Cisco

• Great technology
• Depending on the project, the work can be exceptionally good.
• Very smart and talented people
• Very good benefits (health insurance, 4.5% 401k matching, 15% on ESPP)
• Industry leader and cutting-edge work experience
• Good work-life balance
• Lot of nerd lunches, tech talks are hosted and free for employees. Great place to learn.

• Not the best payer in terms of compensation.

Pays only around 60-65% of the best compensation in Silicon Valley (San Jose, CA).

• Too big a company.

Redundant projects.

Bureaucracy; a lot of internal politics sometimes affects growth.

• A lot of processes to follow that stifle the work.

• Poor at rewarding hardworking employees.

• Promotions and salary increases are very few and super competitive.

• Since 2010, there have always been layoffs looming.

• Management is in constant re-org/reshuffle mode.

• A lot of long-timers (10 years+) who don't work much and are a liability to the company.

• Their definition of R&D is buying companies that have done some good R&D.

• Reward, promote, and pay well to good employees.
• Show doors to long-time non-performers.
• Innovate. Reward innovators.