3rd Year ECE Student – Looking for Guidance on Getting PPOs in VLSI/RTL Design

I’m currently a 3rd year ECE student and I’ve been developing a strong grip on:

Digital Electronics fundamentals

Circuit design using Verilog

RTL design concepts

My main career goal is to secure a PPO (Pre-Placement Offer) by the end of my 3rd year, ideally with multiple PPO options in the VLSI/design and verification domain.

I wanted to ask this community for some guidance:

What should I focus on next to stand out (projects, internships, research papers, open-source contributions, etc.)?

How important are coding/DSA skills alongside RTL/VLSI knowledge for getting into top semiconductor companies?

Any recommendations for good resources, online communities, or projects that can strengthen my portfolio?

For those who got PPOs, what specific steps did you take in your 3rd year that helped you land them?

I’m serious about building my profile and putting in consistent effort, but I want to make sure I’m working in the right direction. Any advice, experiences, or even mistakes to avoid would mean a lot.