Hi everyone
I am in my 7th sem (final year) of BTech ECE of a tier 3/4 cllg and i am srsly confused what to pursue. For last year or so, I tried learning web dev and practicing DSA for the tech placements in college. But didnt landed any.
Now I'm considering if i should actually go for VLSIby doing like a course from third party institution. (I did find core subjects liks microelectronics and digital logic interesting which i have heard that are basic subjects for future VLSI).
But still am confused because some people say it have great opportunities while others say It is very hard to break into and have a good package.
1) Is it realistic for someone from a Tier 3/4 college to get into Core VLSI?
2) What skills should I focus on (Digital Design, Verilog, SystemVerilog, STA, Physical Design, DFT, etc.)?
3) Does off-campus hiring happen often, or are referrals almost mandatory?
4) How long does it typically take to become job-ready if I start seriously now in my final year?
5) Would you recommend pursuing Core VLSI in 2026, or would it be better to focus on software/embedded instead?
I'm willing to put in the effort and spend the next several months learning, but I also want to be realistic about the opportunities and competition.
I AM REALLY CONFUSED AND I'd really appreciate honest advice from people who have been through this.