Discover People at Soitec

Former bar owner Marie is now a Transport & Customs Technician at Soitec. Her unconventional career path proves that there is no such thing as a straight line when you dare to step out of your comfort zone.

What is your current role at Soitec?
I am a Technician in the Transport & Customs department. We manage export and import operations related to Soitec products and equipment. I joined this team in 2020.

What was your background before Soitec?
Originally, I wasn't in the industry at all. I worked in bars and restaurants during the summer while studying, then earned a four-year degree from ISEG in Lyon. I tried real estate for two years, but it wasn't the right fit. So, I launched a project I’d had in mind for a long time: opening my own bar. In 2010, I bought a struggling business. Using my management and financial analysis skills, I managed to turn it around.

For six years, I regularly worked over 70 hours a week with very little vacation. I sold the bar in 2016 because that pace was hard to balance with family life, but I have very positive memories of it. I learned everything on the job, sometimes through trial and error, especially at the start. That experience was incredibly formative.

How do you go from running a bar to microelectronics?
By chance! It was while serving customers at the bar. While chatting with regulars who worked at Soitec, the idea took root: they saw my energy as the ideal profile for the semiconductor industry, a field I knew nothing about. Without that encounter, I probably would never have applied.

Was the transition easy or a bit of a shock?
In January 2018, I joined Soitec as a cleanroom operator (TTH). I was "starting from scratch" compared to my initial background, but I never saw it as a setback. On the contrary, I discovered a fascinating, high-tech world, and above all, the benefits of being an employee, which allowed me to focus on my family life.

After a year and a half, I started applying for internal roles. I received two rejections. On the third attempt, it worked, and I joined the Transport & Customs department as a Technician.

This position was a revelation: it bridged the gap between my field experience and my studies in international trade, while opening doors to a technical field I hadn't known before. I developed a real interest in customs and the challenges of international flows. I’ve been in this department for five years now, and I feel like I truly belong.

What’s next?
When I joined Soitec, I never imagined I’d go back to school one day. Encouraged by my manager, I decided to resume my studies to obtain a Master’s degree, with the goal of becoming a Transport & Customs Engineer.

What is your advice to those who are hesitating?
If the timing aligns with your personal life, go for it. The "perfect profile" doesn't exist, it’s often a matter of timing and connections.

At Soitec, operators don’t always realize how much they bring to the table. It is a massive talent pool. Stepping out of your comfort zone is educational and a real strength. Even after a rejection, don't get discouraged. Every profile is unique and will inevitably be an asset somewhere.