The Cisco name may have meant something 30 years ago - but now it's all about stagnation
Pros
Remote work 100% in some roles/business units. Bonuses around 10-15%. Extreme flexibility with location -- my department didn't care if people wanted to relocate (to other countries even!). Decent work/life balance.
Cons
Remote culture means it's hard to build connections. Lack of leadership vision. Every quarter it was all about VP shuffling. Very hard to get promoted, very hard to get salary lift. I was there for 3 years before they offered me equity (a very paltry 5-figure amount to be paid over 4 years). Salary is nowhere near FAANG equivalent. 2x year layoffs. US health insurance was very Cali-focused, so if you're trying to use it or live outside of California, be prepared for $$$ visits and prescriptions. There isn't a lot of prestige to the Cisco name anymore (despite what they tell you internally). Cisco bungled the WebEx opportunity during the pandemic. If you are still early and energetic in your career, get what you can out of the experience in a year or two, and plan to leave. For those of you mid-late career, this could be a good place to 'rest and vest' if you can survive the layoff seasons.
