Breaking into Qualcomm's hiring process is difficult due to the high volume of applicants.

To improve your chances of getting hired:

• Try to secure an internship while still in college. Qualcomm offers many opportunities for engineering interns, and this experience will be beneficial regardless of your future career path.

• If you are not a recent graduate, ensure your resume highlights the correct keywords for the job you are seeking.

• Prepare thoroughly for the interview process. You will likely speak with six to eight people and may be invited back for additional rounds before an offer is extended.

As a large company with numerous open positions, Qualcomm's hiring process can be cumbersome and may take longer than anticipated.

Do your best to obtain business cards or at least the full names of your interviewers.

Send thank-you notes after your interview, either by mail or email. It is acceptable to follow up with the HR representative a week or two later to inquire about the process status.

You can also ask about their current stage in the hiring process during your interviews.

You will interview with individuals from multiple departments, facing both technical and experience/personality-based questions.

If you are an electrical engineer, be prepared to discuss basic circuits and potentially in-depth topics. Brush up on your field's core knowledge.

Learn about Qualcomm's technology to ask insightful questions.

All engineering interviewees can expect some technical probing.

Know as much as possible about Qualcomm's business, how CDMA works, the technologies used in their products, and where those products are utilized.

If you have prior work experience, emphasize your accomplishments and your specific role in projects at your current or previous jobs.

Strive to present yourself as cooperative, creative, hard-working, proactive, possessing good judgment, adept at problem-solving, and mindful of company goals.

Think about specific examples that demonstrate these qualities before your interview.

Some interviewers at Qualcomm are highly experienced and detail-oriented, so anticipate this and be prepared.

You are unlikely to be subjected to a personality test, drug test, or IQ test.

The most difficult questions will likely probe your previous experiences and instances where you have demonstrated leadership. This company seeks to hire leaders at every level.

Be prepared to discuss your areas of greatest and least strength. The best type of weakness or least strength can be something that is actually a strength, depending on how you phrase it.

For example, "I don't have patience sometimes when people say they will do something and then they don't do it." Here, you are framing impatience as a weakness, but you are really highlighting that you are the type of person who follows through on commitments and expects the same from others.