations, says, “At Intel, our workforce is the innovating force behind our vision to ‘create and extend computing technology to connect and enrich the lives of every person on earth.’ We are proud to be recognized as equally innovative in providing programs that enrich our own employees’ lives in the workplace and with their families.” We remain committed to keeping Intel a great place to work by providing work/life solutions, career development opportunities, and health and well-being programs. Here’s a fun look at the programs available to do just that:

The post Intel on Working Mother’s ‘best’ list for the Tenth time appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Technologies invented in Gdansk can be found in many Intel devices all around the world. Solutions created by best quality engineers contribute to the great success of our company. We have several teams in Gdansk which work in Intel’s Research & Development. One of them is the Visual and Parallel Processing Group, VPG.

Visual and Parallel Processing Group in Gdansk (Poland)’s main objective is to design, implement and validate the 3D graphic drivers for GPU integrated with Intel’s processors. They provide software to drivers according to Direct3D® and OpenGL standards for operational systems: Windows®and Linux. Members of VPG team are very experienced in terms of code optimization, efficiency compilers construction and parallel programming – we simply hire the best!

Łukasz has moved from Warsaw to Gdansk to join a team of the best specialists in the field. Check out how he is doing in this new place!

I’m Łukasz. I come from a small, beautiful town named Lubawa placed on Warmia lands. I studied at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun. Previously I worked in Warsaw, for 2.5 years, and before that in Bydgoszcz. I’ve been with Intel for a year now and was hired as a Graphics Software Engineer where I’m responsible for enabling graphic driver on x86 architecture on Android* OS.

1.     What do you like the most in Intel-Gdańsk?

Definitely people I work with. They are always open-minded, with great ideas, solutions and huge sense of humor, looking for a possibility – not for an excuse. And eventually best specialists in their jobs as software developers or architects.

2.     Have you felt any difference between Tricity and your former place of residence?

Well, my previous place of work was Warsaw, which is very different than Tricity; not only in terms of access to seashore. Long story short: Intel’s location is great if you don’t need or want to live in the center of the city, like I do.

3.     Why have you decided to work in Gdańsk branch of Intel?

Graphics plus Android were always interesting topics for me. Having the opportunity to work with that on a daily basis was a tempting idea. Also, I always liked Gdansk – I have a family here which I was visiting during vacations in my childhood, so I have only good memories associated with this city.

4.     Did you have any concerns about coming to Gdańsk?

Well, the same as coming to any other town, except that I knew it a bit, which made things even easier. I had concerns whether I’ll manage to keep up at work, but as mentioned earlier, great people and great work place made it possible.

5.     What do you like the most in your job?

I like that I do a real job, and I am not being disturbed with activities not strictly related to my job. Also, working with latest technologies and tools makes this job almost a dream job :-)

Interested in joining us? Check out our job openings with Intel Poland! 

The post Intel Poland: Opportunities in Visual and Parallel Processing appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

You were sent a passive aggressive email from Jessica in finance. You don’t get along with Jessica, and she’s copied your colleagues and boss on the email. You feel like her message undermines your professional opinion, and this isn’t the first time Jessica has sent an email to you like this and CC’d your team.

You read the email once and you’re shocked. You read it twice and you’re angry. You read it a third time and you’re scathing. You don’t want to appear weak-willed, like you can’t stand your own ground, or give the impression that you are uninformed and don’t know what you’re talking about.

Your instinct is to “reply all” with a clever and equally passive aggressive rebuttal.  So you do.

Situations like the one above have happened to most of us, if not all. It usually begins when one person sends an email that seems to criticize (rather than offer constructive feedback), and a team of people (who are not necessarily involved or on a “need to know” basis) are CC’d. From a professional standpoint, you don’t want to lose face with your colleagues and/or team. Instead, it’s important that you maintain and continue to build your reputation—to show that you’re knowledgeable, reliable, and consistent—especially as a new hire.

So, how should someone respond to a situation like the one described above? The short answer: in two parts. Read on for the longer answer…

1)      Don’t hit “reply all.” Follow mom’s advice and “if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

1. Why? In the heat of the moment, it can be hard to focus on what the sender is trying to communicate. He/she may have important points, and the message can be lost in passive aggressive email.
2. What should you do? Get worked up…it’s okay, we’re only human. Let all of your feelings out on paper, in an email, or in a text, and(!) DON’T hit send. (Best practice: Remove everyone from the ‘To’ and ‘CC’ fields, just in case you accidentally do end up hitting Send.) Why? It is therapeutic to say how you really feel, but counter-productive to send an email riddled with personal feelings and in an unprofessional tone. A message drafted in the heat of the moment will likely contain a similar tone to the first email (in the above case, passive aggressive), and your response will fall on deaf ears and appear unprofessional to your colleagues. Instead, write up a mock email you never plan to send or take a break to blow off some steam. Then, try to revisit the email and remove your personal feelings from the situation and genuinely seek to understand his/her main point.

2)      Speak to the (original) email sender in person OR offline (i.e. no digital communication like instant messaging).

1. Why? Bad news and/or confrontational situations should always be handled in person/offline in a neutral setting. There is less room for miscommunication when you can see and hear the other person.
2. What should you do?

i.     Set the scene. Choose a location that is neutral and has power balance (good examples: the café, a conference room, etc. Bad examples: your office or the other person’s office, somewhere where there’s a sense of ‘home turf’). And, if you can’t meet the other person face-to-face, make a phone call.

ii.     Come prepared with items you want to discuss and stick to the agenda. During a conversation, it can be easy to get side-tracked by other items bothering you, and derail your good willed meeting. The final result? A meeting full of heated debate and no resolution.

iii.     Seek to understand. Begin conversation by asking questions and genuinely listening to his/her response (and fight the urge to interrupt!). It’s important to remind ourselves that each person has his/her own way of looking at situations and dealing with things. Listen and you’ll learn.

iv.     Come to a resolution. Remind yourself that no one likes to lose, so don’t go into a meeting (guns blazing) with an intention to “win” an argument. Why? Because every time there is a “winner” there is a “loser”. Sure, one (maybe even two) interactions with said person could result in you “winning,” but more often than not he/she will remember (and channel) his/her feelings of resentment or anger, and over time it will work against you. NOTE: it’s much easier to work with someone who likes you and ask him/her for their support than to work with someone who is against you.

From my experience as an engineer, I’ll admit is easy to get wrapped up in the mechanics of how a technology works, and neglect the social aspect of working on a team.  I mean, who cares about “constructive confrontation” and “email etiquette” when we’re trying to deliver a new technology in two months?  The reality is successful groups are, more often than not, made from individuals who work well together.  (Note: that is a loaded statement.  What I mean is: the social dynamics of a group matter—everything from feeling like my ideas are valued and feedback is given in a supportive (i.e. non-hostile) environment to being able to rely on other people for their expertise and input.  And(!) when things go wrong (as they so often do), there is a constructive and consistent approach to handle sticky situations.  Why?) If I haven’t made it clear by now, it can be most simply put: people perform better with people they like. (And if you and I didn’t get along on a project that happened five years ago and you didn’t like me then, trust me, you’ll remember.)

The post Subject: Constructive Confrontation & Email Etiquette appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Asia is an important emerging market orf Intel, and there are lots of opportunities to support the rapid growth we’re experiencing. We’re looking for talented and innovative people to help take us to that next level in countries such as China, India, Malaysia, Vietnam and more.

Are you a bar raiser and game changer? Are you ready for new challenges and opportunities? Are you passionate about combining your Western and Eastern culture experiences into a powerful asset for the company? Intel Asia is the place for you!

Not completely convinced yet? Cici, who has been with Intel for 7 years (5 years in China and 2 years in the US), is heading up our “Go Asia!” program and has volunteered to be your Intel Asia adventures guide!

• Today there are over 25000+ employees across 13 Intel Asia countries/regions and the number is only continuing to grow!

• China is our #1 PC Market now, and Intel China has a complete supply chain including Manufacturing (ATM, Fab), Sales and Marketing, Software Solution, R&D etc.  There are 20 offices across 17 cities!

• India started from a single sales office in Bangalore in 1988—and today it’s Intel largest non-manufacturing site outside the U.S! For the past two years, it has been ranked #2 as a Best Places to Work in India! R&D offices are located in Bangalore with our Sales presence across 10 locations in India.

• Malaysia is Intel largest offshore site with a workforce exceeding 9,000 employees across 2 campuses located in Penang and Kulim. This is one of the largest assembly and test facilities and a mature site with multi-functions in manufacturing, design and development and local and global support services.

• Vietnam: We have taken a giant step into Vietnam as the first and largest major foreign high tech investor. As part of our worldwide strategy to expand capacity, we have invested US$1 billion in a semiconductor assembly and test facility in Ho Chi Minh City. This is Intel’s newest and largest assembly and test facility. Production began in 2010 and could eventually employ 4000 people.

Pretty amazing, huh? What’s even more amazing is our company’s vision of “Creating and Extending computing technology to connect and enrich the lives of every person on Earth”.

You read that right: EVERY PERSON on Earth. And Asia is crucial to making that vision a reality. Want to learn more? Connect with us on LinkedIn* by joining Asia Calling Intel Talent Community. You will be connected with our incredible employees, keep you up-to-date on the latest happenings at Intel Asia and chat with our recruiters in real time!

Intel Asia is Calling you!

The post Intel Asia is Calling You appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Ideation is, for all intents and purposes, a made-up word — an apparent mash-up of “idea” and “creation.” Why then was I sitting here with 50 other up-and-coming engineering students of various disciplines, ignoring the short lived August sun to study a word Webster would not approve of?

