I know five people who quit in the past two years, two already reapplied. The startup culture was too chaotic and the consulting firm was 80-hour weeks. I'm not saying this place is great, I'm not delusional, but at least I've learned to appreciate the devil I know.
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@cy Oh, this brings back memories. I did 17 years at the mother ship before getting LR'd, then immediately pivoted to a partner. My favorite part of that job? Migrating clients off Cisco gear and onto Fortinet and Palo Alto.
Once I hit 55, I left the partner, started annuitizing my 401k, and decided to go back to Cisco as a contractor for six months just for the he-l of it. My manager demanded weekly project status updates. I used to write absolute garbage. I am talking completely made up status notes that made zero technical sense and weren't even grammatically correct. Nobody actually read them because not a single word was ever said to me.
After that circus, I left the Cisco contract to go right back to my old partner as a contractor. That gig was a masterpiece. My entire job was just sitting silently on calls, listening to the Cisco sales geniuses desperately try to negotiate new contracts with our partner team. I wouldn't say a word. We would just let them ramble and then whittle their contracts down to the bare absolute minimums. We completely gutted that overpriced Cisco One garbage and threw Cisco DNA straight into the garbage disposal where it belongs. It was an absolute scam and stripping it out felt fantastic.
Cisco is entirely clueless when it comes to renewals. It is finally their day of reckoning, but hey, thanks for keeping my pockets incredibly fat all those years. Ride it until the wheels fall off.
I coasted with bursts of intense work at Cisco for 14 years (started with them later in my career), then retired. Seems like that may still be possible for those who can manage up. I hope it works out for all of you.
Ride it as long as you can!
@cb I would rather work hard at a company where I am valued. But given that I’m at Cisco, I’ll do my best to do the least.
Hold up two fingers and say the Cisco Oath:
On my honor I will do my best
to do the least for Cisco and my manager
and to ignore the employee handbook
to help myself at all times
to keep myself physically rested, mentally checked out, and morally flexible
Eye not go anywhere else too - not where else can u wok 2 hr in a day like the Ciscos
@at they are not 'stats'
@ag you know those stats are paid.. right?
Welcome to The Hotel California
There is a reason Cisco clinched the #1 spot as the best place to work for three consecutive years (2021, 2022, and 2023). Most other places are a downgrade
The startup culture was too chaotic
Multiple layers of management make sure we have a smooth ride! We need to appreciate them more than ever!
That is not for you to decide. :-)