Thread regarding Cisco Systems Inc. layoffs

Life outside of cisco after one year (left voluntarily):

+35% raise at the first opportunity that presented itself.

+5% raise within a year after joining.

+250k RSU initial grant, just for fleeing that fleeing that dreadful, awful, place.

+100k RSU follow-on grant, just for adding value.

+Being able to provide for my family in the bay area.

-Watching the annual culling at a distance and feeling for the people I left behind.

-Wishing I could have actually had a career at Cisco, because I actually believed in them.

Total:

F--- Cisco. Leave or die.

Not in the valley, and it took me a while to find something in my market, but it is amazing to work for a company that hasn't included regular and frequent lay-offs as a management technique. It feels so good to be wanted and know it. Less money, but much better quality of life. It's all good.

Cisco isn't great. Job market out there isn't great either this year. You probably hear layoffs everywhere .. Intel, Oracle, IBM, HP, Microsoft, IBM, Dell, Seagate, WD and etc .. Recession is coming. Hang on to what you are at now (at least you are senior and severance is better than newbie) . Once economy getting better, boot Cisco. Becareful with those small startups that offering you big packages. Those can go down fast when they cannot secure funding from investors. You made a mistake by joining a company going down hill. Next time, look for what the company products strength, financial stability like cash in hand and net profit. Company culture also important. Some companies favor layoffs to make their income statements look great. Stay away from those. Those company have small layoffs throughout the year. Cisco fits the profile here. Cisco might sound like a good thing in the resume 10 years ago.

Yes

You are actually better off since your BU is doing poorly. Cisco has a tradition to layoff those who are in BU's that bring in revenues like cat 3k, nexus 7k, UCS, ...etc

Life outside of Cisco is great. A lot more refreshing change of pace but non of the toxic politics.

Having left Cisco 3 years ago due to a layoff, I would say that it was the best thing to have happened to me. I landed a week after the layoff, and my new company was just acquired this year. This week I'm cashing out and looking for my next opportunity.

That said, having Cisco on your resume is still good, but it's not like having Google, FB, Amazon, etc. on your resume. Those are the new pedigree companies while companies like Cisco are like having PG&E on your resume. The faster you can get into those other companies, the better for you.