In short, ideation is more than just another way of saying creative thinking. Ideation is the infrastructure for a thought process that continually challenges you to find another angle, perspective, or approach. Ideation leads to the creation of other seemingly made-up words like “gamification” and “freemium” by systematically analyzing not just what people do, but why. As the air conditioning worked double time to help us forget summer and its lure, CJ Phillips, a microchip designer for Intel in Austin TX, enthusiastically laid out our map for the ideation process. We started with a bang, and the pace kept up fast and furious. On Day 1 we found that in true ideation style we wouldn’t just be entrepreneurs, we were going to be social entrepreneurs working to solve a social problem. Social problems like increased high school dropout rates and a rise in teenage pregnancy. Real challenges plaguing our local community. Oh, and we weren’t allowed to come up with a solution yet.

On Day 1 we identified the problem we wanted to tackle. On Day 2 a flurry of sticky-notes flew into the air as 50 minds set to the task of brainstorming how to make our problem better. When we hit a wall a new round of stickys when flying as we tried reverse brainstorming; by asking what would make our problem worse, then turning around and asking how to fix the problem’s problem. At the end of Day 2 we were given a double axis graph and we used this to find the best way to reach the most users and gain the maximum impact.

Now we finally had an idea and were ready to find a solution, but with one warning: we needed to fall in love with our problem not our solution. As entrepreneurs, if we fall in love with one solution we can miss out on the most creative way to actually solve our problem! CJ went on to explain that the ideation process was systematic so he handed out a map and another double axis graph for crafting our possible solutions.

On Day 3 we were ready for the next step of the process in ideation – creating a business model as creative as the solution we found. By identifying users and customers, and crafting a unique benefit proposal for each segment, defining your relationships and expectations for your segments we were able to see where the revenue opportunities lay.

It was Day 4, our final day, and we had two more steps left: the prototype and the pitch. Once again we were given a systematic way to approach our unique solution including focusing on what sets us apart from other offerings that already exist, our “secret sauce” of sorts. We were told to make it personal, tell a story, and most importantly anticipate what kind of questions may arise after our incredibly brief three minute pitch. For example if the meat of your presentation focuses on why your solution is unique and why it will work, have an additional fact sheet that’s data heavy, including how you’ll make money and stay in business, to hand out at the end for them to look at later.

While crafting our pitch and creating our prototype I realized something: this mock presentation had meat to it! In four short four hour sessions, in between coffee and ice cream breaks, my team had come up with a pretty cohesive plan to get at-risk youth involved with mentors and, more importantly, to give those mentors a chance to connect with each other and, in turn, increase job satisfaction and retention rates. I couldn’t help but think back at the isolation I experienced in my own attempt at mentoring and suddenly the connection of social engineering became real for me. It was possible to have a rigorous business model and make the world a better place at the same time. I didn’t need to be creative only in creating solutions for problems set before me at work; I could get creative about the problem. Our team of five total strangers had managed to pick out our individual characteristics that we excelled in, pick a problem that was meaningful to us all, and craft something that didn’t exist before. That’s when question began stirring: how much could we do if we had more than just four days? What if we did this for a living?

The post Ideation Week – What the heck is ideation?! appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Intel wants you to refresh, recharge and rediscover yourself while you are away from the office and disengaged from work. Many people I work with use this opportunity to re-discover their passions and refocus themselves. They come back to work and take on new roles, new challenges or have figured out how to change what they do to better align with their goals. Looking back to when I was thinking about a job after college, I wish I had the foresight to pause and better understand and reflect on where my passions lay and what was going to fuel my passion every day. When all is said and done, we spend an enormous amount of our time at work. Why do work that doesn’t satisfy, doesn’t challenge or fuel you?

Oftentimes we are so bent on getting a job to pay the bills or repay student loans; we put job security ahead of pursuing our passion and playing to our strengths. I remember accepting my first position at Intel. I was so excited to have benefits, to have a steady income and to join a group that was doing things the rest of the world couldn’t yet imagine with handwriting and voice recognition. Granted I was the financial analyst and not an engineer – but I still had an important role to play ensuring the engineers got and kept their funding and got swift approval for purchases of bits and bobs that would help them develop the technology in-house. Somewhere in accepting that job, I neglected my passion for teaching and helping others. I was a student teacher in high school and a tutor in college. It took me nearly 6 years to figure out that I wasn’t playing to this strength or fueling my passion.

My advice to you this time – get in touch with your passions, understand and document your strengths, be true to your path and pursue it relentlessly. Journaling is a great way to understand yourself. Answer this question, “What would I do for free?” What would you do happily, repeatedly, day in and day out even if no one paid you? Spend a solid few hours on understanding the type of work and activities you would pursue.

Explore your strengths. Ask your parents, people who raised you, siblings, friends, professors, roommates and other people who know you best to list out your strengths. Look for patterns – see what resonates. Resist the temptation to discount their opinions. Just listen. Take it all in and write it down. Take a few strengths assessments to give yourself more words to describe what you do well and can do consistently.

With those two things done – look at the jobs you’re applying for and the classes you’ve taken. How do they use your strengths and passions? What if they don’t? Do you have a mismatch? Are you pursing a job or a career you can see yourself doing for the next 10 years? Next 20?

My vision for myself changed dramatically after I got back in touch with my dreams, my thoughts and my passions. Lucky for me – teaching inside Intel is easy. We have a volunteer University. Thousands of classes are offered every year to Intel employees worldwide with fellow Intel employees teaching them. The classes span the gamut from C++ to Strengthening Manager Skills to how to lead Effective Meetings. I teach several classes every month to help new Managers transition from Individual Contributor roles and help all employees focus on Career Development. Every year or so I learn something new and work with Intel University to figure out how I can share that with others. Teaching fuels me and gives me fresh perspective I can take back to my regular job. What fuels you? What are you doing to get in touch with your Passions?

*Although Intel’s Sabbatical program is specific to the U.S. and Canada, we also have paid-time off options in other countries. Find out more about Intel’s different compensation and benefits packages offered around the world.

The post Finding Your Passion – The Path to Self-Discovery appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Staffing Shared Service Center supports the recruitment and hiring process within the EMEA region. It provides first-rate, cost-effective services and support to employees worldwide and is dedicated to advancing Intel’s business goals.

Talent Advisors are responsible for searching and hiring the brightest talents from the market, and also for preparing the strategic recruitment plans and analysis based on the current job market indicators and high-level positioning from management.

Business HR- is focusing on strategy building and finding solutions for the issues related with quality management, employee training and development. The division is fulfilling the business needs in HR related fields, collaboration with managers about hiring plans, defining the work related roles etc.

Global Employee Support focuses on providing an outstanding quality of Intel employee support, by managing issues that span through whole EMEA region. This group solves day-to-day queries and cases such as problems connected with: retirement services, BHR Focal tools, reporting, questions data, health benefits, stock and relocation, payroll or payment inaccuracies. Support of this group is provided for whole EMEA region. This is very international team consisting of team members from Poland, Russia and Israel and providing support for the whole EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Europe) region. Don’t just take our word for it- meet Anna, a member of this team who moved to Gdansk (northern Poland) from Cracow (southern Poland) to be a part of this great team. Check out her story!

My name is Anna and I am a new employee in the Gdańsk branch of Intel. I’ve got a wide range of experience and knowledge gained from other international corporations. Before Intel I worked as a Manager in Centralized HR Services Centers. Beside my work, which I really love, I enjoy spending time with my friends on the golf field for example. In Intel I am responsible for HR departments which are related to services for Europe, Russia and Israel.

1.     What do you like the most in Intel-Gdańsk?

I have joined Intel just a month ago and my onboarding experience is really outstanding. From day one I feel that Intel is a great place to work with open-minded, committed and enthusiastic people.

2.     Have you felt any difference between Tricity and your former place of residence?

I have moved to Tricity from Krakow, and it is absolutely amazing experience. Being here I’ve realized that this is an exceptional place on the map of Poland. It offers all that makes a place attractive to live: nature, entertainment, cultural and sport events, shopping malls, wide offer of comfortable flats, as well as kindergartens and schools. I have a son and daughter who enjoy the wonderful city and the seaside, have fallen in love with the place and the people we have had the opportunity to meet here so far. Of course I miss my friends in Krakow and my favorite places, clubs and restaurants, but it is just one hour flight to be there.

3.     Why have you decided to work in Gdańsk branch of Intel?

I’ve always dreamed of working in prestigious company and have influence development of organization, which truly changes the world. Thanks to Intel technologies life of many people changes for better. Being part of this process gives me lot of joy. Although my job is not straightly connected to new technologies development, I feel that through helping our employees I take part in it.

4.     Did you have any concerns about coming to Gdańsk?

 Not at all. Gdańsk is a perfect place to live.

5.     What do you like the most in your job?

As experienced HR professional with knowledge and skills gained working alongside various companies I am happy joining HR family in Intel. I have a passion for people and enjoy new experiences, projects and challenges. HR Global Employee Support organization in Gdansk is therefore a perfect working environment for me.

Interested in joining us? Checkout our job openings with the Intel Poland HR group! 

The post Intel Poland: Opportunities in HR appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

People from all around the world come to work at Intel. There are 204 countries competing in the 2012 London Olympics*. I’d bet that nearly all, if not all, of these countries representing at the Olympics are also represented at Intel. Oregon’s Great Place to Work Team hosted a series of events to get our employees excited about the upcoming summer games. What better way to bring people together than through sports and a little friendly competition?

In order to kick off the events, our very own make shift torch was passed from each campus. Oregon has a huge community of active runners, so it was easy to find people interested in kicking off the summer games. It was their responsibility to encourage enthusiasm on their campus. Runners travelled up to 4 miles in between 2 cops and an ambulance to deliver the torch. Employees waited anxiously for the arrival of the torch, cheering on the runners as they entered each building.

