Cisco

• Great community of people
• Several compelling areas to work
• Good support for developers
• So many mergers and acquisitions that there is always an influx of new talent and technology

If you are looking for a place to begin a career and are looking for a stable, corporate-type job, Cisco is perfect.

They have a great community and support system, but there is no mistaking the environment for a startup.

I joined out of college and learned quite a bit before deciding to pursue my MBA, so I think it can be an interesting first step in a career.

• Not great at placing people in the best position all the time.
• Lots of bureaucracy involved in generating and following through on ideas.

While I joined as a recent college grad, most people at Cisco are in the latter half of their careers. This limits some of the entrepreneurial spirit and stifles some of the more creative ideas. There are pockets of innovation, so if you find them, you can really thrive. Just don't expect that to be the norm.