Vinoth Kannan

Embedded Software Engineer, Cirrus Logic

Please tell us about your current role and employer.

I am a Embedded Software Engineer in Test Automation at Cirrus Logic. It is a 40-year old semiconductor company focused more on Audio codec, with the headquarters based on Texas.

What does a typical day in your current role look like?

I work at the Edinburgh location, which is one of the beautiful locations in the world. It is a hybrid role with a 3-day work from home option. The day starts with the regular call with the team, getting to know more about the tasks for the day, working mostly on labs and with the coding language like Python and other frameworks.

What was your journey to getting a job after graduating from Birmingham?

After my graduation, I spent about a year doing various odd jobs. During this time, I focused on building my skills and gaining practical experience. Alongside my work, I actively prepared for my career by studying, improving my knowledge, and solving a large number of coding problems. It was a challenging phase, especially due to visa restrictions, company requirements, and the need to strengthen my resume. I realized that having a well-structured and impactful CV is crucial in the job search process, as most applications are filtered through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Overall, it was a tough but valuable period that helped me grow both personally and professionally.

Getting a job at Cirrus Logic was quite a challenging and rewarding process. My interview journey began in October 2025 and lasted about a month. It started with an initial interaction with a recruiter over a video call, where basic details like my location were discussed. This was followed by an interview with the hiring manager, who asked me fundamental questions and explained the role and company in detail. A week later, I had a technical interview focused on Python and data structures. I had solved around 120 LeetCode problems beforehand, which helped me perform well. I was given two medium-level problems, and I successfully solved them using both optimized and unoptimized approaches, which impressed the interviewer.

After another week, I was invited for an onsite interview in Edinburgh. It was a full-day process consisting of five rounds of back-to-back interviews. The interviews focused on system design, problem-solving, my previous experience, and particularly on Python, automation, and frameworks. All the interviewers from different teams were supportive, and I had a very positive experience throughout the day.

The recruiter contacted me again for a video call and shared the good news that I had been selected for the role. I was extremely happy, and overall, the entire journey was a very memorable and fulfilling experience.

How do you feel the learning experience on your course helped to prepare you for your career?

The course was highly beneficial and played a key role in building my technical foundation. One of the most valuable parts of the program was my end-to-end project, which I developed entirely from scratch. This experience helped me gain a deep understanding of the project lifecycle and allowed me to confidently demonstrate my work in real-world scenarios. In addition, I worked on projects related to digital design using VHDL, which significantly strengthened my profile. This knowledge proved to be a major advantage, as many roles required familiarity with FPGA concepts and VHDL. As a result, I felt confident explaining these concepts during interviews, which positively impacted my performance.

How did the University's support services help to prepare you for your career?

The Careers Network team at the University of Birmingham played a significant role in my job search journey. They supported me throughout the application process, helping me refine and improve my CV step by step. I learned that the job market in the UK is very different from India, where the focus is more on the quality of applications rather than the quantity. Taking their advice seriously, I continuously worked on improving my CV day after day. Eventually, my CV became strong enough to pass through most Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), which was a major milestone for me. Overall, the Careers Network team laid a strong foundation for my successful job search in the UK.

What are your top tips for students graduating today?

My advice to students who are graduating today is to focus on the quality of their job applications and to trust the process. Instead of submitting a large number of applications at once, it is more effective to apply selectively to roles that truly align with your interests and career goals. Tailor your CV for each application so that it matches the job description and highlights relevant skills and experience. Consistently refining your resume and preparing for applications will significantly improve your chances of success. Additionally, while part-time jobs can be helpful, it is important not to spend too much time on them at the expense of your job search. Prioritizing the application process and maintaining a focused approach will eventually lead to the right opportunity.

What were the best things about your course?

My studies at the University of Birmingham helped me build a strong foundation, particularly in embedded systems. Initially, I had a strong interest in programming and management, and the course allowed me to develop a solid technical base in these areas. The curriculum was up to date and aligned with industry requirements, which enabled me to effectively showcase my knowledge during interviews. Additionally, the projects I completed during my studies added significant value to my CV and gave me an advantage in demonstrating my practical skills.