Cisco Systems Employee Reviews for Product Manager

"I've been with Cisco since 2016 and I've found the company to be incredibly welcoming and challenging. The culture at Cisco is very team-oriented and promotes individual and collective growth. While Cisco is close to 70,000 employees in size spanning across the entire company, I find that many teams are small in size and act as their own startup."

"Cisco is known for its Politics. But working for Unified Computing Team has only helped me grow and changed my perception of Cisco. My team is super hardworking and helpful. I would always recommend anyone to work for Cisco. The support I have received from My manager and Director has been tremendous and has only helped me grow and learn."

What do you like about working at Cisco Systems?

"The people originally back in 1999/2000 were the best part of being there."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Try to contact someone who has worked there and ask them if they can discuss the company and culture with you to see if it's a good fit."

What don't you like about working at Cisco Systems?

"I dislike how much it changed, in terms of people leaving and the culture degrading from 2000-2012."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Stand behind those you manage 100%, as it's those managers who build the strongest and most loyal teams."

"Cisco is a great company and has a great culture."

What do you like about working at Cisco Systems?

"They are a leader in their field. I like the superb management, open culture, and that they are some of the brightest people in the industry."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"You have to project your competence and skills, as Cisco has some of the brightest folks working there."

What don't you like about working at Cisco Systems?

"They are too big and now losing focus and getting too bureaucratic."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Cut down the layers of management; take fast decisions and trust the long-timers."

What do you like about working at Cisco Systems?

"I like the flexibility in changing jobs, telecommuting, on-site child care, on-site gym and medical clinic, great cafeterias, tuition reimbursement, and best-in-class marketers and engineers."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"It is a very technical company. They value your networking background and any unique insights you have in the business. Come armed to the interview with the features you feel will increase sales. Have a channel strategy for the products and what you feel the competitors are saying or pricing their products against Cisco and you will get attention. A lot of people in product management are from systems engineering or software engineering, so don't BS. They will catch you. Have a clear differentiation if you are not technical. An MBA is not required to be successful in a product manager role. Do keep that in mind."

What don't you like about working at Cisco Systems?

"It is very hard to grow up the ranks, salary is not adjusted regularly, and restricted stock options are very rare to get."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Manage talent through leadership programs, have a Cisco view for the employee instead of a manager or business view for the employee, make pay competitive to other companies in the Bay area, and look into wider RSU distribution."