Thread regarding Intel Corp. layoffs

OP, what is your motivation to join Intel? Technical challenge? Money? Domain growth? As long as you are not betting your long term success on this move there is no harm to try. After all the project may be good and FLM could be reasonable.

That said, you probably know 240K in Bay Area is nothing special, especially in the context of big tech companies paying 200k+ for G7 equivalent positions.

Good luck!

OP: There are many variables. Is this just a 3-5 year career move? Or are you planning on building long-term residence and a career here? Since it is the Bay area, then you should be OK for a few years, since you can jump ship later. This is a huge place, and has special ways of doing things. It will take you 1.5 years just to figure out where you (and what you do) stand. You may get a break this January’s reviews, but not the second. Also, make sure that the position is directly related to a core business such as server or client chips or the peripheral hub. i.e. will go into a real revenue-generating product. A lot of fluff is probably going to be trimmed in the future. Second, if you are a white male, and your manager and his manager are white, then you should be OK if you perform well. But if your boss, and/or his boss are Indian, then just know that it is not unlikely that --unless you are outstanding in the team, and they cannot do without you-- the bar will be set higher for you. You are also likely to have a subtle baseline burden of about 25% minority and female competition in raises, stock level (which can set layoff eligibility), and promotion slots. This is an opinion. Please listen to alternative opinions also.

"Intel Focals is all about expectations with your performance and contributions as seen by your management. Go in as grade 9 or higher and they will expect the world, even in your first year or two. If you don't deliver, you are screwed."

The difference between Intel and other places is that the "expectations with your performance and contributions" are often nebulous and not fully articulated at Intel. Strategy and priorities at Intel change so often that it's hard to set goals at the beginning of the year that have any kind of relevance at the end.

Which leaves perception and politics and game-playing. And the new guy nearly always loses. Especially if your manager is a slug and she views her reports as competition.

Intel Focals is all about expectations with your performance and contributions as seen by your management. Go in as grade 9 or higher and they will expect the world, even in your first year or two. If you don't deliver, you are screwed.

As per other suggestions most suggest not to join Intel and I'd add if you have or can get other offers from many of the local companies then go for other one with few exceptions as I heard that there are worse companies like CISCO, Linkedin and eBay. On the other hand, if manager and group might be ok and if you want to take advantage of the offer and take a ride then go for it and you never know, but do not put your heart to Intel as it is not one of those anymore.

@P3BjTmd-1lpr Good post, as a two decade employee and managed focal for more than two decades as well it is a poisonous system.

If you are good there is far better places for senior people.

I was let go after two decades and one L4, not one thank you from my boss or check back. Love my new gig , should have left far earlier.

If you are good avoid Intel!

Good post @1lpr

So much at Intel depends on your manager and group. Get a bad FLM or join a business unit or group that's not in favor or falls out of favor and and the odds are stacked against you.

The added challenge at higher grades, especially for skilled / experienced people coming from outside, is that much of the senior leaders at Intel have pretty much only worked at Intel. They've been divorced from reality, actual customers and the real world for so long that people who haven't are perceived as a personal threat.

Leaders in a healthier culture would operate differently but Intel is a truly toxic and political place.

I joined Intel as a grade 9 around six years ago, so I have relatively recent experience as a new hire at that grade. The base salary you mentioned sounds about right, as does APB (annual bonus). QPB (quarterly bonus) should add another $12-14K annually. Your annual RSU grant number sounds a little high at today's stock price. It's more likely to be around 550-600 shares granted each year (vesting over 4 years). The average number of RSUs granted today is only about 65% of what it was in 2013-2014. You should also see roughly $10k/year contributed by the company to your 401k and you may be able to negotiate a signing bonus of at least $20K and an initial RSU grant that is about double the normal annual grant size (at least you could a few years ago; not sure about today).

You will likely only get annual raises of about 2% and if the stock price goes up then the annual RSU grants are like to go down (# of shares). You will compared against all other grade 9's in your organization and if you don't hit the ground running you may find it hard to compete after the initial year or two grace period. There is a lot of politics when you're at grade 9 and above. You will be expected to assume a leadership role and responsibility without being asked. You should plan to join a couple of working groups in areas of interest and expertise and make yourself known and useful to other organizations. Your management may or may not be willing to let you do that on "their" time, so you should plan to do some of that work after hours. However, you may find that to be the most rewarding part of your Intel career (I know that I do).