Employees were also given a chance to compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals. A simple parking lot was transformed into an arena where employees raced, jumped, and ate their way to victory. Yes, these Parking Lot Games had their very own hotdog and pie eating contests. Our employees were not able to beat Joey Chestnut’s world record of eating 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes, but our winner devoured 6 in just 2 minutes. The contestants did not know what they were getting themselves into.

Around the parking lot each volunteer had their stopwatch ready to track each competitor’s time for each event. Top 3 men’s and women’s winners would be recognized at our very own closing ceremony. But get this, Sheila Taormina, the first woman Olympic athlete to qualify for the Olympics in 3 different sports, will be on site to hand out the awards. Intel brings outside speakers inside Intel from a mix of businesses and walks-of-life to challenge and motivate employees outside of their routine responsibilities. Sheila will present on how to establish the keys to success and how to manage performance pressures.

Intel isn’t made up of just computers and code; it is the employees who bring everything to life. It is an exciting time when we get to celebrate the diversity of our employees and the 2012 London Olympics was a great way to bring out everyone’s competitive side. Intel’s GPTW team is always looking for ways to engage employees outside their cubes, sometimes all it takes is some Parking Lot Games.

The post Channel Your Inner Child with the Intel Parking Lot Games! appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

First, it’s great that I can keep growing professionally without switching companies. It’s good for the company – Intel wins because I’m a seasoned program manager and there’s no need to look for a new PM and then teach him or her all the things I know, instead, I’m still here but in a different role. It’s even better for me – I grow professionally and it makes me more satisfied with my job. I felt I needed a change in my job but I didn’t want or need to change my employer – so I was able to retain all my benefits and efficiently use my existing network within the company  even if I was in a different role. Even better – I can grow my network (and this is something I really value, as many other people do too) and build upon existing connections.

Second, the flexibility of my work arrangements allows me to be more productive and save Intel money. Just imagine that you work for 8 hours in the office daily but also want to spend some time to talk to your family members, but their schedule is not that compatible with yours. But if your success is measured by objectives you establish and achieve (or fail to achieve sometimes) then it doesn’t really matter if you’re in the office 8 to 5. If you’re well-organized and disciplined to work from home for extended periods of time – then it’s good both for you and the employer because you’re able to be effective at work and life. And it’s just one example of what we call “Work-Life Balance” at Intel. There are many things which help one maintain that balance, they are supported by Intel management because we believe what’s good for the employee is good for the company.

Third, working for the big company may be no less adventurous than running your own business. There’s even a special name for this skill – “internal entrepreneurship”. It’s the ability to find a way to change something for the better for one’s business group or the entire company. It’s not just innovative thinking or ability to challenge the status quo, it’s also the desire and energy to drive the change, to prove to MRCs (Management Review Committees) that the idea is worth investing in. And I’m happy to say that there are many areas for internal entrepreneurship to be applied in Intel, moreover it’s often one of the expectations from the job you do here.

Having said that, I’m not surprised Intel gets recognized as an“Ideal Employer” all over the world year after year. And I’m really proud being an Intel employee. It’s really a Great Place to Work!

The post The Value of Working for a Great Company appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

I was able to sit down with Bernd Moeller. He is part of our Mobile and Communications Group (MCG), and works for Intel in Germany. He had some very interesting insight into what is going on in my neighboring state of California! Here is my official interview with Bernd, hopefully I’ve asked all the right questions.

Q: Well, are we in fact opening an office in San Diego?

A: Yes, as a matter of fact, we are.

There you have it. Rumor confirmed. But of course I wanted to know more (don’t you?)

Q: Well, why did Intel decide to make this investment in a San Diego office and why now?

A: Intel’s Mobile and Communications Group is one of the leading modem providers worldwide. Growing market segment opportunities have accelerated our desire to deliver new modems on a regular cadence. This added focus will require building a sister organization to our Munich operations and we simply see San Diego as a great place to be.

Q: How many are we planning to hire and what is the timeline for getting that hiring done?

A: We are planning to setup a complete modem team focused on HSDPA and LTE. We are hoping to have this new team fully operational later this year. We will grow and extend this team based on market opportunity and needs.

Q: Where will the new office be?

A:  We have 2 locations in mind. A final decision has not been made yet, but we expect it will be made within the coming days. Stay tuned!

Q: What makes this such an exciting opportunity for candidates? Why would they want to leave their current company to join Intel?

A: We would like to invest in top talent and offer a chance to grow and become part of a world class team. This is a team tasked with the challenge of defining, implementing and delivering to market new modem technologies. As we made our decision on where to build and grow this team, we recognized that the San Diego development communities’ talent closely tracks to our own world class team in Germany. Our existing modem team is a winning organization, combining the best of the industry to create world class solutions to satisfy our growing customer base. I invite you to come join us.

Q: Exactly what kind of skills are we looking for?

A: We are looking for talent experienced in the field that can inspire their team, and define and implement solutions. They should have sound cellular industry experience along with familiarity in the creation of wireless technology. I should note that we are not looking for technology appliers. We seek creative thinkers with proven experience. Candidates of interest would be:

• System Engineers – people that define the architecture and algorithms, most preferred is the control arena of the Firmware (Physical Layer) and the Protocol Stack.
• Physical Layer Developers – emphasized focus on control path!
• Protocol Stack with sound knowledge on the Access Stratum Layer 3, 2 and Layer 1 Control.
• Sound Modem Integrators to bring the technology and IP together

Q: What is the best way to get your resume noticed by the recruiter s handling this business group?

A: Chris Rudomin is the main point of contact. You can find her on LinkedIn and connect if you are interested in exploring these opportunities. Additionally, you should start applying to our job postings immediately. We are interviewing now. There are quite a few positions posted, and here is a link to the vast majority of them.

You can also check out a full list of our jobs by visiting www.intel.com/jobs and searching by the San Diego location.

My final question for you Bernd.

Q: Intel has been in San Diego before, but not for a little while. Is Intel here to stay now?

A: Intel has, in fact, invested in San Diego a number of times during the past decade. This included startup acquisitions during the dotcom era and our Centrino’s Wifi development team. Over the years we have retained our investments in San Diego with the idea that we would find a time and opportunity to return to San Diego. That time is now.

Intel is making steps towards becoming a leader in mobile technology. The acquisition of Infineon Wireless, the steady growth of R&D within the wireless space, and the recent announcement of our Device R&D solutions (for example with Orange (Operators), Lenovo and Lava) are examples of this effort.

Well, there you have it. You are probably some of the first people to know about this news! So, that said…. Are YOU ready to apply??

The post Validating/Quashing Rumors: Is Intel opening an office in San Diego?! appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Damon Smedley is more than a dedicated Intel employee who is passionate about our company, TMG and the D1D Ramp Organization; he has always volunteered in the local community and given to charities but never dreamed he’d wake up one day to the reality that his third child, Mason, would be fighting for his life and that he would be impacted by the generosity of charities.

Mason was diagnosed with Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JM) at the age of 17 months and braved the disease until the age of 10 when he lost the battle on June 19, 2012. He endured more suffering than many of us will in our lifetime yet he remained funny, witty, and positive. Mason lost use of his legs and had limited use of his arms but thanks to technology it provided better opportunities for him every day. Life would not have been the same for Mason if it were not for his computer!

Mason couldn’t go to school every day like most kids but his personal computer became the vehicle that allowed him to learn and take online classes. His computer was one of his best sources for entertainment as he was not be able to physically go bowling but he could use a mouse & computer to play games like bowling. He even had the chance to enjoy the Angry Birds frenzy like majority of kids today. And he may not have been able to sit through a movie but he could watch one at his pace and leisure thanks to his computer. Our technology enriched the short life Mason lived in so many ways. And what dad would not want to get an email like this amongst his busy work day:

”When are you going to be home daddy I love you daddy can   We get a slushy when get home I love you daddy. (: cool man “

And that is why Damon is not only a dedicated Intel employee, but he is passionate about supporting the non-profit Cure JM (Juvenile Dermatomoyositis) organization in hopes of finding a cure. When he is not working, he is volunteering 500+ hours per year to Cure JM and Ronald McDonald House. Three years ago, he began his own fundraiser in the local Hillsboro community by hosting the Cure Kids JM Festival which brings awareness of the rare disease and lots of fun for locals. What started as a small family event has turned into an event filled with past American Idol* participants & local TV personalities. He has recruited 100+ local high school students to help with the event. And he is grateful for the Intel employee volunteers who have volunteered 1000+ hours each year to make this event a success. (All who have had their hours matched by the Intel Involved program!) His leadership has made this event the second largest fund raising event for the organization for the year. The event benefits the Cure JM organization, Ronald McDonald House & United Way. The event brought in:

2009 – $55,141.00

2010 – $65,892.00

2011 – $92,585.00

The post One Miraculous Kid, One Remarkable Dad, Our Amazing Technology! appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

When I first started out, I never had a plan when it came to Networking. I went to some events when I had time, walked in and found people I knew, monopolized their time and then left. Slowly, I started seeing my friends get more interesting jobs, get access to people I had never met, and get invited to places I didn’t even know existed. As I started asking them how it happened, they told me that they had met a contact at the same place I had been and had leveraged that relationship. Wow, I was missing out! I realized that just showing up wasn’t going to get me to where I wanted to go. I am fortunate in that I find it easy to talk to others – I was just talking to the wrong people about the wrong things. I needed a plan. How was I going to get my next big project unstuck? How was I going to find the next great opportunity for myself? How was I going to help my employees find new opportunities for growth and development? I needed a different, bigger, more diversified network. After some trial and error, research and studying networking books, I distilled my process into the following steps.

