Oops I got Wipro VLSI!

- Nithin

Guys, I got VLSI!! How? Here it is

First of all why did I choose Wipro VLSI when most of my friends had chose software and also when it is tough?
Well one of my seniors told me once–
“You’ll have to work really hard to get out of Model Engineering College without a placement”

Funny??? But it is the fact…
I knew that even if I don’t get through VLSI I have ample opportunities. So why not give it a shot.

Yes the preparations started by asking the seniors about what and how to?

Most gave the answers Digital electronics. So I opted Digital electronics and power electronics as the favorite subjects.

As usual placement day started with a ppt, and the test.

Since my performance in the mock tests were average I was not tensed about it, but the moment I got the paper, I knew I won’t clear it. Aptitude part was easy for me but Tec questions I had no idea. But as a relief there came the announcement “No negative markings “.

After lunch the results came and I was one among the many short listed.
Now came the real tension … Wait Wait…..
Four hours I had to wait for my call.
During that time my friends helped me a lot in studying new things and brushing up memory

If I had studied that much in S3 and S4 I would have got full pass.

For tech interview I got one of the tough guys. When I entered he was just standing beside his chair, with a disinterested face. He didn’t ask me my name; resume .I had to ask him if I could take a seat. His answer sounded to be that no need to take a seat you are about to leave.

Now I knew that just merely giving answers to the questions won’t get me the job, but I’ll have to project me a larger than life character.

The first question was what is VLSI?
I replied as it is the realization of the saying Small is beautiful .and then gave the usual definition as large scale integration and so on……..
Also I told him that VLSI needs innovation and i had the strength and the proof is my prize winning paper presentation Ergonomic Cursor Commander which gives a new structural design for the mouse and the implementation of Zigbee technology for the transmission.

I think hearing this he got interested and asked about 10-25 questions based on it, Zigbee technology and of course about miniproject. I answered about everything perfectly.

Now he got seated and I knew it was time for real tech.interview.
I knew that I could pass this interview only if I could make the person ask questions strictly from my favorite subjects, So I told him that VLSI needs a through knowledge in digital and I have that.
Hearing that he asked questions from each and every part of logic families.especialy CMOS and TTL.I answered all of them with perfection.

He asked a particular question which I still remember.
During interfacing why should we use resistor why can’t we use transistor for pull up?
I bluffed.
Now he asked more questions from TTL and ECL logic.
He asked about power dissipation concept, I explained it using CMOS.
He asked why ECL is having high PD ? (no idea)
I somehow managed to change the subject to flip flop.
He asked a lot from flip-flops .Implementing FF using MUX etc..
Now he switched over to flip-flops and asked about level and edge triggering. How to convert level to edge trigger.
I went into trouble when he asked to explain the different types of power dissipation in JK flip-flop and draw the timing dig.
I had no idea bout the PD so I explained in detail the timing dig and explained race around concept.

He now asked me to explain the integrator, which I did.
I went into trouble when he asked to explain the output when input is DC, also derive the equation and draw the graph.
I gave the answer that capacitor blocked DC, I gave explanation how charging and discharging takes place in a capacitor but failed to answer if input is dc.
The next question was to explain tutor and woofer.
I drew the ckt but could not say which was what.
He from time to time came back to earlier question i.e. PD in FF and explain the output when input is DC to an integrator, and I deviated him to different topics since I had no idea of what it is.
After about one hour he asked me the same question again and i had no other option but to say no.
He gave the answers and asked me wait outside. I knew that I was in deep trouble; I was called after 5 minutes and was told that i had through knowledge in digital but lacked problem solving capabilities because I was not able to answer the response of capacitor to a DC. “Better luck next time”.

That is it !!!. I got very much depressed that it was the reason.
I left the college to hostel in a pathetic mood. But to my luck as I was packing to leave to home I got second call.
Now I was surprised.
Again after waiting for 15 minutes outside the room i was called and this time a different guy was there.
He was totally different one. For the first 10 minutes it was just HR questions. And asked about the paper I had presented and I answered all the questions.
Now trouble came when he started asking questions from SSD.
I explained everything he asked from MOSFETS but failed to answer from that of transistors i.e. explain the working using Ebber moll’s equations.
I had no idea.
He then went to power electronics and asked everything from Chopper, thyristor…….
I answered everything giving detailed explanations.
As the last questions he asked the disadvantages of CMOS.
i explained latch up problems with graphs and figures and explained the latest BiCOMS technology.

Now comes the real questions where I completely bluffed.
He asked why in had a drop in academics i.e. 84% in 12th and 71% in engg.
my answer was ” Academic performance does not mean just marks, knowledge is something which one cannot put into records. Also to me marks is just a criterion to clear the cutoff, and my present marks is enough to clear that cutoff.
What MEC has given is ample opportunities to expand my innovative mind and the ability to think broadly and be updated with latest technology, the proof is the paper presentation contest in which we competed against CET and got 2nd prize.”
He was sitting there totally perplexed hearing my comments.
Now he asked why Wipro?
“I am totally interested in wireless technology and especially Zigbee technology and WIPRO is the only company which have a separate wing for Zigbee (Sabrinath had once told me this fact).

Again one should see his look!!!!!!!!

After 45 minutes of second interview I finally got proceed to HR interview.

In HR it was regular questions…
Tell about yourself, what are your strengths?
For this we had readymade answers.

Finally the next day when results announced I was one among the 14 selected for VLSI

Guys, Have a good base about the fav. Subjects u write and also little bit of communication skill anyone can get thro interview .Also in an interview if one is able to make the interviewer ask question from the topics that u know then u win.!! Of course luck is important.

I was able to get thro it only because the help i got from seniors and my friends. For that I am always grateful.

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