My applogies if this is not an appropriate forum for this question but I was not able to find a better place for it. I am a junior who's considering an internship position with Qualcomm, EE major (CS minor), top school and very high GPA. I am interested in cellular data networking and I would be honored to be part of the Qualcomm team given the company history. I wanted to see if some of you would be able to give me a honest opinion about the internship program (e.g., ability to learn and contribute). Thank you in advance!
30 replies (most recent on top)
The guy is young and ambitious, but totally lacks common sense. When it comes his turn to deal with layoffs, he will know why asking for internship advice at the time of layoffs is a simply just bad timing.
Really ? You want an advise on layoff.com ?
I kind of agree, there is a variety of topics here, not only layoffs... Hard to find stuff though
Not that i know of..thanks to the layoffs, i think this has become the official forum for QCOM employees.
While we are on the internship topic, is there an employee forum for Qualcomm employees somewhere?
Asking for life lesson advice at a funnel might get you a lot of passionate answers, but that does not make it a good idea.
Well, that depends on whether he is looking to do chip design or something at a higher level which involves innovative applications of the chips that QCOM builds. We all know that the chips are going to be the commodity items moving forward. Therefore, my argument is that he shouldn't focus at the chip level and should instead find a good systems company that is developing new uses for the cellular chips.
I think that the OP noted that he had no other forum where he would be able to ask the internship question- I believe that is correct... And smart, look he has got 22 responses, pretty honest responses I would say. Well done young man... Given your interest in cellular data networking, I challenge other posters to name any other company where you would be better off learning. Yes, we do have issues but we still do employ the cream of the engineering crop in the area of your interest...
You have got to see the irony in someone asking for internship advice on a layoff blog. He is either clueless about the resentment people are feeling, or he is extremely smart and knows that there will be vacancy after layoffs. We all need to ask the question why are we hiring when are about to lay off some good people.
Let's not dissuade the poor chap. An internship at Qualcomm would certainly be a resume booster. He\she can then decide what to do when it comes to getting a full time position
Tell this young guy that even he does his internship in Qualcomm still he will not be hired after he graduates, because we are cutting 18% of innovators next year.Qualcomm is not an innovator anymore. Its a lawyer and finance company.
I'm actually trying to get out of this sh**hole, and I'm surprised that there are still people trying to get in. Seriously, you don't need to deal with the politics here...I'd recommend that you intern at a much smaller company where everyone 's common interest is in the success of the company
None of you guys should worry about the china licensing. Irwin donated a grip of cash to Obama's 2012 re-election. Time to get some quo for that quid right?
I think we still owe an answer on 'quality of work' for the intern
I am the original poster, thank you for your responses, it's very much appreciated.
Hey Anonymous53622, I am sorry that this intern has to see the reality of how poorly the company treats its employees, but as he said himself, this is NOT the appropriate forum for this discussion. ESPECIALLY after a significant layoff (just because the company calls it only 600 people does not make it so). And with another one coming early next year, perhaps he might need to learn the truth, if he is considering working as an intern at a place with "issues" (to be polite).
Once China dismantles the QTL licensing model, the whole company will be in a world of hurt. It is bound to happen because China holds all the cards now; if we want to participate in their market, we'll have to play by their rules. There is no way the current lifestyle is sustainable without the high margin QTL scam.
Moving forward, it will be all about the companies that build systems that do cool new things with commoditized technology. What you are seeing today is how chip companies go to die
lots of scumbags from Q's HR lurking .. I see
if Qualcomm didnt had RSU model people will not stick here for long; Qualcomm is giving incentives with an expectation that they own you.
I think you should grab it with both hands if you get an opportunity. Interns are generally treated like royalty. I hope you are lucky and get into a team where you get to work on some interesting stuff. We have had some interns join our team previously and most of them worked on some really shitty stuff
Qualcomm is a great company despite what many people here are whining about. There is a great work environment. Of course you will find some bad seeds at Qualcomm as in any company, but overall, Qualcomm is one of the better companies to work for.
Qualcomm is still an excellent company to work for. That's why you hear all these guys who have been here 20yrs plus. All the bitter ones trolling this forum are guys that are getting laid off. If Q was so bad they wouldn't care or rant. Internship is also a good way of getting your foot in the door. We actually give interns preference IF we are hiring.
Qualcomm used to be well respected as an engineering company, but now it is just a licensing mafia joining the ranks of Rambus. it is fighting every government regulatory body around the world, and lawyers rules the company.
Please focus on the topic: "INTERNSHIP" - if you cannot add value here, please refrain from posting
Guys, behave, we have a kid reading this and we do not need to come across bitter. Yes, Q has issues but I've seen many companies in my 18 years of consulting, we should be happy with what we've got. Yes, things got worse, yes there is less focus on R&D but there are MANY positive things still left and Q will be a good place for a career start. Nobody is going to take it against you if they see Q on your resume, on the contrary, you'll have difficulty finding any company (of this size) that might has a better reputation when it comes to engineering.
Now that we've established that this board is monitored by Qualcomm employees, you have a better idea of the sort of "groupthink" preferred by the corporate culture.
Only 99%? Surely a company voted one of the top 50 in the US can do better....
Anonymous53573 here - I will reiterate, Q is a great company and you should ignore the rant. We still do a ton of cutting edge stuff and you will enjoy your time here. You will develop professionally and you'll get to meet some amazing engineers from all of the world.
Don't walk--RUN!--toward a start-up or smaller companty that is actually engaged in something you find exciting, and that values it's R&D people. Do it NOW, while you are still young and poor enough to be able to afford it.
Ignore the rant below, come and spend Summer here - 99% of my interns love it. It is very competitive to get in though...