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Cisco Systems – “Sweat shop

7 of 7 people found this helpful

Sep 4, 2009

2.0

Cisco Systems Software Engineer in San Jose, CA:   (Past Employee - 2007)

Pros

Good company name on your resume, recruiters will try to snatch you up if you start looking for another job outside the company.
Engineers know their stuff well
Lots of perks (CAP awards for a project well done, good onsite cafeteria, gym, etc)
Company has many business units covering many technology areas

Cons

sweat shop: expect 70+ hours of work regularly if you are an engineer.
high pressure: not only do you have to put in long hour, it is a high pressure environment. Every one is pressuring everyone else to get the work done, leading to a very nasty environment and teamwork suffers a lot. People just do not have time to help others unless it is something that is "visible" by their management.
Company frugality policy means you do not have the resources (equipment) to actually do the work expected of you. People spend a lot of wasted time fighting over equipment and making do with prototype that do not work.

Advice to Senior Management

A sense of ownership does not come from stock options, it comes from people having more control over their work. Give your employees more control over their work.

Comments (8)

Sep 4, 2009

by dung_=_sh*t:

Since you left in 2007, you are not aware that most of the perks are gone. Any semblance of teamwork and pride is gone, to be replace by back-stabbing and general nastiness. The place is a cesspool.
Inappropriate?
Sep 13, 2009

by class_action:

Just received a $2.5K check from a class-action suit filed by an SW engineer. The judge ruled that Cisco illegally asked their workers to put in overtime and rule in favor of the plaintiff. $2.5k is more than the sum of the CAP awards I have received in the past four years. Cisco, shame on you.
Inappropriate?
Sep 16, 2009

by flat:

Flattery will get you everywhere, just ask John Chambers, heck, Cisco's entire corporate culture is totally dedicated to the adulation and flattery of John Chambers.
Inappropriate?
Sep 16, 2009

by everyday:

Everyday I get up and dread coming into the cesspool. Manager who don't care. Managers who don't get it. Manager who have their pet employees who don't do jack. Manager who only care about their bonuses. The people who got laid off got it good. We still have to deal with this sh*t.
Inappropriate?
Sep 19, 2009

by Cisco Sucks:

One of my friends who has been with shitsco, for 15 years was given a choice. LR (limited Re-strucuring or take Early retirement. They took early retirement. Not much of choice there. Everyone has a target on their back, next year it'll be someone else who has some grey hair. It's not what you know, it's who you b*ow. They Notel managers have no clue what it is to lead or manage. Stop hiring these losers from bankrupt companies.
Inappropriate?
Sep 21, 2009

by shitsco:

Market Adjacencies = "Bull Sh*t"
Inappropriate?
Sep 21, 2009

by create:

If you have any creativity in you, being a fungible cog will always suck. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise.
Inappropriate?
Oct 16, 2009

by Just Leave:

I get all the downside here, but for you folks that are over the top venomous, why not just leave? Read the HP board and see how green things are on the other side of the fence.
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Cisco Systems Overview (CSCO )
Web
www.cisco.com
Industries
Size
5000+ Employees, $39B+ Revenue
HQ
San Jose, CA
Competitors



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