Step 1: Analyze Your Network.

Categorize your relationships to give yourself a clearer idea of whether your network is extending your abilities or keeping you stuck. Some suggested categories are those contacts that provide you with:

• Information
• Political support and Influence
• Personal Development
• Personal support and Energy
• A sense of purpose or worth, and
• Work/Life balance

The post Networking – Applying Your Network to Career Development appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

“This decade, we will create and extend computing technology to connect and enrich the lives of every person on earth.”

I was at a party last week, and somebody asked me what I did.

“I work for Intel.”

“What do you do with Intel?”

“I help connect and enrich the lives of every person on earth.”

“Wait, what? No, like, what is your job?”

“I work in our employee communications group.”

“So you don’t actually make computer chips?”

“Nope.”

“Then what do you have to do with changing the world?”

“Well, I mean, we all do it in different ways… I try to inspire our employees to change the world in their own jobs.”

“But if somebody doesn’t actually make one of Intel’s products, how do they affect the outside world?”

Here’s how.

Corey is a quality engineer and program manager in Quality and Reliability Development Capabilities (QRDC) in our Technology and Manufacturing Group (TMG), where his job, in a nutshell, is to manage the quality systems that internal Intel groups use in product development.

Corey volunteered a few months ago to take a part in a program where QRDC employees employ their professional expertise and skill sets to improve the immediate community. One of the initiatives was a partnership with the local Forest Grove School District in Oregon to use QRDC skills to transform leadership and learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

A Lean Six Sigma green belt, Corey sat in and observed classes, labs, and work activities over a period of two weeks using the Lean Six Sigma techniques to address the various challenges facing the school’s faculty. He found that a lot of the teachers at this school faced overwhelming difficulties in effectively planning and delivering their lesson plans – often waiting until the weekend before to finalize a lesson plan for the following week. He found that they had trouble gathering material from the vast number of sources and inputs available to them – and being able to condense this material into consistent, fun, and engaging lesson plans. And – perhaps to little surprise – he found that the faculty was underfunded and under-resourced.

While Corey sees technological aids as important to the equation, in his first recommendation he’s avoided a perhaps natural tendency to “throw gadgets at the problem”. He recommended a solution that focused on streamlining three key areas in the process, just as he might in his day job – the people (improving lesson planning methods, provide new skills, and change education goals,); the content (developing and researching content with real world applications that also meet state and federal education guidelines); and the content management system (developing a repository to pull lesson plans and examples). Using this framework, Corey sees teachers becoming well-equipped and empowered, able to enable and inspire generations of students who can not only succeed on standardized tests, but be able to think critically, creatively, and for themselves.

Corey hopes that this one small, local effort can scale outwards – to non-STEM subjects, to more schools, and to more districts. He’s began to network cross-organizationally inside and outside of Intel to get dedicated volunteers to utilize their unique skill sets to transform learning – program managers, physicists, software engineers, Intel course instructors, and others.

One thing I should mention: Corey is a college graduate (CG), who’s been at Intel a mere nine months. Talk about making an immediate impact!

**********

We’re two years into our journey to connecting and enriching the lives of every person on earth here at Intel. We’ve had a decent start, but we still have a long ways to go. Seven billion people are a whole lot of people to impact.

And it won’t all be through the products with Intel Inside that make it out in the marketplace. It will be more than the Ultrabooks, more than the smartphones, more than the tablets and software and data centers and digital signs and in-vehicle systems and set-top boxes. It will be the communities we impact, the people we encounter, and the knowledge we bring to the world around us. It will be both direct and indirect, both obvious and subtle.

A few weeks ago, I heard Corey tell the story of this project to a group of incoming interns and CGs. The reason Corey’s story inspired me is the same reason that a lot of other Intel stories inspire me: We’ve been called – Paul, our President and CEO, has called it Intel’s ‘destiny’ – to take on an audacious, aspirational, noble goal of changing the world, and we find ways to do it in more ways than we expect. It doesn’t necessarily take a game-changing technology to do it – just some skill, some time and a whole lot of passion.

The post What We Really Do at Intel appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

I was sitting in the Intel café chatting with a principal engineer (PE) about disruptive players in the tech industry. Apple, Google, and Amazon came up during our conversation…

 A few years ago…

Apple, was a computer (only) company, Google was a search engine, and Amazon was an online bookstore.

 Today…

Apple is a major player in MP3 devices, services, and mobile phones. Google expanded its business to include email, maps, AdSense, and Android. And Amazon is a consumer electronics and cloud computing services corporation. What’s more is these companies are, still, highly relevant and keep the public on their toes about what’s coming next.

I sat and listened to the PE, as he shared his thoughts about how Intel might learn to be more disruptive and I drew my own silent conclusions. We wondered, “ …what did *these*companies have that others didn’t?  (like Sony, AOL, Microsoft and the-like, perhaps better propositioned for success in such markets)  What gave them their strategic advantage?”

The answer seemed clear. These companies took risks. They thought creatively. They imagined ideas beyond their bread ‘n’ butter and beyond their expertise.

Risk-taking and out-of-the-box thinking are essential tools for solving problems and engineering extraordinary solutions.  It is how Intel became a leading semiconductor company and how I envision we will continue to revolutionize technology.

 Tomorrow…

It is like martial arts master Bruce Lee once said, “…there are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.” In this way, I believe Intel can learn from companies—like Apple, Google, and Amazon—to push, grow, and test our own boundaries. Intel is widely known as a chip maker, and we’re damn good at it. On the other hand, we are a gaining ground in the software and services industry—an idea perhaps more nascent (or even non-existent) to the general public. So how can we transcend our perception as the “Willy Wonka” of chip-making to include other compute areas?  I think we should apply the same principles we had as a young tech company (oh, a few decades ago) and take bigger risks, move further outside our comfort zone, and think outside of the box circle (ßsee what I did there?), and marry them with the principles we learn from other successful disruptive players.

What does the future hold? What will technology be like in five, and ten, years from now? Which companies will revolutionize the way we interact with technology? Will life feel like an episode of the Jetsons? These are all the million dollar questions many companies are working to answer. My thoughts? Intel can get there faster, better, cheaper….but not without learnin’ a thing or two from our own success and others’.

I’ve learned that most creative individuals are people with a knack for imagining what things can be and looking beyond something currently is.  Run this test:  ask five adults and five children what uses a napkin has/might have.  Chances are, more often than not, children will offer more creative examples.  Why?  Because children’s minds have not been conditioned the way adults have, and as such, have fewer constraints on objects.  So, who better to ask where technology might be in 10 years for a little inspiration than children…check out the video below.

Research@Intel 10th Anniversary: Ten 10-year-olds Talk Tech

The post Creativity is Disruption appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Hello young engineering (or other related field) major. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to show up at the Hilton, entirely unsure of what to expect of your new internship. It’s not that you didn’t try to figure out what was in store. You combed over the emails that were sent back and forth confirming your participation. You googled Intel and tried to glean any possible information you could about what was in store. But you failed. Why? Because you, along with 600+ students at a total of six other sites, are among the first to ever experience this program.

Going into a giant ballroom set up as a conference room with 119 other students can be a little intimidating, to be honest. But then everyone is so nice, and the people from Intel aren’t scary at all. In fact, they’re there because they genuinely want you to succeed.

“So you’re telling me the whole world isn’t sitting around just waiting for me to fail?” I have great news for you… they really aren’t. Not all of them anyway. Just, well… okay most of them are. But seriously, are you going to let that stop you? Of course you aren’t, or you wouldn’t have even applied to be here.

You know what that means? You’re winning, you’re around all these other winners, and you have a new network of people who want to see you succeed. You know what? Charlie Sheen would be so proud. Actually, he doesn’t care.

Okay, so maybe we could all avoid taking pages out of Charlie Sheen’s recent playbook… so let’s focus on what made the first week so memorable.

First of all, there was Andy Tryba. Our initial keynote speaker, and the Director of Corporate Strategy and Business Platforms at Intel, he gave us all a succinct idea of what being an engineer is like.
He also gave us insights on the benefits of persistence, hard work, and some creative networking were entertaining and informative. He recounted how he was able to become Director of the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. Because he knew someone who worked in the White House, he was able to get a letter of recommendation written on official White House letterhead, which gave him a competitive advantage when being chosen for a position that would consult directly with the President’s Jobs Initiative staff in Washington D.C. Clever? Absolutely. Resourceful? Without a doubt. Psychologically sneaky without being dishonest? Just a little.

The first day wrapped up with us being introduced to the idea of using technology to help underserved communities. We met Mindy Elias, Director of the local Boys & Girls Club. She talked to us about the needs of the community, and what challenges she faces in a position where she tries to serve the community to the best of her ability. Mindy’s insights had several main categories including Education, Immigration, Gangs, Insurance/Health Care and so much more.

At this point, teams of six people were created to devise a plan to use technology to help underserved communities, by solving one or more of the issues (or root causes) that would help people in those communities to live better lives.

Henrik Scheel and Khalid Smith came in to talk about ideation, business planning, and entrepreneurship. Their presentations were energetic and informative. At one point, Khalid said, “Who wants 20?” – One of the students in the front had their hand in the air even before the sentence finished coming out of Khalid’s mouth. We learned about the importance of early adopters and first followers. We learned that those with the insight to recognize and support a good idea are just as (if not more than) important as the first “lone nut” who comes up with the idea in the first place.

If people don’t exist that will use our product, follow our ideology, or believe in our mission, then we have no product, no value, and nothing but an empty idea. Ideas are easy, but realization is difficult.

