Applied Materials Is Committed to Building a Future-Ready Workforce
Tan Lee Sar Applied Materials

Tan Lee Sar, Managing Director, HR Business Partner Regional Lead

Lee Sar leads the HR teams in delivering organization and talent strategy and initiatives to enable the overall Applied Materials business in the region. She brings over 14 years of HR experience in the public service from the Singapore Economic Development Board and Ministry of Manpower. 

It is an exciting time to be in the semiconductor industry… We are committed to growing our capabilities and investing in our talent in Singapore to create a future-ready workforce.

What are the opportunities that Applied Materials sees amid the unprecedented demand for semiconductors? 

It is an exciting time to be in the semiconductor industry. As the impact of digitalization on lives and businesses has accelerated, the demand for semiconductors is stronger than ever. New technology trends such as Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data and AI are also generating new growth opportunities for the industry and creating the need for new innovations in semiconductor technology. 

As the world’s leading semiconductor equipment company, we are growing to support the unprecedented demand for our products. We are investing in our infrastructure and our talent, as we deepen and broaden the span of our operations in Singapore.

How does Applied upskill its workforce and what are the opportunities for employee development?

Applied Materials is an exciting place to work with leading-edge products developed by the brightest minds in the field. We are committed to growing our capabilities and investing in our talent in Singapore, to create a future-ready workforce that allows employees to perform their best.

To cultivate a data-savvy workforce, we have worked with local universities like National University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) to incorporate data analytics and AI courses into our learning resources. We aim to upskill our workforce, as we make data part of our business language and DNA.

For employees who are motivated to go the extra mile to further their studies, we also support them through an education assistance program. One of our employees, Nazirudeen, had a diploma when he joined us as a technician. He was given opportunities for career development and overseas visits to customer sites. Two years ago, he decided to upskill himself with a part-time Mechanical Engineering degree, and has now progressed to become a manager and leads a team!

How does Applied contribute to the talent in semiconductor ecosystem in Singapore?

Being at the forefront of technology, Applied Materials invests heavily in R&D to maintain its leadership in materials engineering solutions. To bring new innovations to the industry, we will continually bring in new products and processes to our operations in Singapore. This creates new capabilities in the local semiconductor ecosystem as skills and technology are transferred to our workforce here. 

As a global company with operations and customers all over the world, Applied employees have the valuable experience of collaborating with colleagues globally. They also have access to a global career through our internal jobs portal.

Digital transformation is accelerating, and some industry observers predict that semiconductor industry revenue could reach $1 trillion by 2030! It is truly an exciting time to be in this industry. We look forward to more people joining Applied Materials and developing their careers with us.

 

Hear From Our Talent

Azreen, Test Engineer

I graduated from university and joined Applied Materials in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. It was definitely challenging starting work in a work-from-home setting, but the warm support and help from my teammates and learning resources from Applied helped me get up to speed. 

As a Test Engineer, we build testers to validate our manufacturing tools and ensure that they meet standards. I appreciate the culture of continuous learning in Applied, and my manager has always encouraged me to take up courses to upgrade myself. Besides our internal learning resources, I have also had the opportunity to take external courses in pneumatics and vacuum technology, which have equipped me with skillsets to bring my work to the next level and helped to build my confidence as a young engineer.

 

Yvonne, Chemist 

I first joined Applied under the NUS SGUnited Traineeship Program for post-docs in the Applied Materials-NUS Advanced Materials Corporate Lab. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of a team focused on pioneering R&D in niche semiconductor areas, and to be involved in the projects from ideation, planning to execution. 

After the traineeship, I decided to join Applied full-time due to its nurturing and inclusive culture where teammates help each other to learn, grow and advance. An extremely purpose-driven and fast-paced company, Applied also pushes the boundaries of science, technology, and engineering to build knowledge and create innovation.

 

Your Future Awaits. Join Our Team Today. Visit us at www.appliedmaterials.com