Name: Tim Appleton
Job Title/Employer: Manufacturing Engineer/Intel Corporation
Year of Graduation: 2001, 2007
Degree/Major: B.S.E./Industrial Engineering, M.B.A.
 
What is your favorite part of your current job?
Knowing that what I do makes a difference to the company and our customers. Intel's products are changing the world around us. Although I only own a small part of the chip-development process, I know that I still have a part in improving our world through technology.
 
What career path did you follow from your ASU degree to your present job?
I have been with Intel since graduating from ASU in 2001. One of the great things about working for a large employer is that you can often try many different jobs without leaving the company.

When I joined Intel, I entered a rotational engineering program that allowed me to try three different jobs within my first year. I have been in marketing, strategy development, industrial engineering, and manufacturing, all with Intel. I recently returned to ASU to obtain an M.B.A. and now I am looking for my next opportunity.

Describe one skill learned at ASU that you use daily in your job.
Analytical thinking. Both schools (engineering and business) ingrained in me the notion that decisions need to be made based on structured analysis and problem solving. In an industry as technical as semiconductor manufacturing, problems are hard and mistakes are costly. We cannot afford to be wrong, so at Intel analytical thinking is highly rewarded.

Were any ASU-affiliated persons helpful to you in advancing your career?
Many ASU-affiliated people have helped me along my way, but alumni jump to mind as having the most impact outside of classroom learning. I know you have heard it before but I will say it again – networking is a critical part of advancing your career.

What advice would you give to current students or job-seekers about finding work in your field?
Consider the industry you want to be in just as much as your field of study. Your choice of industry will impact your career options just as much as choosing a major. Once you have made a choice, it becomes increasingly difficult to change.