Cisco reviews

-Name Recognition -inside look at some big companies work ( I hope not all of them are like this ) -inside look at how NOT to manage a team -experience working with a global team (not recommended unless you're a masochist) -increased ability to detect insincere people -ability to practice inherent lawyer skills every engineer never knew they had. -increased tolerance to abuse ( I decided no more for me, I did not go to school so I can to work 24x7 ) -ability to test your level of patience of being uncreative -increased ability to push work to other ( I don't like this but the systems encourages it ) -ability to practice detaching passion from work ( I actually like engineering but this place just destroys the engineering spirit, I am moving on before it dies)

1. Most of the products I worked on shipped to customers. 2. Lots of opportunity to learn because you are working long hours. 3. You get to work on lots of things because head count is minimal, so it is like a start up. 4. Most of the people are very intelligent, bright, and quite fun if there is time to get to know them. 5. Cisco has lots of process and systems in place to learn. This is great for new hires to see how a big organization runs things. 6. ITIL is coming and Version 3 can be used to reduce process! HP is big into it and Cisco will get it eventually. 7. Was a great place to work for the first 6 years. We worked hard and got some recognition and rewards. Parties and fun were paid by the company. There were benefits! 8. If you are a great sales person you are set - Everyone is always selling themselves and trying to look better than others. It is the look good company! 9. Oh - you get free bagels and donuts if you go to Chamber's once a month birthday breakfast! ...Otherwise there is never a free anything because you work for it. 10. Directors and VPs have it made! - has anyone ever counted them? - there are so many it must be hard - laying off a few every six months doesn't make a dent. All of a sudden they are gone and it was as if they were never there. 11. There is lots of work! You have your work, the work of your co-worker that is laid off every 12 months, the work to talk to India/China, the initiatives (remember 2 each minimum to get your ranking up), the extra work to sell your work, and then the 30 to 50 extra products that Cisco is working on now. 12. Many companies are benefiting from Cisco's focus being so broad. Cisco revenue is going up because there are so many areas too make money and individual market share is dropping in the plumbing business. The Cisco family is creating opportunities for others! 13. You learn to reward yourself and take pride in your own work. 14. This company is beyond frugal and slightly paranoid. You will be much better with money and able to identify all your work peers as enemies in some way. 15. WEBex and Telepresence are cool tools and I miss them. 16. You learn to be very creative by making do with equipment you have or squeeze vendors as part of the collective. 17. You get very good at business justification and spreadsheets - because sometimes getting anything requires levels of approval. I learned a lot at Cisco - Best Wishes to all at Cisco!