A mixed bag - great if networking is your game, but beware of politics and budgets
Pros
- Benefits and work/life balance - Cisco has some impressive technology and great projects. They critical item is to place yourself in an up and coming business/technology unit. - Employees. I found there to be many talented professionals, from the VP level downwards. - If you're a hardcore networking type, the technology and business problems are complex and interesting.
Cons
- To much lip service regarding change. To little action. If your product falls outside of switching/routing (and perhaps voice) or is not the darling child (i.e. Telepresence, WebEx), watch out. - Innovation is encouraged, as long as it is free. Internal innovation is stifled by budgetary pressures and politics. Launching a new product without SVP aircover is nearly impossible. - Highly political environment. Directors/VPs job is manage the politics. - Budget allocation and the budgeting process hinders cross BU collaboration. Even if its in the best interest of Cisco for two BUs to work together, dollars will invariably get in the way.