“Thanks to that support from Hired that was funded by DEED, I was able to come to work with less anxiety and more confidence,” said Mue Hsae, who began interning at Seagate through a Drive for 5 earn-while-you -learn program, before being hired by the data storage manufacturer earlier this year.
Mue Hsae landed her position at Seagate after graduating in late June 2025 from the Drive for 5 Semiconductor Manufacturing Training Program funded by DEED and led by Hired, in partnership with Normandale Community College and three semiconductor manufacturers: Polar Semiconductor, Seagate and Skywater. During this intensive pre-apprenticeship training program participants engaged in ten months of college coursework and career training in advanced manufacturing.
Mue Hsae applied for this special training opportunity in 2024, after she was laid off from where she was working. She was already going to school and pursuing a computer science major, so learning more about semiconductor manufacturing was a great fit for her.
“I am currently working as an assistant III for the production control team at Seagate,” said Mue Hsae in December 2025. “The semiconductor manufacturing program prepared me well for my position, it gave me the opportunity to build self-discipline, and it prepared me to handle feedback in a workplace environment. The semiconductor program influenced my decision to change my major from computer science to computer engineering.”
“The Semiconductor Manufacturing training program was designed in partnership with employers to meet workforce needs and connect participants to in-demand career pathways,” said Andrea Peterson, Director of Career Pathways Programs at Hired. “Alongside the hands-on, industry relevant training, participants receive supportive services to help them be able to focus on completing their education and achieve employment goals. We are incredibly proud of what Mue Hsae has accomplished over the past year and a half and look forward to seeing where her journey takes her next.”
Mue Hsae is continuing her education at Normandale Community College while working at Seagate. Ongoing career navigation assistance and supportive services have helped her balance her demanding workload.
“When I got the job offer, I thought maybe the support would stop there, but Chan Xiong (the Hired Training and Placement Specialist for the program) continued to check in with me and helped me remove barriers that made it hard to focus,” continued Mue Hsae. “Hired eliminated barriers for me such as educational support, car gas, car repair, and so much more so that I can fully focus on my career and education.”
A Drive for Five grant from DEED made this unique earn-while-you-learn opportunity and supportive services possible for Mue Hsae and 15 fellow graduates. The students all completed a pre-apprenticeship program during which they worked in a clean room at one of three semiconductor manufacturers, Polar Semiconductor, Seagate or Skywater, while completing coursework to earn 12 college credits through Normandale Community College. The “classroom” component of the apprenticeship was held online during the workday while the students were at their worksites. Sometimes Normandale instructors were even on site at the employer locations, providing support to the students and reinforcing the hands-on lessons they learned every day at work.
The earn-while-you-learn aspect of the program made pursuing this career path possible for students like Mue Hsae, who would have otherwise needed to choose between working somewhere else or learning these in-demand manufacturing skills.
Drive for 5 was life changing for Mue Hsae: “Being able to earn while I learn was key...Because of the semiconductor program I had the opportunity to challenge myself and discover the world of tech and engineering.”
- Read about the Hired Semiconductor Manufacturing graduation celebrating Mue Hsae and fellow program participants
- Find out more about the Drive for 5 Initiative
- Search FREE training programs for eligible Minnesotans on the CareerForce Training Program Finder
- Contact staff at a CareerForce local near you to learn about training programs in your area to help you prepare for in-demand employment