At the end of the week, the teams gave a three-minute presentation on their ideas, and a panel of Intel personnel and Mindy Elias judged the entries and presentations. 3 great teams emerged as the winners. Unfortunately, none of the groups proposed providing food to those who were hungry by way of small RC helicopter. Not that it worked out so well for TacoCopter.

The FAA didn't think tacos should fly.

Seeing the innovative ideas the groups came up with was brilliant, and in just a few days, people presented fantastic solutions that served the community. It was an encouraging start to the program, to see the brilliant minds of all the people around, and to have the opportunity to work with a few of them in the individual groups. I fully expect the rest of the time will be equally as enlightening, fun, and educational as this time has been. Oh, and awesome. I expect the time to be awesome.

Not as awesome as Nimoy Sunset Pie.

The post Week One, Internageddon. appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Why Network?

Survey after survey says most people find new positions through networking.  Many jobs are never advertised, so the key to this “hidden job market” is networking.  If someone you respect tells you a person they know has strong job qualifications and is of strong character, chances are you will interview them, even if their resume is average.  In addition, the more people that know you, and think positively about you, the more likely you are to hear about potential new opportunities!

How do I Network?

1. Network during business hours

You build high trust relationships when you spend time face to face with others.  People who can help you professionally are most likely to meet you Monday through Friday.  Meet at a conference, a workshop, or even Starbucks.  Save your computer research and job searching for nights and weekends!

2. Have a strategy-who to network with

Seek out  hiring managers, recruiters and other industry professionals in companies that you are targeting.  Connect to people who are in jobs that you would like to have someday.  Then find out where they meet (professional associations, workshops, community activities and social gatherings, to name a few). Before you attend an event, research who will be there, then set a goal to meet them.  I once secured a job interview and beforehand I researched whom I knew that also knew my interviewer.  I found two friends that knew her. One sent her an email recommendation, the other left her a voicemail recommendation for me.  I walked into the interview with a ton of confidence, knowing that I had already gotten two glowing recommendations, through networking.

3.  Seek First to Help

If you offer to help others you will truly stand out from the crowd.  When offered help, most people respond by ask what they can do for the person who made the offer!  Many job seekers go to “networking” events to work the crowd and pass out business cards to everyone.  I once met a Business major at a college recruiting event.  I told her I was primarily seeking Engineers.  The next day, she emailed me with a referral- a friend of hers who was a Computer Engineer.  I went out of my way to offer her help the next day- critiquing her resume and introducing her to two of my Linkedin contacts.  She helped me, and I couldn’t wait to help her.

4.  Tools

Next month, I will detail many online websites that can be used to expand your social network.  Even without sophisticated tools, it is very useful to keep a spreadsheet (or even a rolodex) to keep track of whom you have met, where and when you met, and if possible, what was discussed.  You will be perceived as professional and organized by being able to reference this information.

5.  Tell others what you’re seeking

The more specific you are in telling others what you want, the more confident you appear and the more likely they provide you with helpful leads.  For example, if you say you want a marketing position, it may be difficult to steer you to the right contacts.  If instead, you say you are seeking an entry-level outbound marketing position in a mid-large sized company in the communications industry, you trigger thoughts of job leads and specific individuals to connect for introductions.

If you follow these suggestions, and really do “keep in touch” you will be far ahead of those who don’t make a plan for where and when they will network, and what they will say when they arrive.  You will hear about opportunities that others do not, and you will be able to take action!

The post Networking for Success appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

As I approach the end of my 21^st year at Intel, I posed a question to the Intel Community on our internal blogging network, Planet Blue. If you could go back and tell yourself one thing that would help you with your career, what would that be?

I saw the question posed on one of my LinkedIn Groups and found it thought-provoking and believed if I posed it to my co-workers, the answers given would be useful to me and to those I help with their Career Development. In addition to my day job as a Business Operations Manager in the Mobile Communications Group, I am a Mentor and a Career Coach to men and women inside the company. Over my career, Intel has trained me and provided me with endless opportunities to learn and teach others about the process and steps necessary to develop a robust and meaningful career. I use these skills at work and in the community where I volunteer.

Here is a summary of my top 10 favorite responses to the question. I hope you find them useful, regardless of whether you are starting out your career or if you are looking for a change after many years of work.

1. FIND YOUR PASSION: Pay attention to your gut instincts about what you like to do and what you do well. Don’t follow a path because it is prestigious, it pays the most or because other people will be impressed. Follow your heart and you will notice that you will give 100% naturally. Everything else will fall in line automatically.
2. PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE: Take a set amount every month and put it into a retirement fund. Every year, increase it by $10. Set up and contribute to your retirement immediately. Get educated about stock options and how to manage them; set a plan for how and when you want to use them.
3. NETWORKING: Network with everyone you meet in your industry. Nurture and build your personal network and maintain your contact list. If you regularly offer to help others, personally or professionally, good things come back to you!
4. MENTORS: Always have a mentor. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you don’t know something or are struggling with a project, ask for help. People are friendlier than you think.
5. KEEP LEARNING: Do not be afraid of what you don’t know. It is okay to admit you don’t know or understand something. You cannot learn if you do not ask.  Keep learning – even if it has nothing to do with your current job or project. Expand your horizons by learning about your industry, additional skills, or anything that piques your interest. What seems irrelevant in your resume is simply before its time
6. POSITIVITY: Protect yourself from negative people, influencers, or stressors by keeping a positive outlook in life.
7. FOCUS: Focus on what you can change. Understand what is in your control and then ACT on it! Learn to say no to things you do not believe in or have no passion for. Do the thing that you really love.
8. BALANCE: There’s a lot more to life than your work. Make time or you will never “find” the time for people and causes really important to you. Care for your family and yourself. Have fun.
9. BE HUMBLE: Lose your ego! Ego prevents leaders from effectively connecting to others and seeing their point of view. Ego alienates you from the world. Humble yourself (no one is always right), reach out and help others first, you will get tenfold in return.
10. FORGIVENESS: Forgive others and especially learn to forgive yourself. Give yourself permission to make mistakes.

The post Career Development: Advice to Yourself appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

200,000 worker bees that is!

On a sunny Friday in May 2012, we installed five bee boxes at our Intel Folsom site. This project is part of the 2012 Intel Sustainability In Action (SIA) grant,  an initiative that offers employees an opportunity to find funding for a project that might be a bit outside the norm, but more on that later.

So why bees? Honeybees are crucial to our food system: they  provide 80 to 90 percent of the crop pollination that results in about 1/3 of our daily diet.  If that doesn’t impress you, did you know that they are responsible for pollinating $15 billion in agricultural crops each year? In fact, the California almond crop alone uses 1.3 million colonies of bees for pollination, approximately one half of all the honey bees in the United States!

But the honeybees are in peril and we want to do our part to help them and help our food chain.

Every year about 30% of all honeybees die due to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). The exact cause for their death is still unknown, however honeybees are becoming weaker because of the lack of flower diversity from extensive monoculture and the massive use of pesticides. Just imagine having to eat only one type of food, like pancakes, every day, seasoned with pesticides. You wouldn’t feel well either. Cities are becoming havens for bees: there’s much more flower diversity in Folsom, for example, than there is in California’s agriculture rich Central Valley. And people don’t use pesticides on the same broad scale they do in the Central Valley.

That’s where Intel comes in. Emma and Raphael, two Intel employees, got interested in the fate of honeybees a few years back when they were working on a documentary film called “Vive La Food!” about two French Chefs in Sacramento. As part of the research, they explored the local food system and saw firsthand the importance of honeybees. They went on and made another fiction film called “BEE” that focused on honeybees. They wanted to do more for the bees and to raise awareness about CCD. Enter the Intel Sustainability In Action program. Intel is financing sustainability programs from employees that have a strong impact on our communities. Emma and Raphael wrote the project proposal and then put an Intel team together that includes expert beekeepers. For more pictures, check out our Facebook album!

Besides installing bee boxes on the Folsom campus, the team organized a very well received beekeeping class for Intel employees. In the fall, if all goes well, we will get fresh, local honey. Local outreach will also include going out to local schools to share with them knowledge about honeybees and what to do to protect them. And we expect Intel will become the first “Bee Friendly” Certified High Tech Company in the US.

This week is Pollinator Week. What will you do to celebrate the honeybees and other pollinators and help save them?

The post Intel Folsom adds 200,000 Workers appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Every time I turn around I am discovering a new benefit available to me as an Intel employee. Below are just a few – all designed to make your work and your personal life run a little smoother.

Scenario: You want to go away for the weekend to Las Vegas

• Fly Southwest and book via SWABIZ and get corporate rates and 200 bonus points
  per leg, by using the Intel corporate code.
• Get a 25% discount off your Hertz rental when you arrive.
• Use your Vault discount card (a discount program available to U.S. employees) to book a stay at a discounted rate, take in a show and tour the city by helicopter at a discount, too.

Scenario: You have 3 children. Two are high school students and one is struggling
with algebra and the other is struggling with a report. The third is about to graduate
from college and look for a job.

• You go to Live Homework Help (a free 24×7 interactive virtual tutoring service for the children and grandchildren of Intel employees as part of the company’s commitment to student learning) and your math student visits the Student Center to work with a live tutor until he/she feels completely confident.
  Your writer visits the Writing Center to get real time help on writing and
  proofing his/her essay. Did I mention it’s free?
• Your college graduate visits the Career Center and gets help on resume writing
  and interviewing tips. Did I also mention tutors are available 24×7?
• When your high schoolers are ready to take the SAT, they can visit the
  Resource Center and take practice tests.

