Positive work experience, lots of opportunity to grow, great people to work with, good products. - Anonymous employee Applied Materials Employee Review

4.0
Jan 4, 2012
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Lots of opportunity and support to move within the company - learn different types of job functions - gain great experience, management allows you to do your job without micromanaging, lots of creativity, great people - very intelligent and nice to work with. Good benefits package. Fairly well managed company. Fluctuations in semiconductor industry due to anticipated economic conditions can provide much needed rest during downturns company enforced shutdowns.

Cons

Periodic reorganizations can place you under less desirable management chains. Company practices can be unreasonable to supply base, for which it relies on heavily - can put suppliers out business during downturns. Nature of industry (not company's fault) leads to wide fluctuations in anticipation of changes to general worldwide economic conditions - i.e., although creating opportunity during growth cycles, layoffs occur during downturns - this may be uncomfortable for many.

Explore other reviews about Applied Materials

5.0
May 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Wonderful staff - great company all around

Cons

Cannot think of any cons.

4.0
Jun 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good health insurance, pay is just enough to not quit, 4% 401k contribution gives 3% match, stock purchase program is 15% discount no annually. Work is hit and miss, sometimes your left to struggle and there very little support, other times things are planned out and well executed. This company promotes from within more often than not so there is a ladder to climb. The work is 12hr shifts which is good for long weekends, but if things are busy with lots of projects you will be asked to come in for overtime. 60hr weeks 2x a month is very common. You can say no, but it’s discouraged in a few ways 😉

Cons

Management is very hit and miss, for the last decade we’ve had the avg stay of a manger <1yr. If you have a good one, they get burnt out from unreasonable expectations, and if you have a bad one they’re so disconnected you get nothing out of it. As a whole, due to leadership being promoted from within they tend to be very resistant to making any changes to their system because it worked a decade ago. This industry moves rapidly, because it was the best a decade ago does not mean it’s the best today. The raise structure is silly. Every year they’ve changed to it to have more disconnect from you and the people who approve raises. Most managers claim they’re told how much each employee is getting from someone that the employee is never met, and then have to argue over how to distribute an additional 5% over the entire team. This means if you work as hard as you can, and really stand out from your peers, you can get an additional 2% for an annual raise and your manager will claim that the best possible.

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