Mila Wilson, Talent Acquisition Director for Intel Germany, tells us about the challenges and opportunities of recruiting for our new, state-of-the-art fab manufacturing facility in Magdeburg. With unparalleled investment, Mila believes it’s a professional game changer.
Tell us about joining Intel and your role.
I started as the Director of Talent Acquisition for Intel Germany, including our new facilities in Magdeburg, in September 2022. Together with my HR project team colleagues, I’m creating a talent acquisition strategy for the next five to six years to fully staff the fab. I’m currently based in Berlin and attend regular meetings in Magdeburg.
What attracted you to the opportunity at Intel?
Intel’s brand. Intel is one of those very well-established and significant companies and a deeply value driven corporation. Also, I was really attracted by the actual project. I was aware that Intel didn’t have a fab in Germany and that the business in Germany has been mostly Munich-centered around sales and marketing. So, the opportunity of creating something from scratch was a key attraction. I like building momentum within the business and establishing recruiting as a strategic partner. I’m able to build the strategy, as well as identify and help overcome plenty of exciting challenges.
What is interesting or exciting about your role?
Despite having a lot of experience, I was stepping into something totally new by hiring for a fab. I had always worked in a corporate environment as opposed to hiring technicians for a fab floor, who come from very different educational backgrounds. It’s an entirely new industry for me and a totally different staff base. The biggest leap was to understand what Intel actually does and understanding that I will be hiring different types of employees, and that I will need to look for them in very different ways.
Have Intel been receptive to your new perspective and ideas?
So far, I have perceived Intel as very open minded and receptive to new ideas. I am naturally very curious and continuously ask questions, which has landed really well. Leadership is also very open to looking at things from a different perspective.
How do you think the Magdeburg fab will impact the word?
Part of the attraction to my role is that this is one of the largest industrial projects you could be part of. The semiconductor industry is changing the world just by where it is needed – cars, mobile phones – everything is interconnected.
Intel did change the world; essentially it put the silicon in Silicon Valley. With a constant need for innovation, Intel will put Magdeburg and Germany on the map in terms of having a production site that will create the latest cutting-edge technology. That’s the opportunity for me to make an impact; in recruiting you can change peoples’ lives by giving them the chance to work in such an innovative place.
Do you feel connected to Intel’s mission and values?
It’s nice to see that our values are truly part of Intel’s foundation. So far, I have seen the values translated into how Intel operates as a company. I would like to see this further reflected in interviews in the future, as I believe that the more you hire people who can demonstrate how they have shown up against our values in the past, the more successful they will be at Intel.
How does the reality of working at Intel compare to any preconceptions you had?
I have been positively surprised. There is kindness and open mindedness, and it is amazing how many people have been here so long. People stay here because they have opportunities to work in different areas, countries, and on interesting projects. There is the opportunity to grow with the company.
What motivates you in your role?
My interaction with my wonderful HR project team as well as with HR, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), the business, recruiting and people analytics. And then there’s the strategic part, such as the question of talent supply and our demand, and how we will bring it all together in the long run. Understanding just how big this project is and uncovering those things that need to be taken into consideration help us be successful as a team and as a company in the long run. It’s a truly amazing project, and with plenty of visibility from a career perspective, it’s a game changer.
Ready to do more with your career? At Intel, we give you the freedom to push ideas and yourself. With once-in-a-lifetime opportunities at our new facility in Magdeburg, and growth opportunities across our business, you should join our team.
Find out more about jobs at Intel Germany.
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