US/Canada

What is it like to work here?

At Cisco, it's great to be a new hire. Everyone is always very friendly about helping you get started and providing good mentorship. I am the most inexperienced employee in my group, but I've never felt lost. Whenever I've had a problem, I can always go to my mentor or manager. Either they will know the answer to my question or will direct me to a team member who's more experienced in the area.

What is a typical "day in the life" like? What do you spend your time doing?

I don't know if I can say that there is a typical day for me; everything depends on the project that I'm working on. If I'm working on a project with a looming deadline, the days will be hectic and long. If I'm working on a project that's not time-critical, then it will be relatively stress-free, and I can work at my own pace without being hurried. Some days, I work at my cube all day if I know exactly what my goals are and how I plan on achieving them. Some days, I have to interact with a lot of people to get mentorship, provide mentorship, or discuss project development. There are days riddled with meetings, and there are days in a row when I don't have any meetings. I think that, especially depending on the type of project and your job responsibilities, your "typical" day will be very different.

How do you work together with your team?

My team has weekly group meetings and weekly project-specific meetings. There is also a lot of communication outside of meetings. The atmosphere is very casual: Just drop by someone's cube with a question, and they're usually very good about helping you out.

Why did you choose to work at Cisco?

One of the reasons that I joined Cisco was for the flexibility of the CDO Choice program, where I was introduced to the different groups that I would be able to join before I joined them. At many places, you're hired for a job opening; at Cisco, you're hired for your skill set, and you get to pick which job is a better fit for you.

What is your favorite thing about working here?

My favorite thing about working at Cisco is that I get to work with an industry leader on innovative technology. It's a very dynamic and exciting atmosphere. Another thing that is great about working here is the New Hire Network. You're instantly surrounded by peers going through the same things that you are. It's a great way to pad your career and personal life.

What advice would you give to anyone interested in joining Cisco?

Have confidence that you're not making a bad choice. Cisco is a very large company with a multitude of opportunities. Figure out what you want to do and find the area of Cisco that does it.

How is the work/life balance?

The work-life balance is how you make it. If you are a workaholic, you will be able to find work to keep you busy. If you enjoy your evening time and weekends, you can definitely keep work out of them. That is not to say that when project deadlines are near, your workload will not pick up. However, the opposite is also true: When it's not crunch time, as long as you get your work done, no one really cares if you leave a bit .