Why do you work at Cisco?

Two questions for ya all:

a) Why did you decide to join Cisco

b) What makes you stay at Cisco.

Comment! It's anonymous!

31 replies (most recent on top)

a) Why did you decide to join Cisco

In the early 2000's it had a good rep and the pay was good.

b) What makes you stay at Cisco.

I left since internal transfers for promotions were forbidden, despite higher-ups NOT being affected by this policy!

Promotions were extremely hard to come by as they ALWAYS hired some dolt from the outside who had NO industry experience--result was a always a clown show.

The threats of layoffs was always present and had to play musical chairs internal transfer (again not allowed to apply to a higher promotion job--just equivalent level) to "escape" what was coming to your impacted dept.

Overall, Cisco is a huge company, so it's political. In the end, if you're unambitious for promotions it can be great WLB/comp. but those semi-annual layoffs at the time were too much to bear and I needed to grow. Many, like me, went to direct competitor but it ultimately turned out to be a way bigger clown show (especially internal systems and quality of managers/people).

Going to a FANG will be day/night of betterness, but you'll need to prep Leetcode for 6 months before attempting one of those nut cracking interviews.

Best tech - always was, always will be.

I need money

It’s very nice.

It close to my home. I live in tech ghettoes off first streets. I can walk to work and get free foods🙏🏽

It's a world class company, good brand and less than a mile from my home. Cannot ask for more.

Got acquired

Waiting for the big $ payout. Sh--e company to work for

a) 20+ years ago, it was cutting edge, fun place place to work even though we worked our buns off.

b) Nothing. Leaving soon.

a) I didn’t , it happened to me , aquisition

b) I gave them 5 years to act like grown ups , couldn’t stand the random directions thrown by the ever changing management - decided that remaining was detrimental to my future as the work wasn’t challenging enough. Left for a better job - same pay.

Acquisition, and a sh-- ton of money with great work flexibility.

Question a) is not always appropriate for the employees of 150 acquired companies. Why did you decide to join Cisco? I didn't, it happened to me.

And for Question b) What makes you stay at Cisco? I didn't, an LR happened to me.

The restrooms are great for taking a long dump..

1rnl - darn it when people bring up those pesky facts. They keep getting in the way of the positive pr goal.

a) Why did you decide to join Cisco

At the time, it was an interesting place to work and I was learning a lot.

b) What makes you stay at Cisco.

I didn't.

If you work hard, dedicate yourself, and solve great challenges (you know, what you're SUPPOSED to do in a career) your only real reward at that place is the moment when they sneak up behind you with a bolt gun and put an end to the fear their policies and practices instill in their workforce over time.

Left for a nice raise and even nicer equity to work on much larger and interesting things for a company that actually rewards its people on the basis of merit.

a) Why did you decide to join Cisco?

I fooloshly believed the hype.

b) What makes you stay at Cisco.

Biding my time waiting for an LR payoff.

Strange how the negativity starts when America comes on line. Who am I kidding...its not strange. Its expected.

Yes, if you need a “safe space” seek the Cisco beat or Cisco.com. At Cisco you are no more than a line on a financial spreadsheet. If you think otherwise get over it. As far as first year people including college grads go, YES they can be laid off. I know, while I was there I was asked to lr them. Have a nice day.

@Ru7Nx6K-1gxt

If you want uncritical comment try Cisco.com or The Cisco Beat. Why do you expect positive comments on a site called The Layoff?

cuz i like to type the cmd "sh ip int brief" every day.

@Ru7Nx6K-zln

I did wonder how long it would take before the negativity came. Congratulations for being the first. You must be so proud. I bet you are the life and soul of the party...if you get invited to any.

This post is brought to you by, HR.

Proudly sponsored by, RB and her amazing crew.

We love you all, until we last you off. Then we stop loving you.

Good luck!

I really love the innovation and technology!

Agree with @Ru7Nx6K-veo fully. I am not a historical Juniper guy. The day I started at Juniper, I met an architect who I knew from my past, an ex-Cisco guy. He whispered to me that Juniper people bad-mouth Cisco a lot but fact is they can'y hold a candle to the big-brother in terms of how to run a company. Guess what? I also left Juniper after couple of years for Cisco and am loving it! In my 15+ years in industry, I never experienced such an open culture . Whereas at Juniper people got to be managers based on whose arse they kissed most, and no proven track-record pertaining to management skills, at Juniper managers are actually good! I trusted my manager wholeheartedly from day I was interviewed by him even though I did not know him from Adam. The fact that I got the opportunity to report to him, came to me as a total blessing. I am energized again and I love Cisco!

Wow....this is actually a positive post! I agree with all the comments. Great benefits, great salary. True people get laid off but hey the company is huge and if a 1000 or so go then the reality is that its a small % a year which is typical for a big, agile high tech company. I'm pretty proud of working at Cisco.

It'll be interesting to see how quickly this post becomes a) negative and b) anti-indian.

a) I came here to work from Juniper. I moved because I was frustrated at Juniper couple of years back. Very recently , another Juniper guy, a senior engineer, has moved here. And he agrees with me in that its a far, far better place to work. People here who complain about Cisco should go work for Juniper to see what digging a sh!t pile on a daily basis really is. Juniper, on paper, paid me more (very slightly). BUT, Cisco's stock price, growth, market dominance (has always been market no. 1 and held onto it despite all kinds of negative stuff online) and amazing flexibility in terms of work-life balance won me over. Moneywise, I thought I would be slightly worse off, but I am actually better off! My kid goes to a nursery attached to our office, meant ONLY for Cisco employees and its part of the benefits! I go to onpremises gym for pennies. We have a healthcheck machine onpremises, can get a massage if we wish.

2) The difference in work-culture is staggering. The tools you get, the benefits including CVO etc. that gets you corporate network at home, ip-Phone, even a DX-80 - the whole telepresence experience, is second to none. And then there is DSX!!! Last year at Vegas there were excess of 26000 engineers in that stadium. Cisco is a blast. Yes, they layoff people - but then who does'nt ?! I am at EMEA and am loving it and shall continue to do so till further notice.

And you know what? Its EASY to sell Cisco! Just ask any Juniper guy trying to sell to enterprises!!!

a) Why did you decide to join Cisco

The company is always ranked as a Great Place to Work.

b) What makes you stay at Cisco

I'm currently interviewing to leave. The online rankings and Glassdoor reviews are lies.

WFH.

Easy job.

Free pizza every Thur.

Amazon
Microsoft
Facebook
Salesforce
Google
Cisco