Do you want to learn how to get a job at Cisco Systems, named the “world’s best workplace” in 2019? Cisco is not only known for its leading networking and security solutions. The company is also a leader in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and emphasizes fostering healthy company culture.
Whether you are already a security or network specialist or are a computer science student interested in getting a job at Cisco, this guide will help you get started with a career at the tech company. We’ll go over the company’s background, what it’s like to work at Cisco, and the application process.
Cisco: Company Background
Cisco was founded in 1984 by two Stanford University computer scientists seeking to improve the connections between computer systems and networks.
Cisco Systems is now a multinational corporation in more than 115 countries. It provides networking services for medium businesses, service providers, corporations, educational institutions, and government agencies.
A huge 85 percent of Internet traffic travels across Cisco’s systems. The company essentially built the Internet and its networks, and landing a job there will be an impressive addition to your resume.
What’s It Like to Work at Cisco
Fortune Magazine named Cisco the “world’s best workplace” in 2019 due to the company’s efforts to maintain an open and accepting work environment. Cisco is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, meaning that jobs there are open to all regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, national origin, and genetic information.
Furthermore, 87 percent of Cisco employees reported that the tech giant provided a psychologically safe workplace. Cisco considers inclusion to be the catalyst for its innovation, and it encourages all employees to bring their ideas to the table.
Company Culture
Cisco’s “conscious culture” values affirmative action and equal opportunity as an important part of employee satisfaction. Cisco prides itself on maintaining an atmosphere of respect and fairness, centered around diversity and inclusion.
This ties into Cisco’s CSR program and its culture of giving back to charity and local communities. For example, Cisco employees directly lend a helping hand to local organizations by volunteering.
Ethos
As part of its CSR, Cisco has helped protect endangered species, provided healthcare funding in developing countries, and contributed to global disaster aid. Employees say this ethos of helping those in need makes their job more fulfilling.
Job Perks
Compensation is an essential component of employee satisfaction, so Cisco makes sure to pay employees fair wages.
Depending on which branch you work in, Cisco offices also have other great perks. Employees have access to cafeterias, smoothie bars, state-of-the-art gyms, sports facilities, massage therapy, child care, and dry cleaning services.
Getting a Job at Cisco
Getting a tech job at Cisco is no easy feat, as the company conducts a rigorous application and interview process. Below is a quick review of how you can go about getting the job.
How Hard Is It to Land a Job at Cisco?
If you are applying for a higher-level position, Cisco will put you through a rigorous interview process to ensure you’re capable of completing the necessary tasks. To make it through this process, you will need to prepare in advance.
Applying for a Job at Cisco
You should start by doing in-depth research on Cisco Systems. Then, decide which positions you are qualified for. All of the required skills are listed in Cisco’s job posts, so be sure you can fulfil them before you apply.
Keep in mind that the more experience you have in your field, the easier the application process will be. Although passion for the professional role will go a long way, you might also want to complete Cisco certifications such as the Cisco Certified Network Associate, Cisco Certified Network Professional, or Cisco Certified Design Professional.
Cisco also offers a mixture of graduate and intern programs that will give you the practical computer science experience you will need to start a tech career. These opportunities will give you professional experience, and could even lead to a job at the company.
Cisco Application and Interview Process
You can fill out an application for Cisco either on the company’s website or through a recruiter. Make sure your resume is neat and that it expresses your skills and passion for the position.
The interview process for an engineering role at Cisco takes an average of two to three weeks. Depending on which role you are applying for, the timeframe can differ slightly.
Candidates who apply online or through a recruiter will usually undergo a phone screening interview. Then, they will have a series of four or five onsite interviews that will test your coding skills, CCNA skills, debugging skills, and behavior.
Applicants who apply through a college or university will first complete an on-campus interview. Then, they will be asked technical questions and may be given a coding assignment. After that the applicant will proceed with onsite technical and behavioral interviews.
Cisco Career Opportunities: Job Titles and Descriptions
Below are a few of the current opportunities at Cisco. We have selected a range of levels and fields to give you a better idea of the types of jobs that Cisco offers. If you want to work in customer service or other business-related roles, check Cisco’s website for more jobs.
Duo Security Software Engineer Intern
- Level: Beginner
- Required Experience: Coding knowledge and passion for Internet security
- Required Education: Currently enrolled in computer science degree program or related program
In this paid internship, you will work on building the Duo app, improving device security, and securing the cloud. The full-time internship will allow you to work with an intuitive network that learns and continually adapts on its own.
Regardless of your education, all applicants for this position will be taken into consideration as long as they are passionate about software engineering and security.
Salesforce Business Analyst
- Level: Professional
- Required Experience: Experience in Salesforce Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and CPQ
- Required Education: Knowledge of Agile methodology
Qualified applicants will work on Cisco’s software as a service (SaaS) business applications team. The job involves building software, communicating users’ stories, and capturing business objectives. To succeed in this role, you must be a high-performing team player who loves solving complex problems.
Product Manager – DUO Security
- Level: Professional
- Required Experience: Familiarity with SaaS, IT security, endpoint management, network operations, mobile device management, cloud operations, application security, and access management
- Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, design, or math.
In this role, you’ll be responsible for introducing Duo and Cisco product integrations to new channels through Cisco customers, partners, and sellers.
Cisco Zero Trust protects a workplace by mitigating, detecting, and responding to risks across customer environments.
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Duo’s multi-factor authentication protects against phishing, compromised credentials, and other identity-based cyberattacks. This position must be filled by a cybersecurity expert who will partner with stakeholders in product engineering, design, customer success, and sales.
DevOps Architect
- Level: Professional
- Required Experience: Senior technical leader with hands-on experience in GitLab, Jenkins, Ansible, Docker, Kubernetes, and AWS
- Required Education: Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or Management, seven years of experience, four years with DevOps
As a DevOps architect, you will motivate engineers to develop software solutions. You will build and deploy DevOps tools, scale-out the platform, and offer expert knowledge in stream processing systems.
Application Integrations Developer
- Level: Professional
- Required Experience: Delivering an integration solution with MuleSoft, API-led connectivity approach, understanding diverse data formats.
- Required Education: Knowledge of Agile and DevOps practices recommended
As an Application Integrations Developer, you will work on SaaS business applications at Cisco Security. You will be responsible for building software that empowers customers to freely use the applications. You will work on the MuleSoft platform and ensure that the integration assets meet data quality standards.
What Does It Take to Get a Job at Cisco?
To be considered for employment at Cisco, you must have the skills required for the role and need to show that you are enthusiastic about the job. This equal opportunity employer will be looking for talent, dedication, and a willingness to help those around you. You will need to be passionate about the company and motivated about your work in order to land the job.
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