The post There’s a benefit for that… appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

There was a recent article, “What Recruiters Look At During the 6 Seconds They Spend On Your Resume“, that put together a heat map that tracked the eye movements of 30 recruiters. Pretty interesting article, but what I’m here to share with you today is the 6 basic things you should absolutely, positively, without a doubt include on your resume, to make the most of those ’6 seconds’.

1. Your name

Seems simple, but if I can’t find your name, how do you expect me to identify you or know who you are if you don’t have your name CLEARLY stated on your resume? And if your name is Michael but you go by Tony (I’m not going to ask why, though I’m sure there’s a great story), either answer to both names or make it clear what your preference is.

2. Email

In today’s world, most companies have an online application process you go through to submit your resume and profile. More often than not, your email address is your unique identifier and the best way to get in touch with you. (Not your name, your email. Do you know how many Sejal Patels there are out there? A lot.) But also use an appropriate email address — crazigal143@email.com might work for your friends, but you may want to reconsider for a job application.

3. Phone number

Even though we live in a high-tech world, phone calls are still widely used in recruiting to contact candidates about a job opening that sounds perfect, to conduct a phone screen, or just to confirm that the resume is up-to-date. Make sure you list the best phone number where a recruiter can reach you, and if you don’t have voicemail set up yet, now would be a good time.

4. GPA 

It’s pretty amazing how many people leave their GPA off their resume, especially good ones! Brag a little! While GPAs aren’t the only indication of learning, when you’re getting an incredibly high number of resumes, it’s often used as a filter. Many companies have a minimum GPA they use to screen resumes as well. If you think by leaving your GPA off your resume, you’ll be able to sneak in, think again. It’s one of the first questions my company asks, and it would save both of us some time if it’s on your resume from the get-go.

5. Degree and graduation date

Tell us what you’re studying and when you’re expected to finish. This will help us figure out if you’re looking for a full-time position or an internship. It’ll also help us gauge where you might fit, based on your academic background. Not sure if you’ll be graduating in the summer or the fall? Just put what you think is most likely at the time you submit your resume, and update it later. When you do update your resume, be sure to update your resume in all of your online profiles so that the most up-to-date version is available.

6. Work status

We want to know if you have the permanent unrestricted right to work in the United States or if you’ll need sponsorship. Depending on the company and its hiring needs, it may or may not be able to sponsor employees but this is information that is best to share up front.

Bonus Tip:

Watch for white space

Recruiters go through tons of resumes every day. While I’m sure you’re quite an impressive candidate, use your resume wisely and be sure to include some white space. A clear, concise and nicely formatted resume will be easier on a recruiter’s eyes, and will garner more attention, than a poorly formatted and spaced resume with no white space, but lots of accomplishments.

The post 6 Things to Always Include on Your Resume/C.V. appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

I witnessed some brilliant minds with great passion and I can honestly say I believe our future is in great hands. These students come from such diverse backgrounds and all have what it takes to shape our future for the better. These are some seriously smart undergrads.

The agenda was pretty light seeing as it was day one. We did some great icebreaker activities (think Game Shows and get to know you challenges) and set the stage for what is to come over the next six weeks of the session.

We also had the honor of hearing from Andy Tryba, our Director of Corporate Strategy and Business Platforms as well as the Director of the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. He took the time to talk about his role in supporting Intel’s work on the President’s Jobs Council (and how he managed to score that position). He even shared some of his personal experiences about landing his first internship at Intel (can you believe he admitted he was their 2^nd choice?!) and reminded students that sometimes, you really have to be UBER persistent to get what you want.

Andy sharing his Intel story

All in all, we had a very eventful first day and students have already begun making new connections and friends. Apparently, I’m not the only one that thinks it was a pretty fabulous day. Facebook was buzzing with photos, videos of ‘dance offs’, commentary about the day, questions about the future… I love that I’ve finally met a group of students that love Facebook just as much as I do!

I’m hoping some of our attendees will share their stories with you in the near future. These are truly an amazing bunch of kids with some very interesting backgrounds and experiences that can inspire us all!

Meet your Arizona IUEE Attendees – and the future of engineering.

Our AZ IUEEs! (Group 1)

AZ IUEE Group 2

The post Yep. Our Future is in GREAT hands. appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

1)     Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game. Fear is a compelling (and sometimes crippling) emotion, and it can keep us from pursuing a worth-while opportunity. A couple of things I feared were applying to MIT and negotiating my starting salary—both rooted in rejection. How did I overcome my fear? Logic. There was zero probability that I would be admitted to MIT or negotiate a better salary if I didn’t at least try. I also have an amazing family that supported me to do both, and (of course) Google to help “coach” me.

2)     Find your sweet spot. Recall my previous blog “REP: Finding the Perfect Career” I’ve learned and been mentored by senior level execs that have all agreed that in order to be successful there are four primary needs to fulfill:

• Know Yourself (interests, talents, and current job market needs),
• Choose the Right Company,
• Select a Good Manager
• Continue to Learn.

The post REP: Damn Good Career Advice appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

It hasn’t been all work though. Yes, I have been having some fun here at Intel too! While last month was a little slow for me, I cannot say the same for this month. I love that Intel has so many volunteer opportunities for employees. This month the volunteer event that I attended was a “Clean the Beach” event. The cool thing about this event was that even though our main focus was to clean up debris from the beach, we got to go to Cannon Beach (a great beach here in Oregon). I mean seriously, a day at the beach, helping the community and having it count towards our Intel Involved matching grant program, how could I not write about that?! It was great to meet new Intel faces, give back to the community, and support Intel’s volunteer mission.

Cannon Beach

At another Intel Great Place to Work event I was able to meet some of the team members of the Portland Trail Blazers. I was also able to bring my nephew to this event. My nephew had a great time.  Although, he was a little nervous when he asked for the players autographs, he was glad that he got to meet them.  There were lots of kid-friendly games there, and he got excited when he beat me at air hockey. I think it is so awesome that Intel has events where we can invite family members and are able to share with them these exciting events.

Blazer Locker Room

I also have some amazing events coming up in the next month or so that I cannot wait to share. I will be going to the Women at Intel Conference, the Learning Community of Practice Summit as well as volunteering at an Intel Campus Open House and at an event for the Network of Intel African American Group.

Whew!!! As a college graduate in the HR Pathways group, I have to admit that it has been exciting going through this program. I have a few more months left into this last rotation and then I move into my permanent role. I can honestly say that Intel has been a great place to work. I have learned a lot about the industry, the way that people collaborate and most importantly about myself.

The post HR Pathways: Intel is Truly a Great Place to Work! appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Have an Objective

If you don’t know what you want, it’s hard for the reader to evaluate or it appears that you might take any job. If you are focused, it is easy to assess whether your skills, education and experience support your goal.  (

Typical Objective: Challenging job where I can use and enhance my skills in a business setting.

Better Objective: Compensation/Benefits Analyst position using my Human Resources experience and coursework to improve a large organization’s bottom line.

Use keywords

Corporate recruiters can’t even read the hundreds of resumes that come into our databases. We must use keywords to narrow down the candidate pool to a reasonable number. If you are missing related technical/functional words (or misspell them!) a real person may never dig your resume out of the “black hole” known as an Applicant Tracking System.

I once asked a candidate, while looking at his resume, “What are your greatest strengths?” He responded that he was 1) a good public speaker, 2) very detail-oriented, and 3) very strong with MS Excel macros.

I immediately commented that none of those words/phrases were listed on his resume. How do you expect to get a call, based on your resume, if your very best skills/qualities, aren’t even included?

Use numbers to show results

Most resumes I see provide a laundry list of “tasks”. What catches my attention is results. For example, if a candidate used to sell mobile phones:

Typical description:                                                               Accomplishments

Sold phone to business users                               Sold $5,000 of product every three months

Provided customer service                                                  Averaged sales of 110% of quota

Followed up on client prospects                                        Achieved 95% rating in client satisfaction surveys

The items in the left column give me no indication of the quality of the candidate’s performance. The items in the right hand column make me want to quickly interview the candidate!

List Awards/Certifications

Include all certifications and awards/recognitions that you have received that are still relevant. If you would like to talk about them in a potential interview, and can still perform the skills you used to achieve the awards, include them on your resume.

For example, if you received an award 10 years ago for being an outstanding trainer, and you can still perform that function today, include it on your resume- and be prepared to talk about it in the interview!

Highlights, not entire History

If you have no experience, include your best coursework and community/volunteer activities. If you have extensive experience, omit the oldest or least relevant positions.

A good rule of thumb would be to include your last 10-15 years experience, or your last 3-4 positions.

Now resume tips can vary slightly from recruiter to recruiter, to get another perspective, here’s a part 1 and part 2 of past posts that offer good advice too! By following these key tips, you can stand out from the crowd when being considered for a position. Help the recruiter or hiring manager find your resume, then give them a reason to call you for an interview!

The post Killer Resume Tips appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

I was fortunate enough this past weekend to be the guest of an IAA winner at the ceremony in San Francisco.  It was a great weekend, the sun shined the whole time and I even got a little sunburn walking around SF on Saturday.  The events around the ceremony were fantastic and well-coordinated.  I never truly understood the importance of these awards until this past weekend.  Sure, I knew they were the Intel’s highest honor, but I just never really GOT it until last weekend.  You couldn’t swing a laptop bag without hitting a Vice President in the Fairmont on Friday or Saturday, so I knew that our senior management recognized its significance.

But what was amazing about the weekend was not swapping stories over dinner with Executive Vice Presidents about the challenges of raising kids and working at Intel.  It wasn’t seeing which of the Executives was the last to leave the dance floor on Saturday night.  It wasn’t watching the executives who were asked to don all types of costumes in their video presentations (Harry Potter and a Cloud stand out as highlights.)

