Applied Materials

Unlimited PTO, and that’s about it.

I used to work at Applied Materials as a Manufacturing Engineer and was excited to join such a large, well-known company.

Unfortunately, my experience was far from positive. Despite consistently meeting performance expectations and being genuinely committed to my role, I was laid off without meaningful warning or support.

The company talks a lot about innovation and employee value, but in practice it feels like you’re just a number. Decisions seem heavily driven by short-term financial optics rather than investing in skilled people who make long-term impact. The layoff process was impersonal, and I left feeling undervalued and disappointed.

On top of that, the work environment is often bureaucratic, and communication from leadership down to the teams is inconsistent. It’s hard to feel secure or truly part of the organization when priorities shift quickly and people are let go with little consideration.

Overall, I would caution anyone considering a role here to weigh the risks. The brand name is impressive, but don’t expect loyalty or stability and be prepared for sudden organizational changes that could impact your career.

Value your people beyond just the bottom line. Invest in their growth and communicate transparently about business challenges so employees aren’t blindsided by sudden layoffs. Build a culture of trust by recognizing hard work and fostering job security where possible. Remember that long-term success depends on retaining skilled, motivated employees, not just cutting costs in the short term.