u/AggressiveSpell8425

I actually got a decent offer in COAP round 1 and I retained it.
But I can hold this up to only round 3 right ! So in round 3 I have to reject this and wait for IIT Bombay if I need. That too we can't be sure which project we will get.
So it will be too risky for me.

The interviews are on May 19 and 20, the same days on which COAP Round 2 happens.
If the IITB results can be out in round 3, I can make some good choice.
Otherwise, there will be no use of money and time that I spend on these interviews coz I will accept the round 1 offer in round 3 in this case.

What shall I do ?

I’m joining MTech this year in India and planning to enter the VLSI field.

I have around 2 years of experience in Industrial Automation, so this is a completely new path for me. I’ve never worked with Verilog, RTL design, verification, or similar VLSI workflows before.

I do have decent conceptual knowledge of Digital and Analog Electronics from my Bachelors, but practically I’m a complete beginner in VLSI.

For someone starting from zero, what skills should I focus on developing first? What should be the proper roadmap during MTech so that I can build a strong foundation instead of just chasing placements blindly?

I also want to understand the major in-demand roles in Digital VLSI (RTL Design, Verification, Physical Design, DFT, FPGA, etc.) and which roles are considered better for long-term career growth and stability.

My concern is that I don’t want to join just any beginner role and become irrelevant or vulnerable to layoffs after a few years. I want to build a serious profile with strong fundamentals and skills that can sustain a long-term career in this industry.

Would really appreciate guidance from people already working in VLSI about:

• What to learn first
• Which tools/languages matter most
• Which roles have better future scope
• What projects I should build during MTech
• Mistakes beginners usually make

Sorry if I sound immature — I’m just trying to understand the field properly before committing fully.
Thanks in Advance.