I spent five years here and now I think it was way too long, that is, I should have left much earlier. I think two years is the maximum time to spend at Cisco?
All the new and important experience I needed to find a better job, I gained during the first two years here. The rest was a waste of time. I would advise new hires to try to learn as much as possible in the shortest possible time and to look for better opportunities for themselves.
5 replies (most recent on top)
The question could just as well have been “I have to do something with my life. What should it be?” Cisco has some pockets of greatness and giant swaths of worse than incompetent. Most companies can’t afford as much of the latter but ultimately they all have it. Figure out what you want to do then figure out where you can best accomplish your goals. It will be different for everyone.
6 months
Looking back, 5 years should have been my max. I did 20+ years at Cisco and then moved to a new company where the work is better and collaboration with highly skilled people is seamless. Seeing everyone's mixed experience shows that staying at one place too long is somewhat limiting.
Depends on how much one enjoys pretending that this fake game of teamwork and irrelevant projects mean absolutely nothing on your life bucket list.
Welcome to the Hotel California.
You can check out any time you like.
1-3 years. Depending on how many marketable skills you need to develop.
Cisco is like a full-time internship for development.