What is it like to work here?I find it very stimulating to work at Cisco. I feel like I learn something every day, and I feel empowered to chart my own path to a certain extent. I feel like there’s always a new project, and that I have the trust of my managers to take things on. I feel supported if I want to try new things, and I’m given a lot of encouragement to take ownership for certain projects, which is a great feeling. It’s great to have some flexibility in my schedule as well. If I have appointments during the day or things I need to do for my family, I can do those things and then make up the time with my work at home in the evenings. When you’re used to “punching a clock”, this is a liberating situation. You can organize your own time and be really efficient. It can get pretty busy, but as long as you’re moving forward with your work, you’re made to feel that you’re making a contribution. Every day is different, and meetings, seminars and educational courses break up the week to a certain extent. I also have the opportunity to get out in the community, which is very special. What is a typical "day in the life" like? What do you spend your time doing?I am serious about really utilizing my Outlook program. I spend a lot of time answering my e-mails and organizing my task list. I work on about 14 different projects, so I start the day by organizing what I’m going to work on for the day, and then I read the Internal News site (CEC) so I’m up on what’s happening within the company. Then I go through my e-mails and be sure to reply when needed. I go anywhere from making sure meetings are coordinated between some of our executives and customers, to touching base with the employees that want to volunteer recruiting at Career Fairs to get interns for Corporate Communications. I try to make sure our department provides services needed by our managers and their teams, and I work closely with the Operations manager to be sure Corp. Comm. runs smoothly. I also have the opportunity to reach out to external parties, such as Universities where we recruit interns and new grad employees, which is very satisfying. Outside of my regular day hours, I volunteer at night with my Employee Resource Group, the New Hire Network. I work on communications with the NHN Recruitment and Professional Development team, which gives me the opportunity to meet other new hires while helping people. It’s extremely satisfying, and a lot of fun. How do you work together with your team?I meet regularly for 1:1 meetings with my 2 managers and make sure I’m taking care of what they need to me to do to keep our projects running smoothly. We also have team meetings so we can find out what everyone else is working on, which is very educational. Team building is another great thing about Cisco, because you can get to know people outside of work and it’s a lot of fun. I’ve been trying to keep e-mail to a minimum, and I’d like to work more with WebEx Connect to collaborate. I always try to pitch in when I’m needed by someone else, which I really enjoy doing. Beyond working with my regular work team, I’ve had the opportunity to work with an Employee Resource Group called the New Hire Network, which has given me an outlet for my skill set and has connected me with some really nice people. Why did you choose to work at Cisco?I loved the idea of working for a large company, because I feel that we all have special gifts, and when you work for such a large, innovative organization, you have a better chance of finding that place that allows you to utilize your talents and do something that interests you. Plus, a large company allows you to grow, get an education and advance, which is very exciting. I’m impressed by our CEO, John Chambers. I feel he has integrity, kindness and he’s such an inspirational communicator. I also really believe in the direction the company is heading in, which is utilizing technology to connect people to each other and to important information that can make their lives better. I’m also impressed by the community service that is emphasized at Cisco, and the focus on “green”. I was impressed that Cisco offered employees a whole outlet to get involved in volunteer work in the community because that was another goal of mine after graduating with my degree. What is your favorite thing about working here?My favorite thing is the flexibility I have with my work schedule. As long as I’m able to get my work done, I’m able to decide my own schedule to a certain extent. I love having the freedom to work out my day so that I can still have a life, yet enjoy getting my work done and I love the trust that my managers give me to do that. I also love the supportive environment from my manager that allows me to spread my wings and learn new things. Innovation isn’t just about the technology…it’s also about stretching yourself and your skill set. I love the idea that I control my own career destiny at Cisco, meaning that I can go as far as I want to, as long as I take the initiative to improve myself. I also feel appreciated by my co-workers, which is just fantastic. |
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