Cisco

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.