Honestly, if I could go back and do it again, I wouldn't have joined Intel. The current upper management has made the work environment pretty hostile and morale is low among most of the rank and file that I interact with. If you are lucky enough to get a good manager who fights for his people than you might be insulated from some of that. My observation is that there are very few managers like that at Intel. If you are in one of Intel's targeted diversity groups than you will be further insulated from some of the politics as long as your performance is at least average. If you are older than 50, you will need to be concerned about age discrimination in a few years. Intel has a well documented history of laying off older, highly compensated employees. In the 2016 layoff, employees over 60 were more likely to be terminated than employees in their 30's and 40's (see http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2016/06/intel_layoffs_skew_older_spotl.html).

I hope this helps you make your decision. Good luck.

Don't do it. Intel is a total joke. The management has driven the company off a cliff. You are a fool if you accept their sales pitch. They are not doing this for you, dude! It's for them, and only them!

"Joining Intel at grade 8-9 at much below mid-range is a much better scenario. Your Tcomp will be lower than your peers, but you have better shot at getting S3 or better stocks for next few years and avoid being axed."

This is also off base. Why would someone join a failing company at lower compensation in the likely futile hope that being paid less will make you less of a target. The target will be on your back for being an external threat and an outsider to the political cliques and cabals. Maybe if you're someone's spouse or an ethnic compatriot of your FLM and SLM... but much better to stay away.

Being a senior, external hire is a formula for trouble at Intel (read: laid off).

"Assume the posted info is true. The money is not the concern, but the grade is. At this high grade with the limited experience, it would be tough to compete with others at the same level but more experienced."

That misses the point of hiring a senior, external person, which would be, presumably, to bring experience and perspective from outside (perhaps from a customer of Intel).

That someone is a high grade at Intel most likely means that they've been at Intel for some time. Not that they have any (or any useful) technical or market experience in whatever area that they're working. Chances are that all they know how to do is make Powerpoints and parrot BS talking points.

They do most likely have extensive experience of working at Intel, which is a vocation unto itself for the "best" Intel employees.

Why would you come to Intel? Old aging company with idot at CEO. Core business in decline and outlook next couple years is frigthening. Big ACTs are coming!

Coming in at senior grade like 9 means you will be ranked / judged for performance with others that may have 10-20 years at Intel and good relations with the rank manager and VP. Unless you are a superstar and got a good relationship with your VP you will be the odd man out at Focal and be the candidate to be scrutinized for getting lower rating and stocks.

For the next round of layoff ACTs you will be the first sacrificial lamb to go to the ACT alter.

I'd avoid Intel like a plague unless you are unemployed and that is your only option, trust me, bad times ahead!

Troll 🤣

Save your money unless urm. By age 50 max they will begin to think of ways to move you out.

Joining Intel at grade 8-9 at much below mid-range is a much better scenario. Your Tcomp will be lower than your peers, but you have better shot at getting S3 or better stocks for next few years and avoid being axed.

Assume the posted info is true. The money is not the concern, but the grade is. At this high grade with the limited experience, it would be tough to compete with others at the same level but more experienced.

+1 - The knives are out for senior external hires. Expect sabotage and for any external network, experience or knowledge to be a liability instead of an asset.

"Wouldn't recommend joining intel from the outside at high grades because everyone at your same grade level or lower will target you and do everything they can to make you look bad to get you fired. Intel lays off ten percent of every team every year at a minimum and everyone's goal is to be better than the lowest ten percent. What that means is that the individuals that aren't good st their job will throw roadblocks in your way and start rumor mills to destroy you to force you below them. Bad politics, burned out angry hostile employees, complete incompetence of managers and directors will make this a career ender for you. Angry, hostile, don't do it."

Are you URM? If not, need to think about be able to handle politics. Grade9 need to deal with politics. Bay area is ok, if you don't like the job, you can move to another company.

What kind of Ahole humble brags about a $200k job on a layoff board?

Career suicide.

You've been warned.

Asking for advice here is like asking a shark if you should go into the ocean to swim.

join if you dare

So you were specific enough to ensure that Intel HR can figure out who you are and you just posted on a board that is very hostile to Intel. Let's see if you still have that offer in three days.

It's people like you who give others the impression that many PhDs are retarded idiots.

Agree with Farts. But you can ride the great Tcomp for a few years since having Intel on resume will still open doors for next career.

Wouldn't recommend joining intel from the outside at high grades because everyone at your same grade level or lower will target you and do everything they can to make you look bad to get you fired. Intel lays off ten percent of every team every year at a minimum and everyone's goal is to be better than the lowest ten percent. What that means is that the individuals that aren't good st their job will throw roadblocks in your way and start rumor mills to destroy you to force you below them. Bad politics, burned out angry hostile employees, complete inciompetence of managers and directors will make this a career ender for you. Angry, hostile, don't do it.

Sounds about right, anyway not below median