Company in denial
Company in denial
Cisco has a good benefits package, and they have cash in the bank. I think of them as the IBM of the 1990s. No one was ever fired for buying Cisco. You start with 20 days of PTO a year.
IMHO, routers/switches have become commodity products. Years ago, Cisco had a sufficient technology lead that they could charge a premium. Today, they are marginally better, if that.
Not an easy place to work. Engineers were given responsibility without resources/empowerment. Big company politics were in place. It felt that you were on call 24/7.
Significant development efforts were in India. Yearly focal reviews put you in competition with your peers, resulting in subtle anti-collaboration. There is not a lot of innovation coming from the company. Cisco buys new technology.
Development is process-burdened.
There is little respect for seasoned professionals. The company has been pushing to get young talent and push out experienced engineers. It seems to me that this is a "bean counter" approach with the assumption that all bodies are equal.
There are too many VPs. Chambers should move on. Too many VPs -- the company is top-heavy.
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Cisco Interview Questions
Cisco Interview Experiences
Software Engineer
An OA (Online Assessment) is auto-generated just after application. Then, based on performance on the OA, you get a reach-out. These are followed by rounds such as technical, behavioral, and screening rounds. The screening is followed by technical ro
Software Engineer
All technical questions: Domain knowledge: * Computer networks (How to get an IP address? What is PCIe? What is Ping?) C programming language: * Linked lists (Add node to the tail) * Bit manipulation (Function for set bit)
Software Engineer
I completed two phone interviews. They asked basic questions, and nothing was too difficult. The interview mostly focused on past experience. It seemed a little impersonal, almost as if they were reading from a script.
Software Engineer
San Jose, California, United StatesJuly 1, 2025An OA (Online Assessment) is auto-generated just after application. Then, based on performance on the OA, you get a reach-out. These are followed by rounds such as technical, behavioral, and screening rounds. The screening is followed by technical ro
Software Engineer
San Jose, California, United StatesFebruary 1, 2025All technical questions: Domain knowledge: * Computer networks (How to get an IP address? What is PCIe? What is Ping?) C programming language: * Linked lists (Add node to the tail) * Bit manipulation (Function for set bit)
Software Engineer
San Jose, California, United StatesDecember 5, 2024I completed two phone interviews. They asked basic questions, and nothing was too difficult. The interview mostly focused on past experience. It seemed a little impersonal, almost as if they were reading from a script.
