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Cisco Systems
3.5 of 5 2,952 reviews
www.cisco.com San Jose, CA 5000+ Employees
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Cisco Systems Reviews

Updated May 19, 2013
All Employees Current Employees Only

3.5 2,952 reviews

                             

76% Approve of the CEO

Cisco Systems Chairman & CEO John T. Chambers

John T. Chambers

(2,210 ratings)

76% of employees recommend this company to a friend
2,950 employee reviews
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1 person found this helpful  

San Jose, CA

Current Employee – been working at Cisco Systems full-time for more than 7 years

Pros- Work Flexiblilty
- Package
- Big Company/Opportunities

Cons- Very little diversity
- Recognition
- Political

Advice to Senior ManagementGet rid of slackers

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

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San Jose, CA

Former Employee – worked at Cisco Systems full-time for more than 3 years

ProsStrong learning opportunities and mobility opportunities across groups

ConsLarge organization, hierarchy, potential power struggles between functional areas

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

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San Jose, CA

Current Employee – been working at Cisco Systems full-time for more than 7 years

ProsLarge stable company, not struggling to get funded or get product name recognition. Everyone in the networking world knows the name Cisco. It's a great resume entry.

ConsNot all groups are well funded, and promotion opportunities are more limited from within. There is a bit of an internal joke that says if you are looking for a promotion, leave the company and get it there.. then come back at your new level.

Advice to Senior ManagementDon't neglect your internal personel in your pursuit of new external hires. It is very demoralizing to be struggling for a few years to get promoted or a substantial pay raise only to see a new hire come in from a competitor with a higher grade or substantial pay raise when compared to your own.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

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San Jose, CA

Current Employee – been working at Cisco Systems full-time for more than 10 years

Pros- Job rotation is encouraged to develop all-around skills
- Work/life balance
- Onsite childcare
- Strong exec team

Cons- Promotions take forever to come
- VP's are not very nimble in decision making and very risk averse.

Advice to Senior Management- Quicker decision making and more upfront innovation ( in terms of leading the market).

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

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New York, NY

Current Employee – been working at Cisco Systems full-time

ProsExcellent training opportunities, endless learning, a great place to work! Very nice benefits.

ConsReally eats into your life, you can work 30 hours one week and 70 hours the next.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

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San Jose, CA

Current Employee – been working at Cisco Systems full-time for more than 10 years

ProsCisco takes very good care of its employees. Work ethic is taken extremely seriously and so is the respect towards your coworkers

ConsLike any big company Cisco is at times engulfed with "processes" that impact productivity and creativity and this can become source of frustration.

Advice to Senior ManagementEncourage creativity

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

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San Jose, CA

Current Employee – been working at Cisco Systems full-time for more than 10 years

ProsVery employee friendly, good benefits, wide range of technologies and jobs for easy internal movement.

ConsStable business and therefore slow moving. Heavy processes make innovation and risk taking harder

Advice to Senior ManagementCut the middle management and 10s of VPs

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

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San Jose, CA

Former Employee – worked at Cisco Systems full-time for more than 10 years

ProsGreat working environment and management teams are supportive.

ConsHad 7 managers in the last 5 years.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

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San Jose, CA

Former Employee – worked at Cisco Systems full-time for more than 8 years

ProsEmployees are encouraged to gain experience by moving laterally across different functional groups. Good life work balance - allows working remotely

ConsDecision making has slowed in recent years

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

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San Jose, CA

Current Employee – been working at Cisco Systems full-time for more than 8 years

ProsLearn and innovate at your pace
Excellent health benefits

ConsPrefers acquisition than organic growth of products

Advice to Senior ManagementMore focus on few products than spread.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

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