How to Build a Strong VLSI Portfolio While in College - by Afzal Malik

How to Build a Strong VLSI Portfolio While in College

A practical, experience-based guide for students who want to stand out in VLSI internships, placements, and research roles.

Why a VLSI Portfolio Matters More Than You Think

When I started my own VLSI journey, nobody told me that a portfolio is more important than your GPA. Not because grades aren’t important—they are—but because VLSI is a practical, design-driven field. Whether you're applying for an internship, a job, or even a research project, companies want proof that:

• You can think like an engineer.
• You can simulate, debug, and analyze circuits.
• You understand fundamentals beyond textbooks.
• You’ve touched real tools or built real mini projects.

A strong portfolio demonstrates all of this—without you saying a word.

What Exactly Is a VLSI Portfolio?

A VLSI portfolio is a collection of your work that shows your:

• Design skills (analog/digital)
• Simulation ability
• Understanding of concepts
• Project execution
• Documentation quality
• Problem-solving mindset

Think of it like a personal "design journal" that you publicly showcase using GitHub or a simple Google Drive folder + website.

Step 1: Start With 3–5 Solid Mini Projects

You don’t need a big SoC project. You just need simple but well-executed projects. Here are beginner-friendly yet impressive ones:

• CMOS Inverter Characterization – delay, power, noise margin
• Current Mirror Analysis – mismatch, output resistance
• Two-stage Op-Amp – gain, GBW, PM, stability
• 6T SRAM Bitcell – read/write operation explained
• Simple FIR Filter on FPGA – Verilog + testbench
• RC Delay Model – comparing theoretical vs simulated

Each mini project teaches something real. Interviewers love students who can articulate small concepts extremely well.

Step 2: Document Every Project Like an Engineer

Your documentation should contain:

1. Problem Statement — What you are building.
2. Theory Overview — Basics written in your own words.
3. Hand Calculations — Even if approximate.
4. Simulation Setup — Tools, models, parameters.
5. Results + Waveforms — Screenshots with labels.
6. Analysis — Why the results make sense.
7. Comparison — Theory vs simulation.
8. Conclusion — What you learned.

This is EXACTLY how engineers write design reports at companies like ST, Intel, Qualcomm, TI, and NXP.

Step 3: Use GitHub to Create a Clean Public Portfolio

GitHub is the industry gold standard. Recruiters love to see:

• neat folder structures
• proper naming
• clear README files
• version history
• organized simulation files

Your GitHub should have repositories like:

VLSI-Portfolio/
├── CMOS-Inverter/
│   ├── docs/
│   ├── simulations/
│   ├── README.md
├── OpAmp-Design/
├── Current-Mirror/
├── FIR-Filter-FPGA/
└── PLL-Notes/
      

This instantly sets you apart from 95% of students.

Step 4: Build a Simple Personal Website

It doesn’t have to be fancy. Even a Blogger or GitHub Pages site works. Your website should have:

• About Me — your background
• Projects — link your GitHub work
• Resume — internship-friendly version
• Articles — publish tutorials or reflections
• Contact

This shows maturity and communication ability—both highly valued in VLSI roles.

Step 5: Publish Articles Sharing What You Learn

Sharing knowledge is one of the strongest signals of confidence and understanding. Good topics for students:

• “How I simulated my first CMOS inverter”
• “What I learned building a current mirror”
• “5 things every VLSI student should know before starting cadence”
• “My experience debugging simulation errors”

These posts help others AND show recruiters you're serious.

Step 6: Build Depth in One Track

You don’t need to master everything. Pick ONE track:

• Analog
• Digital
• Physical Design
• Verification
• Memory

Then build 3–4 projects around that track. Engineers respect **depth over random breadth**.

Step 7: Showcase Everything When Applying

In your resume:

• Link GitHub
• Link personal website
• Add 2–3 strongest projects
• Share waveforms and analysis during interviews

Trust me — this makes interviewers take you seriously.

Final Checklist

• ☑ 3–5 mini projects documented
• ☑ GitHub repositories clean and public
• ☑ Simple personal website
• ☑ Articles explaining what you learned
• ☑ One chosen specialization
• ☑ Resume linked to projects

Conclusion

A good portfolio doesn’t require money, expensive tools, or special labs. It requires consistency, curiosity, and documentation. Start small. Build mini projects. Share your learning. Within 6 months, you’ll look completely different from the crowd—and companies will notice.

Written by: Afzal Malik

© VLSIEdge — Your edge in VLSI, chip design & semiconductors.