Cisco

This mature company has excellent leadership.

They are open and frank about the state of the business and the direction it is moving in. The leadership can turn the business around in an incredibly short space of time, and they do – frequently.

Remuneration is deliberately set above the national average for each role to prevent attrition. Benefits are generous. Employer pension contribution is excellent. The cash equivalent of a company car is a welcome boost to gross income.

Very strong business ethics. Well organised. Great support services in IT and engineering.

Overall, it's a well-run and well-executed organisation. One that I am proud to have been a part of.

Constant reorganizations and product changes can be quite dizzying. But this is what makes the company so successful.

Career progression can be difficult in such a large organization that has very low attrition, especially when stuck in a niche industry or specialty.

The company's attitude is very US-centric. If reporting directly into a US group, there will be very little understanding or respect for cultural values outside of their domain. This is challenging.

Having been with the company so long, the start-up fun and excitement has noticeably vanished. It's very much a serious and mature business.

Attitude towards employee working practices outside the US:

• 16-hour days are anticipated.

There is a very clear preference for extroverts in this organization. However, the introverts are doing most of the hard work. They may not be "seen," but they desire recognition, too.