As tech companies continue to raise the bar to secure top talent, American workers are responding by applying for open positions in droves.
With companies like Microsoft, Facebook, IBM and Amazon receiving thousands of applications a year, your hiring chances may appear slim. That's why high level recruiters and HR execs at these four tech giants have openly discussed what it takes to snag a job at their respective companies.
Microsoft
The tech company employs approximately 73,000 people in the U.S. and over 125,000 people worldwide, so it's safe to say Microsoft receives a ton of applications.
The company's head of global talent acquisition Chuck Edward tells CNBC Make It that candidates should do three things to stand out from the competition: Show that you have a career mindset, demonstrate a customer obsession and prove that you're a learner.
Edward adds that your resume should also describe your past leadership experience and how you have "achieved results, progressed and learned." Why? Because Microsoft favors applicants who "embrace the future," says the HR exec.
As the social media giant continues to grow so have the number of applicants. One former employee says he went through 17 rounds of interviews before finally snagging a role at the company.
In an interview with job site Glassdoor, Facebook's vice president of people Lori Goler says applicants should do three things to secure a coveted position: Research the company culture, be knowledgeable about projects Facebook is working on and show that you're both a builder and a learner.
She also recommends taking the time to thoroughly read call transcripts and earnings articles for current insight on what's most important to the company. That way, you can speak eloquently about Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's vision for the company during job interviews.
But most importantly, says Goler, show how you can contribute to the organization's growth.
"We're always looking at something and thinking, 'That works pretty well, but it can be even better," she tells Glassdoor. "What that means is that we are never done,"
IBM
IBM takes a unique approach to hiring, vice president of talent Joanna Daly tells CNBC Make It. As the tech industry deals with the ongoing shortage of workers, IBM is now focusing on skill-based hiring rather than education level and four-year degrees.
IBM's CEO Ginni Rometty refers to these types of employees as "new collar" hires. One of those new collar hires is Sean Davis, a security engineer for IBM's cybersecurity business.
He tells CNBC Make It that his number one advice for other non-traditional candidates looking to edge their way into the company is to obtain ample hands-on experience.
"Always stay current on the industry and on new technology," says Davis. "Always hone your craft."
Amazon
The retail giant has held massive career fairs to fill open roles across its facilities. But even with this hiring frenzy, scoring a position at the company is no easy feat. In fact, the company continously ranks as one of the most sought-after employers.
If you want to score a position at the retailer, says Amazon's director of university recruiting Miriam Park, you should be focused on the customer and "relentlessly curious."
"We start working backwards from the customer," Park tells CNBC Make It, noting that this is a central theme throughout the company and is upheld by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.
Curiosity is also important, says the HR recruiter, because Amazon continually explores new ideas and welcomes innovation from its employees.
Her No. 1 piece of advice to applicants is this: Focus on "how you have owned a role and moved the needle forward, demonstrated curiosity and where you have solved a problem."
Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook.
See also:
A top Microsoft HR exec says you should apply to jobs in these 2 industries
Why IBM wants to hire employees who don't have a 4-year college degree
3 reasons why millennials want to work for Google and Amazon so badly
