Thread regarding Cisco Systems Inc. layoffs

Rockstars switch companies every 2-3 years. Cisco is filled with bureaucrats that make strategic relationships to obtain promotions.

Unless you are a "rockstar" (I hate that term, but it was used all the time at Cisco when I was there), it will be hard to get a raise on a lateral move, regardless of what other posters are saying. I was "moved" many times at Cisco (typical reorgs, where one stronger group eats another group. Executive hunger games activity).....but those never came with changes in salary. The one time I did make a lateral move, I wanted it, and my new and old managers knew each other well. No salary bump on that one, but I was ok with it (I was bored with my old job). Plus, at the time, I was at my "mid-point", salary-wise (danger danger!). New boss promised me a promotion, but the new group got LR'd (everyone) a year later.

Should compensation (TTC) be agreed up front before signing on? I had a few early discussions where those teams want to offer the position, but stated up front that based on their budget, their max TTC is this much and would I be interested in the position. Everything is negotiable before signing, but once signed, I have never heard of pulling back on compensation.

All these answers are accurate. I’ve moved laterally with tiny $5k increase, moved with grade promotion with tiny increase $5k, and moved laterally with 11% increase. I asked for 20% and would have gotten it had my existing manager not thrown a temper tantrum and blew my chances. Negotiate no matter what!

@1lak+1mLDztUA Thanks for your thoughts CR

From an investors POV, Cisco is essentially a zero growth company with sh---y dividends.

From an employees POV, Cisco is a good job is you want to be lazy and earn a mediocre salary.

From a customers POV, Cisco is an overpriced vendor whose value entirely lies in familiarity and momentum.

@kea+1mLDztUA also worth noting that the flat stock price would be a lot lower without the share buyback program that Cisco has been running.
If they hadn’t made any buybacks in the last five years share price would be around the $43 mark today.

Meraki and CX pay less than the rest of Cisco General.

You could already be making more than the department grade level pays the same grade as you are in now. That’s happened to me. Grade 11 engineering PM in one org pays differently than Grade 11 engineering PM in a different org.

You can negotiate a salary raise… Atleast get 2-3% out of it.
But they have a hard line of no RSU’s for internal candidates when making an offer internally. They only offer up RAU’s and one time sign on Bonus for new hires external to Cisco.

When the product you're on winds down and your whole team takes up new work there are no perks for that transition. If you are moving laterally to a different project at the same company unless you brought something unique to the table that they'd have to pay more to acquire elsewhere I would be surprised to see you get a raise. It's not a new job.

That said, if I'm driving the move to a different group I'm looking to do work that will better leverage my existing skills and build new ones which will make me more valuable over time I do expect more compensation as I demonstrate added value, and if I've made good choices on skills to add there will always be someone else out there willing to pay more should that become the best option to move forward.

I'm not sure where everyone is posting from but if you work in the US and believe health insurance, ESPP and 401K are somehow unique to Cisco you've consumed a swimming pool full of Kool-Aid. With a nearly flat stock price for the past 5 years the iron handcuffs will be rusting in the waters of inflation.

They are lying. Unless you are coming from the BE to CX where the salaries are lower, this is your opportunity to negotiate a raise as the focal is in August and you will not be eligible due to newness in the role so you will be screwed. A few thousand dollars in salary will not upend the budget. If that is the case, you need to evaluate if the new group is worth going into. Lastly, if you are already high in the MRR and the new manager hired you as a 2nd or 3rd choice, they may not be willing to give you a raise.

Just as background, i’ve moved 4-5 times internally and always got or negotiated a raise every time.

@spg+1mLDztUA

the recruiter will tell you that don't just look at dollar and cents, Cisco is giving you other perks and benefits that you're not able to quantify, flexible work culture, insurance, etc etc.

That's a load of BS. Maybe for external hires, but for an internal transfer, the person applying for the job already has all those other perks and benefits because they're already a Cisco employee. Insurance, 401(k) matching, ESPP, bonuses, etc. are all definitely quantifiable benefits.

I recently transferred internally which represented a promotion & came with a raise, so it probably depends on the hiring manager.

There are plenty of lateral moves with major salary adjustments. You just don't fit the demographic they're willing to offer that to.

Life ain't fair. Move on.

I heard similar cases before as well. take it or leave it! the recruiter will tell you that don't just look at dollar and cents, Cisco is giving you other perks and benefits that you're not able to quantify, flexible work culture, insurance, etc etc.

Nonetheless, it also depends on your new manager want to justify for you or not. If they are keen to take you with a pay bump, they will get it for you any how... it's all dependent in your negotiation skills.