Intel

Good experience of the working environment at Intel in CPTD (Customer Platform Technology Development). I was also able to talk to employees in the cafeteria during breaks. You can make some good connections.

Don't work in CPTD (Customer Platform Technology Development), also called BDL (Board Development Lab), as a green badge.

Green badge is the badge you wear when you are a contingent worker (temp employee through an agency).

The pay is good, the work is fun and important, and you can make a lot of good connections with people on campus. But, you have to be careful.

One of the floor managers or security watching the cameras is very observant of what the employees on the floor are doing. They won't communicate to you exactly what you are doing wrong; they communicate to your staffing agency but don't give them good information. You can't ask the managers personally because of rules to protect them against being sued (I assume that's why).

This same manager on the floor may say it's OK to do something after some hesitation, but he/she will report the incident to the agency anyway. So, be careful.

Some tips:

• Don't go talking to other people on the floor during your break, even if they don't seem busy. You can get in trouble for this, even if it is to ask about what a machine does or other innocent discussion ideas.
• Don't walk upstairs above CPTD where the cubicles are. Don't store your backpack in a cubicle up there; use a locker or even store it under a table in CPTD before going upstairs.
• If you want to talk to someone who works in CPTD, or upstairs, or some other part of campus, it is best to get his/her name and add yourself to their calendar for a one-on-one appointment through Microsoft Outlook.

The worst part of working in CPTD is that if they want to end your contract, they may make complaints to your staffing agency, claiming suspicious behavior and/or that you are not doing your job correctly (even though you are). It can be stressful, so be prepared for it.

Good luck working for Intel. It will look good on your resume (though the managers can't be a reference), and it's good experience. Working as a blue badge is much better.

Don't be worried about the $1300 fine if you don't return your green badge. It's an empty, insulting threat.

Some thoughts about career opportunities:

In CPTD, which is manufacturing, most people on the floor are green badges. You can only work, I believe, for 18 months before you have to stop working at Intel as a green badge and can re-apply some time later.

So, either you have to stop working, or Intel may make you an ICE (Intel Contract Employee), but most are not.

Manufacturing is not the place to develop your career. Be in Computer Science//Engineering as a blue badge for a rewarding career.

There should be more communication transparency between the managers who manage the green badge employees and the employees themselves. Not having the ability to talk to your manager directly, only being able to do so through your agency, leaves employees feeling less valuable and with no real connection to the company. This may affect productivity and company reputation. It might make the employee feel like the manager has an introverted personality and doesn't like the employee. Perhaps stating why this is done during training would help.

Also, the tactic of telling green badge employees to return their badge when their contract has ended, or else face a $1300 fine, is not the best approach. Firstly, it is insulting. Why does Intel feel the need to state this right off the bat? Secondly, the fine does not exist.