Hello everyone, I am Y, a student from the Analog Tape-Out class at the IC Academy.
As I stand on the threshold of entering the IC verification industry, I am filled with emotions. This journey from confusion to determination in learning and job hunting has many stories and experiences that I want to share, hoping to provide some help to everyone.
Breaking Through Confusion and Finding Direction
After graduation, I was confused for a while; the repetitive daily life made it hard for me to see a future development direction.
By chance, during a conversation with a senior who works in the IC industry, I first heard about the position of analog design.The senior mentioned that artificial intelligence and 5G are very popular now, which has also created a demand for talent in the IC industry.
I became very interested in this position and started to use my spare time to research a lot of information, understanding industry trends and technical requirements. Although I had studied basic electronic circuits in college, it had been a long time, and entering this high-threshold professional field was understandably challenging.
Especially during the self-study process, when I encountered complex verification methodologies and technical difficulties, I often found it hard to start and didn’t know who to ask. At that moment, I realized I should seek professional help.
Determined Choice and Hard Work
After comparing and consulting various options, I ultimately chose the Analog Tape-Out course at the IC Academy.
From reviewing the basics of digital circuit principles to in-depth learning of analog design projects and analog layout projects.
I remember when I first started learning PLL circuit design, I often felt lost in the complex content. However, with the patient explanations from the teachers and discussions with classmates, I gradually clarified my thoughts. During the project training phase, my team members and I worked together, from requirement analysis to environment introduction, to layout design, post-simulation verification, and debugging, step by step transforming theoretical knowledge into practical operational skills. To tackle each challenge, we stayed up late for several days to delve into the knowledge points, and when we finally saw the results completely meet expectations, the sense of achievement was indescribable.
Throughout the learning process, the teachers at the Academy provided me with tremendous help. They not only made the difficult knowledge easy to understand in class but also offered one-on-one answers to our questions after class, sharing their valuable experiences accumulated in actual projects. Each assignment correction and stage assessment made me clearly recognize my strengths and weaknesses, allowing me to adjust my learning strategies in a timely manner.
After completing the course, I began my job search. Since I was changing careers and had no relevant project experience, the initial job search was not smooth; many resumes went unanswered, and I faced repeated setbacks in interviews. But I did not give up; after each interview, I would carefully review and analyze the questions I answered poorly, researching and learning in depth.
Thus, after two months of relentless effort, I finally received an offer from my desired company, and in addition, I received several other offers. During the offer selection phase, I contacted the employment teacher at the IC Academy for analysis, ultimately choosing a company that would be better for my future development. At that moment, all the efforts became worthwhile.
Interview Sharing to Assist Progress
Based on my interview experiences, I would like to offer a few suggestions to students who are currently job hunting:
Dive Deep into Project Details:For the projects you participated in, you should understand not only what happened but also why it happened. Interviewers often ask in-depth questions about specific details of the project, such as the design ideas behind a test case or debugging methods when encountering problems. Only by being sufficiently familiar with the project can you respond calmly.
Be Honest on Your Resume:The resume is the first window for interviewers to understand you, and every skill and experience listed must withstand scrutiny. For technologies you are not yet proficient in, do not easily include them on your resume to avoid exposing weaknesses during the interview.
Proactively Learn and Improve:The interview is not only an opportunity to showcase yourself but also a learning process. If you encounter questions you cannot answer, do not panic; sincerely ask the interviewer for guidance. Many interviewers are willing to share their insights, and this experience is very valuable for our subsequent learning and work.
Finally, I wish every student striving on the IC path success, shining their own light in this field full of infinite possibilities!
Recommended Reading
Click to read the original article, to learn about the 22nm tape-out project