Cisco

Good way to get some experience before looking for something more permanent.

Colleagues have an age gap but are very knowledgeable and provide great teamwork.

Relaxed environment to work and learn.

You get to work for big and known companies under a contract.

Morale is low due to the yearly layoffs and building closures.

No significant pay raise with the contracting agency, so make sure your offer is sufficient.

"Contract to Hire" positions are a big lie.

Big corporate politics get in the way of you converting to a full-time employee. The best way is to leave as a contractor and come back, applying as a full-time employee.

Your contracting agency manager is non-existent, with barely any contact after you get up and running with the job.

Nepotism within management plays a big role here in getting somewhere, unfortunately.

More budget on converting contractors to full-time. This will probably never happen.

This model of "cheaper hires by contracting" ruins the retention rate of employees.

The politics of switching from one team to another with the same functions (e.g., same type of testing) must be stopped.