Pros: Very good work-life balance.

Cons: Not technically challenging.

Pros: Cisco Systems is the epitome of everything you imagine a corporation to be. You will probably know what you are getting if you accept a job at Cisco. It will probably be easy to come and go. Work is typically project-based, so you will probably be able to schedule your work around outside commitments. You probably won't be given any surprises. If you like working in a corporate environment that has a steady income stream due to its mature products, then you will probably be happy at Cisco.

Cons: I found the environment (San Jose, CA) sterile. Landscaping, building exteriors, and building interiors all look the same. Cisco's environment is so sterile that if you are new to a building, you may have difficulty figuring out which way you came into the building even after you have left it. I felt like I was working in a modern-day sewing factory, only I had a laptop instead of a sewing machine. If you have ever seen the early to mid-1900s photos of machinists seated at industrial sewing machines in sewing factories, you will know what I'm talking about.

Pros: Lots of opportunities to grow.

Cons: No benefits for contractors. No free food and beverages at the kitchen, just sugar and tea.