Getting a Job at Texas Instruments
With a history dating back to 1951, Texas Instruments is an American global technology company that specializes in the design and manufacturing of semiconductors. Their passion is to create a better world by making electronics more affordable through semiconductors.
Texas Instruments is one of the largest semiconductor companies in the world, serving nearly 100,000 customers around the globe in various industries including automotive, personal electronics, and communications equipment.
With headquarters in Dallas, Texas, and 15 manufacturing sites around the world, Texas Instruments employs around 30,000 people globally. To land a job at the company, you must go through a rigorous multi-stage recruitment process, which is outlined below.
Texas Instruments Values
The hiring team at Texas Instruments will be examining your alignment to their company values throughout the recruitment process to determine your cultural fit. Therefore, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the company's values before you begin the application process.
Texas Instruments' values are:
- Trustworthy
- Inclusive
- Innovative
- Competitive
- Results-orientated
Types of Roles At Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments offers a range of careers, with opportunities for students and recent graduates to experienced professionals, and positions in manufacturing at one of their 15 manufacturing plants.
Roles for experienced professionals span across all business areas, including but not limited to:
- Administration
- Communications
- Engineering
- Executive management
- Facilities
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Information Technology
- Marketing
- Finance
- Human resources
Texas Instruments welcomes around 1000 interns every year. The internship programs are available to students currently working towards a degree. Internship opportunities are available in either engineering or business areas of the company.
The rotation programs are designed for recent college graduates. Each program provides experience in a variety of roles based on your area of interest.
Hiring Process at Texas Instruments
The specific hiring process you go through will depend on the type and level of position you are applying to, however, you can expect multiple stages that may include the following: an online application, virtual interviews, psychometric tests, and on-site interviews.
Texas Instruments Online Application
After you have found the position you would like to pursue, the first step is to submit an online application form. Here you will be required to upload an up to date resume, provide some personal details, give information about your education and employment history, and answer some job-specific questions.
Make sure your resume is tailored to the specific role to give yourself the best chance of getting shortlisted. The best way to do this is to review the job description and showcase on your resume how your skills and experience match what they are looking for.
Texas Instruments Virtual Interview
If your application is successful, you will be invited to a virtual interview with a potential manager. This interview typically lasts between 30 and 45 minutes and will consist of behavioral questions and potentially technical questions to assess your technical skills for the role.
Although this is conducted over a video call, make sure to treat this the same as an in-person interview. This means being well prepared, dressing professionally, and maintaining good eye contact and body language.
Texas Instruments Aptitude Tests
Depending on the role, you may need to take some online psychometric tests as part of the hiring process. These are used to assess your aptitudes and skills, to determine your suitability for the position.
If you are applying for an engineering position you may be required to take the aptitude and technical assessments.
Texas Instruments Aptitude Assessment
Composed of 20 questions, the aptitude assessment assesses your verbal, numerical, and reasoning ability. The verbal sections contain questions on sentence completion, synonyms, and acronyms. The numerical (or quant) section has questions based on basic math topics such as profit/loss, time and distance, etc. The reasoning section comprises both verbal and non-verbal reasoning questions.
Texas Instruments Technical Test
You will also be given 30 minutes to complete a technical test, comprising 20 questions. Questions on this test are typically focused on topics such as bode plot, RC circuits, and LP and HP filter (frequency analysis). Make sure to brush up on your fundamental technical knowledge in preparation for this test.
Positions in other areas of the business may require you to complete other tests such as:
Texas Instruments Numerical Reasoning Test
A numerical reasoning test is an aptitude test that measures a candidate's natural mathematical ability. The test presents candidates with numerical data presented in the form of graphs, charts, and tables. Candidates must analyze, interpret, and draw conclusions from the numerical data to answer the multiple-choice questions.
The numerical reasoning test is timed, so you must be able to pace yourself to ensure you correctly answer as many questions as possible. Practicing is key to success in the numerical reasoning test, as this will help you become familiar with the question style and format.
Texas Instruments Verbal Reasoning Test
In the verbal reasoning test you will be required to read through a passage of text, and determine if a statement is 'true', 'false', or 'cannot say' based on the information you have just read.
This assesses your ability to understand, analyze, and draw conclusions from written information. The verbal reasoning test is also timed, so you must be able to interpret information and determine its implications quickly. You do not need any prior knowledge before the verbal reasoning test, however, practicing sample tests can help sharpen your ability to answer the questions.
Texas Instruments Situational Judgment Test
The situational judgment test is an assessment of how you respond and behave in the workplace. Questions are presented in the form of hypothetical workplace scenarios that an employee may encounter whilst working for Texas Instruments. Candidates must then select which is the most effective and least effective response to the situation.
Make sure to read the questions, and keep in mind Texas Instruments' values when answering. You can't 'study' for situational judgment tests, however, taking some practice tests can help familiarize you with the structure so you know what to expect.
Texas Instruments On-site Interviews
If you are successful in the online aptitude tests, you will be invited to attend an in-person interview. These are usually held with hiring managers and members of the team you are applying to.
Your visit may also include lunch, a tour of the facility, and an information session to give you more insight into the role.
The on-site interview will typically consist of a mix of behavioral based questions and technical questions. Behavioral questions will require you to draw on examples from your work experience and education to answer the question. Using the STAR (situation, task, action, and result) technique will help ensure you give relevant and concise responses.
What Is It Like To Work At Texas Instruments?
Texas Instruments offer a great work environment, with employees provided with the tools and support to develop their careers. The company has an inclusive and diverse workplace, being voted as one of America's Best Employers for Diversity by Forbes.
Texas Instruments gives employees the flexibility to choose work arrangements to create a work-life balance that suits them.
Employees are also offered a range of benefits for both themselves and their families such as comprehensive health care plans, maternity/paternity leave, and employee stock purchase plans.
Top Tips To Getting Hired At Texas Instruments
Practice
The psychometric tests can be a challenging obstacle for many candidates during the hiring process, however, this does not need to be the case. The best way to prepare for the assessments is to take practice tests. This will help sharpen your skills and build confidence going into the test, as well as allowing you to familiarize yourself with the test format and time pressure.
Do Your Homework
During the interviews, the hiring team will be assessing your knowledge of the role, company, and the wider industry. It is important, therefore, to do some research on these areas to help you in your application form and your interviews. This will make you appear prepared and interested in the position, which can help set you apart from other candidates.
Good places to find information are the company's official website, social media profiles, as well as competitors' websites.
Have Your Own Questions Prepared
Make sure to prepare some questions of your own for the interview. Not only will this give you an opportunity to find out more about the company and if it is right for you, but asking the interviewer questions helps you appear eager and engaged with the process.
