Cisco

Great company to use as a stepping stone for a better job outside.

Other Pros:

• RSUs are good
• ESPP is standard
• Company has a diverse product portfolio that is potentially well-suited for economic challenges
• Senior management seems okay (I haven't paid too much attention to them).

Honestly, I truly believe that Cisco has the potential to be a great company that is able to attract top talent in Silicon Valley. However, the company needs to reevaluate middle management. Investing in management training is the bare minimum, and they are currently doing that, but the company really needs to do more. For example, promoting individuals based on their leadership qualities and not just their technical knowledge and years of experience. Cultivating a more progressive and open-minded culture could go a long way in improving employee satisfaction and retention.

Disappointed by:

• Dental and vision options
• Having to pay to use the company gym
• A lot of teams are starting to require "return to office," which is going to hurt the company as they are also trying to downsize their real estate
• Poor laptop options if you need a non-MacBook

Please take all high ratings and company awards lightly, as Cisco pushes its current employees to skew the results. Additionally, I've seen many younger individuals leave due to unhappiness, which is not reflected in any reviews.

Senior management, please pay closer attention to middle management. They are bringing down the culture and are a cause of employees' leaving and dissatisfaction with the company.