The award winner and the “Plus one” (author)

What did amaze me were the brilliant things the people at this company do every day. The regular people you see in the cafes and hallways who push the limits of science and business in ways that no one else in the world does or can do.

I was also amazed by the humanity of the people in our company as I got teary-eyed while Tom Kilroy gave a big hug to every one of the winners of the Intel Hero Award (for their work after the tsunami in Japan) while they received about a 5 minute standing ovation from the other attendees.

I was amazed by how excited I got listening to the awards being presented and watching our leaders discuss the impacts of those accomplishments.

I’ve been at Intel since 1999 and it was probably the most excited I’ve been about Intel at an Intel meeting/event in a very long time.  Not just for what we’ve accomplished in the past few years, but what we will accomplish over the next few.  We are really good at what we do and we do it better than anyone in the world.

As I told a number of people at the events that weekend, that even though I was an Intel employee, I was just the “plus one” to my partner who won an IAA. But I could not help being an excited employee listening to the remarkable things the people at this company do every day, much of which I don’t understand beyond the most basic level (who am I kidding? I don’t understand A LOT of how we do what we do. I still think it requires some sort of magic to put a billion of anything on a tiny piece of silicon).  I was excited to work at the same company with these geniuses; I was excited about what the future holds not only for Intel, but for the world in general.  And proud to be a small part of what Intel does to change the world.

Thanks to the people who put this event together, thanks to the people who won the award for what they’ve done and to the other 100,000 of us who do what we do but may not win IAA’s.

The IAA is a pretty big deal and the people who win them have done remarkable things, but Intel does a good job of recognizing people in other ways from our Intel Quality Award (which I have one as part of HR some years back) to instant recognition from your colleagues and peers and a number of other levels of recognition in between.

…and for the vast majority of us who haven’t won an IAA.  I highly recommend doing so, as Intel puts on a pretty decent party.

The post Why the Intel Achievement Awards Ceremony was Amazing appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

The program allows you to work between 22.5-36 hours   a week and you can adjust your schedule according to your university classes. Students who are pursuing a university degree are eligible for this program which provides you an opportunity to work part-time and gain quality career experience. In order to qualify for this program, you have to be in (at least) your second year and must be enrolled and attending classes while working at Intel.  When you complete your degree, if you had a good experience, we’ll help you look for full-time opportunities at Intel as well!

I started my career through this program, as a student worker, and it opened up a world of possibilities.  When I finished my degree in 2007, I already had 2 years of experience—how great is that? And now I’m almost at the 7-year mark! I was working on the Engineering department and learned a lot from Intel Engineers regarding to Product health indicators, although I don’t have an engineering background it help me to create a very good network within the area. After a year as a student worker, I moved to the staffing department as a part time student too and was in this area where I had the opportunity to become a full time employee. Currently I am supporting the recruitment process for open positions in Costa Rica and Mexico and it has been a great experience also.  I am really grateful about the opportunities I had at Intel and look forward to my future at Intel.

We are constantly opening student positions in different areas such as Finance, engineering, human resources; information technology, etc. For more information on the program guidelines and how to apply, visit our Costa Rica Student Center!

Don’t live in Costa Rica? We have established this program at our sites in Mexico, Brazil and Colombia — check out the Student Center for details!

The post Intel Jobs: Opportunities for Students in Costa Rica! appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

It all boils down to three steps: follow, engage, connect. And they’re done a little differently depending on what network you are on. Allow me to demonstrate…

The Obvious Choice: LinkedIn

LinkedIn* is hailed as the professional networking site, and with good reason. Whether you are job hunting or not, keep your LinkedIn profile updated and use it to connect with anyone and everyone you come across during your career.

• Follow: Companies have their own profile pages on LinkedIn where you can “follow” them to get the latest news and updates. (Example: this is the Intel page.) Company pages give you an overview of what’s happening, connections you have to the company and career opportunities. Whether you’re interested in hearing about the latest and greatest from a brand that you’re a fan of or you’ve picked an ideal employer and are simply waiting for the right opportunity,  following a company page is the first step. If you can’t find a company page, search for groups associated with a specific employer. Proceed with caution though, there are some groups that aren’t “officially sanctioned” by the company but it’s pretty easy to figure that out once you poke around. 
• Engage: If someone came up to you and said something, would you just walk away from them? Usually someone says something to you to start a conversation. The same applies to discussions or status updates. They’re there for you! Whether you like it or not, if you have something to say or ask, do so! That’s the beauty of social media: it gives everyone a chance to engage. Most companies also have their moderation policies listed so you know what to expect.
• Connect: Did you get into a really good discussion with an employee? Find a recruiter who encourages people to connect with him or her? LinkedIn profiles  have a section called “Contact <NAME> for:” where the user will list all the reasons they are open to connecting with people for. Read the profile, decide if your request fits one of the reasons they are open to, and send (or don’t send) an invite. If you do send an invite and you don’t know the person too well, it’s a good idea to include a message introducing yourself and why you’d like to keep in touch. If the person declines your invitation, there’s a reason for that–let it be and move on.

The post Social Networks and Your Job Search (Part 3) appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

When I was little, I loved math and reading. I was very shy and numbers and books did not require me to speak. I had an incredible 4^th grade teacher, Mrs. Warrior, who encouraged me to enter the Mathaton, a school wide math problem solving competition, I placed fourth; I still have that medal.

My parents encouraged my nerdy pursuits. I joined the Mathematics Engineering and Science Achievement club (M.E.S.A) in middle school. By the time I reached my senior year in high school, I was in the National Honor Society, the 2^nd chair clarinetist in the marching band, the recording secretary for Student Council, a state qualifying track athlete and received the honor of being named Most Effective Attorney at the State Mock Trial competition. For spring break my senior year, I was selected as one of the high school seniors to fly to Florida and job shadow N.A.S.A engineers. I was ecstatic to return from that trip to find that I was a finalist in the National Society of Black Engineer’s scholarship and that I had been accepted to Northwestern University’s Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. I do not say these things to brag, I am simply laying the ground work for the next chapter. I had confidence. I loved school. I loved learning. I was an “all around” student.

A few of the awards I amassed in High School

I was put on academic probation my freshman year in college and nearly failed out of school. How did that happen?

When I got to Northwestern, I took the same approach I always take to life—dive right in. I joined several student groups, the University Marching band, was helping produce a radio show, performing in a dance troupe, maintaining a work study job, and did I mention the parties? It was great! I remember sitting in 400 person Chemistry and Calculus classes thinking…am I the only one NOT getting this? It had always been so natural, was this supposed to be so much work? I sat silently not asking questions for fear that someone would discover I did not really belong. I never went to office hours, did not attend the tutoring available (my pride wouldn’t let me, I was always the student tutoring others –it’s how I made my money in high school!); I was over-extended on every front.

When I received my first quarter grades, Chemistry – D, Calculus – D, and a letter informing my parents that I was to be put on academic probation and had two quarters to turn it around, I was devastated. I cried all night. I had NEVER failed at anything. I didn’t know what to do, so I did more of the same my 2^ndquarter, with the same results. I knew that I had one more quarter to pull it together or my big dreams of becoming an engineer would be dead.

I went to see my academic advisor and we had a very real discussion about whether I thought I was capable of continuing in the engineering curriculum. Several of my friends had transferred to the College of Arts and Sciences. I knew that if I ran from this, I would be afraid to tackle anything in life. I really did enjoy programming, I couldn’t say the same for Chemistry, but I knew that I could be successful, I just wasn’t sure how. I told my advisor that I was going to stay the course.

I did some serious house cleaning that final quarter of my freshman year. I quit the band. I cleared my social calendar, I discovered tech tutoring, and I went there–every night. I did extra problems, I was assigned a mentor, 2 in fact, and I took only 3 instead of 4 classes my 3^rd quarter. I was in every office hour. I asked questions in class, even with the fear of being seen as the stupid one, and was surprised to know that other people in the room were wondering the same thing. When I received my 3^rd quarter grades, I was SO excited – B, B+, A! I had avoided being kicked out of school, but more importantly, I had learned how to tap into the resources available to me.

Graduation day - I did it!

A few months ago, I heard about the Stay With It program, and it struck a chord with me. The program is focused on reducing the attrition rate for students in engineering programs across the country by giving them hands on experience earlier in their coursework, providing them with the tools: tutoring, mentoring, early immersion; that they need to perform successfully.

This summer, Intel will host ”The Ultimate Engineering Experience,” a series of engineering “boot camps” at all of our major sites, to better equip engineering students. I have already signed up to volunteer, because were it not for the people who took the time to pour into me, I would not be here. I have been where these students are, I know how tough it can be, and I’m here to tell you: YOU CAN DO IT! There’s a world of opportunity that your engineering degree will bring you, at Intel and elsewhere. Your skills, expertise and ideas will help shape the future of technology and our world. Stay with it!

The post Failing Forward: From Academic Probation to Design Automation appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

It’s not about the chip.

If it was, I’d have no idea what to say. I studied philosophy, not engineering. Before I began working at Intel nearly two years ago, I could barely tell the difference between CPUs and GPUs and chipsets and platforms and gigahertz and megahertz.

It’s not about the devices. 

If it was, then my friends and family would look at me with sarcastic glances. Yes, they would tell me, your Ultrabooks look really cool, but aren’t they just slimmer laptops? And wait, what about MacBook Airs? And where are all these smartphones and tablets with Intel Inside that you keep telling me about?

It’s not about the brand.

If it was, then I could work at Coca-Cola* or BMW* or Red Bull* or McDonald’s* or WalMart* and not notice much of a difference. People know who we are. We make a lot of money. People love our brand. Our brand is among the world’s valuable. But that is not why I evangelize about Intel.

