Land Your Dream Job
at Cisco

Cisco Systems Inc. was named the best place to work in 2019 by Fortune in collaboration with Great Place to Work Inc. Working at a place like Cisco systems may be more feasible than you think if you have the right skills.

This article covers what it means to work at Cisco, which data-driven jobs are currently available at the company, and how to apply for a job there. You will also find some useful tips for successfully landing a Cisco systems job.

Cisco is one of the biggest technology conglomerates in the world. It is most known for providing solutions for networking, cloud computing, unified communications, data management, visualization, and wireless security. The San Jose-based firm was founded by Sandy Lerner and Leonard Bosack in December of 1984.

Over 71,000 employees work across Cisco’s 271 branches in 88 countries. Over the years, the company has taken the lead in the production of internet-protocol (IP) based networking technology, optical networking, and storage area networking. It is now at the forefront of the cloud computing industry.

Working at Cisco is an amazing experience that allows you to meet innovative thinkers from a diverse talent pool. Everything about the company including compensation, work-life balance, and company culture fosters a healthy work environment for people in different departments and levels.

Cisco promotes a conscious culture based on six core principles. Employees are encouraged to do their best, give something of themselves, take accountability, take the difference to heart, and take a bold step. The last principle encourages every employee to show leadership skills and reach for higher positions at every opportunity.

Cisco employees earn an average of $106,647 yearly, according to PayScale. Bonuses amount to about $12,000 annually. The total salary and bonuses typically depend on several factors like years of experience, branch location, and employment position.

Cisco offers financial benefits beyond base salaries. Employees are entitled to purchasing Cisco stock with up to 10 percent of their annual salaries for more financial security. When purchasing foods and services, these employees get major discounts. They are also entitled to paid volunteer time and comprehensive healthcare for their families.

If you choose to further your education while you’re working for Cisco, you can apply for reimbursement. There is a time swap program that allows you to give 20 percent of your job to someone else while pursuing other endeavors. You can also participate in the job swap program that allows you to swap 100 percent of your job with an equally qualified candidate.

Based on about 25,444 reviews on Glassdoor, working at Cisco is a satisfying experience that comes with many benefits. The reviews offered Cisco four out of five stars. About 88 percent of all reviews noted that they would be willing to recommend Cisco to a friend.

The company scores well in terms of flexibility, healthy company culture, and work environment. However, there were several complaints that members of the sales team didn’t enjoy the same level of flexibility as other employees. Some claimed that the company is too bureaucratic while others said that layoffs were a little too frequent.

Cisco has an open application process that starts online. Anyone who meets a specific job requirement after the rigorous interview process is welcome to resume work. Note that apart from regular full-time and part-time positions Cisco also offers a host of graduate trainee and intern programs for those with little or no experience.

Yes, you typically need an undergraduate degree for most software and hardware engineering roles. However, there is an exception to the rule. If you want to become a network engineer or pursue a career in data science, you may be able to get a job if you have a strong resume.

You can strengthen your resume by attending a reputable coding bootcamp and taking the official Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) exam. For a data-driven role at Cisco, you should consider attending a data science bootcamp. Cisco values experience so most roles will demand that you have significant experience in the field before you can qualify.

The application process starts with creating an online profile on the official Cisco career page. This profile can be used repeatedly for several job applications at Cisco. Your profile will be in the same pool as hundreds of job seekers.

If your resume looks promising, a recruiter will reach out to you with more instructions regarding a telephone interview. The behavioral interview allows Cisco to learn more about you but it also gives you a chance to learn more about the role in question from the hiring manager.

After the telephone interview, you will be required to visit the office several times for other onsite technical interviews. Depending on the role, you may be required to complete a technical challenge during some of the interviews. If you pass each interview, you will receive a congratulatory email from the hiring manager welcoming you to Cisco.

Yes, it is hard to get a permanent job at Cisco. While the company provides equal opportunity for everyone, the education and experience required for most positions are difficult for entry-level workers to meet. Even when you meet the requirements, you will still have to pass a series of technical interviews before the final decision is made.

You shouldn’t let the difficult interview process discourage you from applying. Just make sure you meet the requirements for the job before you apply. If you don’t meet the higher-level requirements, consider applying for a lower-level position.

With experience, you are more likely to get a job at the company. Also, if the requirement you are lacking is a Master’s Degree in Computer Science or a related field, Cisco will reimburse you for your expenses if you are a current employee.

Like many other major companies, Cisco has an official career service page that is updated regularly with available jobs. If you check this page and search specifically for your area of interest, you might find something that interests you. We’ve listed some of the top data-driven positions available at the time of writing below.