It’s about our stories.

Like the story of Bonnie , a former director in Intel’s Digital Health Group now at Intel-GE Care Innovations, who drove over 500 miles from Loomis, CA to the Yucca Valley to hand-deliver an Intel Reader to an 86-year old family friend suffering from macular generation free of charge – all made possible because of DHeG’s commitment to ‘pay it forward’.

Like the story of marketing manager Yoshie, who in a time of crisis following Japan’s tsunamis rallied together an Intel team to connect refugees with their loved ones through WiMax-connected Classmate PCs.

Like the story of Angie , a formerly frustrated, worn-out, ready-to-quit teacher in Arizona whose work and life were revitalized through the Intel Teach program and the power of technology-infused learning – and who Intel later recognized as one of the 20 most inspiring educators in the US.

Like the story of our dear friend will.i.am, who is globetrotting around the world, helping to change the way we experience music.

These are not my stories. I did not personally live them. But actually, they are my stories, in the sense that they are weaved together as one larger Intel story – of connecting and enriching lives,  of creating meaningful technological experiences, and  of enabling a better future through these experiences. It’s not about what they do, or what I do. It’s about what we do.

It’s about the fact that I don’t have to make promises about what Intel plans to do or wants to do – it’s about what we have already done. Yes, it’s about connecting and enriching the lives of people we’ve yet to reach, but it’s also about the lives of people we already have.

I am extremely fortunate in that it is literally in my job description to be an Intel ambassador and tell stories – to help educate and inspire our employees, to help them understand why it is that we do what we do – changing the world through our technology. But the privilege does not rest with me – whether one is an engineer, or marketer, a manufacturing technician, IT analyst – we are all here for the same reason. And we can all tell these stories. We can all claim ownership.

And it is not because we want to build better-performing products than our competitors, or raise our stock price, or create the next popular ‘it’ gadget. That stuff is nice, but don’t answer the question of ‘why’.

Why do I get up every morning to come to Intel? Bonnie is why. Yoshi is why. Angieis why. Will.i.am is why. I come to work because I am excited to hear about and pass on the stories of how we take one simple element – silicon – and we change the course of lives, and of history.

Being an ambassador and advocate is simple. It’s about storytelling. It’s about pride. It’s about the sense of accomplishment you feel when you sit back and reflect on all the brilliant work your colleagues have done – the great work done long before you arrived and the great work that will continue long after you’ve departed.

It’s about reflecting on your time at Intel long after you retire, passing down stories to your children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren: “This is how we changed the world. And this was why we changed the world.” And that, is why I come to work everyday. Why do you?

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

The post What Makes Me Come to Work Every Day appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Generalizations:

PowerPoints:  Tech-savvy folks tend to provide too much information, usually with the intention of adding substance to (all!) of the knowledge they share (#overload).  While, non-tech individuals tend to not provide enough substance to their information (#underload?).  And the worst part?  Tech and non-tech people alike are usually guilty of creating over-cluttered, distracting, and hard-to-follow PowerPoints (when used).  What do I mean?  My idea of a good PowerPoint is one that:

1. Is understood sans presenter/creator’s explanation with the least amount of information used
2. Is minimalistic and focuses attention on the storyteller
3. Is either A or B, or a combination thereof—NOTE: ratio of A to B is highly dependent on the purpose of the presentation and audience

The post Presenters, Please Stop Boring Me. appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

When you first become a ‘manager’, you stopped working by yourself and started working through people and with people (although we started to work harder and longer, I must admit). But there’s an interesting thing I’ve noticed – if the number of people reporting to you grows more or less linear, the number of people you can potentially influence grows exponentially. And if you remember my idea about the value of chance, then you’d agree that the probability of having a “good” chance meeting an important person grows as your informal network grows. What’s interesting is the fact that you never (never!) know when and where you can meet the “right” person for the task you’re working on (or may be working on in the future). As an example I can recall a case when I helped one of our sales guys to solve a problem by connecting him to a person still working for the company I worked at before joining Intel. Another example is your school and college mates – I happened to find a great lawyer among my ex-classmates, he helped me and saved a lot of my money – thanks to the fact I attended our 10^th Graduation Anniversary.

Another great thing about networking is career growth. And I’m not actually talking about your own, though that’s great too. I mean the career shifts of the people in your network. That’s why it’s important to maintain your network and keep in touch with people you know as the time goes. So today my call to action includes two things:

a) build your network by all means, as long as you feel comfortable with them (attend events and chat with people, connect online, ask your friends to share some of their contacts, etc.), and

b) maintain you network by “pinging” its members from time to time. Sending them Birthday wishes (or calling them on important occasions) is a simple yet powerful network-maintenance trait.

This is where many social networks may serve you well. Try using them for their direct purpose – building and maintaining your social network. But do it with caution – mind your own privacy and be respectful of other’s right to privacy.

The post The Value of Networking appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Alonzo, Washington, DC Area Veteran:

• What made you sign up for an Intel Vet mentor? I attended a job fair in Dumferries, VA where it was recommended that I attend a workshop held at the Woodbridge Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) for vets, which is how I learned about the Intel VET workshop. Ever since attending, it has changed a little part of me each day.
• How do you feel having a mentor has helped you (i.e. Resume building, interview coaching, general transition questions, etc.)? The mentor program has been a great help. I have not found a job yet, but it has been great to talk with someone who listens and understand what I’m going through.
• Has having a mentor helped you with your job search and have you been able to secure a job since attending the Intel VET workshop? Since being matched with my mentor, who is located in CA, we’ve talked about every three to four weeks about how the job search is going. I thank Intel and all of the other organizations that are trying to help us Vets.

The post Intel VET: Veteran Mentees appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

We recently had a huge phone announcement: the first smartphone with Intel inside, the XOLO X900, was announced in India and it is now available to purchase! (Another reason to visit India? I think so ;-) ). And we’re excited to announce another one today: the Jobs at Intel Mobile App is available to download on your Android* device and iPhone* from Google Play and iTunes.

Don’t rub your eyes—you read that right: we’ve created an app for your phone that will keep you in the loop about careers at Intel and new job opportunities! There’s been an explosion of smartphone usage around the world (according to a MobiThinking study, there are 1.2 billion mobile web users worldwide and mobile searches have quadrupled in the last year!), so we knew we wanted to make the search easier for you. Especially as we, as a company, develop technologies for smart phone and tablets, it makes sense to connect with our future talent with these technologies.

So why would you download the app? Here’s why:

• Job Alerts: Do you know when new job matches open up? With the app, you can get alerts! The app includes a daily feed of all of our job postings. You can search on job categories such as job title, keywords or location to narrow down the list. Your searches can be saved in search history or added to a list of favourites and you’ll receive alerts based on recent and saved searches. This is a notification you won’t want to miss!
• Apply: Whether it’s through a job alert or through a search, once you’ve found a job opening that matches, you’ll want to apply! Openings can be emailed so you can complete the application or you can share it with a friend.
• Connect with Us: Finding a job is more than finding an opening that matches your interests and skills, it’s about finding a culture where you not only fit in, but can grow and thrive. Watch our Life at Intel videos, read our Jobs at Intel blog posts and follow our updates from Twitter and Facebook, all within the application.

Exciting stuff eh? This is just one of the ways we want to get you connected to the opportunities that lie ahead at Intel. Intel is now available IN and ON your mobile device! So, what are you waiting for? Download the app and let us know what you think!

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

The post Turning Your Phone into a Job Search Tool appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

Many people think that being an engineer is a profession. I do not agree. For me being an engineer is a personality, a character and an aspiration—not a profession or a university title.

Many years ago, the U.S. army had a slogan, “Join the army and see the world.” For me, the calling was to be an engineer and change the world.

Engineers are hugely curious to know how things work, are passionate to make things better, and aspire to create completely new things—things no one has even dreamed of, but will make a huge impact on people all over the world.

We are delighted to create something wonderful that makes an impact. I recently saw a movie in which an engineer describes proudly the countless hours he saved for humans by designing and building a bridge that shortened the way for millions of people.

Just think how many lives we at Intel have touched by creating the best transistors, which make the best computer chips, which run the best software, which makes the most wonderful computing experiences—from data centers to notebooks, to phones, to tablets.

We create things that connect people, help them be more productive and enjoy the best or most entertaining experience.

But the joy does not stop there. An engineer will enjoy the admiration of fellow engineers by explaining the details of how something really works.

If you are a non-engineer, you probably remember smiling when an engineering friend of yours elaborated on the nitty-gritty details on something that you thought didn’t matter. And if you are an engineer, perhaps you can relate with me when I reflect upon the countless times I bothered my kids by explaining to them how things work and the science behind it to help them bring their projects to life.

For me, being an engineer is a calling. That is why I chose to be an engineer, and why I still think myself as an engineer. It is about inventing great and practical things many people around us may take for granted. It is about the personal satisfaction of solving big, complex, audacious problems.

It is about remembering with pride the endless days and nights deliberating what to do, how to solve a problem, how to find a bug and fix it, how to get a product eventually to work flawlessly and sell in huge volume all over the world.

As an engineer, there is no better place than here at Intel when we have this great calling:

“This decade we will create and extend computing technology to connect and enrich the lives of every person on earth.”

To learn more about Dadi, check out his bio. And look at our specialty intern programs to see if they’d be a good match for you! 

The post What Being an Engineer Means to Me appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.

This short video from Brian Krzanich’s 2012 Intel International Sales and Marketing Conference (ISMC) keynote shows how much we’ve created in 44 years, in 91 seconds.

What do you think the next 44 years will bring?

The post How Far We’ve Come (1968 – 2012) appeared first on Jobs@Intel Blog.