Interviewing at Cisco Systems, the renowned multinational technology conglomerate, is a coveted opportunity for any IT professional. With a talent pool of over 75,000 employees across the globe and revenues crossing $50 billion, Cisco is synonymous with innovation, quality and market leadership in networking hardware, software, telecommunications equipment and other high-technology services and products.
However, with competition being fierce for job openings at this tech giant, candidates need to thoroughly prepare for the Cisco interview process if they want to stand out from the crowd This article will provide insider tips and sample responses to the top 10 most commonly asked Cisco interview questions to help you bring your A-game and land your dream job!
1. “Tell me about yourself”
This ubiquitous opening question tests your ability to succinctly summarize your professional accomplishments and aspirations, Cisco interviewers want to assess if you are a good cultural fit for the company and the role
Sample Response:
“I am a network engineer with over 5 years of experience in designing, implementing and troubleshooting enterprise networks using Cisco technologies. I started my career at ABC Company where I led network upgrades for their regional offices and data centers. This involved assessing requirements, creating network diagrams and configuring core routing and switching devices.
In my current role at XYZ Corp, I have specialized expertise in pre-sales technical support and network security. I am most passionate about staying up-to-date on the latest networking trends and bringing innovative solutions to complex client problems.
Joining Cisco would allow me to work on cutting-edge technologies at scale while enabling me to continue growing technically and taking on greater responsibilities. I am looking for an opportunity to join a dynamic team where I can contribute meaningfully to Cisco’s industry leadership.”
This response hits all the right notes – technical background, relevant experience, passion for the role, cultural fit and growth opportunities. Replace the details with your own background while highlighting your strengths as they relate to Cisco’s business needs.
2. “Why do you want to work at Cisco?”
This question tests your understanding of Cisco’s business, vision and competitive differentiators. Demonstrate that you’ve done your research about Cisco’s products, leadership principles, growth strategies and work culture.
Sample Response:
“Cisco’s industry leadership in networking hardware and services is unmatched, which makes it an ideal environment for me to grow technically. Beyond technology, I’m inspired by Cisco’s inclusive, innovative work culture that empowers employees with resources like Cloudlock and Talent Bridge.
As networks get more complex, Cisco’s solutions around Intent Based Networking and network programmability strongly resonate with me. I would be excited to work on products like Cisco DNA Center and contribute to the security, automation and assurance of next-gen networks.
Most of all, Cisco’s staunch commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability is deeply motivating for me personally. I would be proud to work for a company that holds itself to the highest ethical standards and actively works to build an inclusive digital future.”
Replace specifics based on the business area you are interviewing for, but demonstrate that you have a solid understanding of Cisco’s business priorities and how you can meaningfully contribute.
3. “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
This classic question requires you to highlight strengths aligned to the role while acknowledging areas of development. Be honest but keep the focus on strengths relevant to the job.
Sample Response:
“My key strengths are problem-solving, collaboration and effective verbal and written communication. In my current role, I apply these skills daily to understand client requirements, design comprehensive network solutions and prepare technical documentation.
I believe my troubleshooting skills are excellent – I have consistently received positive feedback on my ability to logically diagnose and resolve complex networking issues. I’m also comfortable collaborating cross-functionally to deliver projects on time.
In terms of areas of improvement, I am working on building more hands-on expertise with Cisco’s newer software-defined networking solutions like ACI and SD-WAN. I’m highly motivated to skill up in these emerging domains. I also want to continue developing my client-facing and presentation skills to be able to articulate technical details more effectively to non-technical audiences.”
Focus on strengths directly relevant for a technical role at Cisco like troubleshooting, communication and being a team player. For weaknesses, be honest but present them as skills you are actively developing.
4. “How do you stay up-to-date on networking technologies?”
Cisco values passion for continuous learning given the dynamic nature of the tech industry. Demonstrate proactive efforts to expand your knowledge so that you are abreast of latest developments.
Sample Response:
“Staying updated on new networking technologies is very important to me, so I make it a point to dedicate regular time to learning. I follow leading industry analysts like Gartner and IDC to track technology trends. I am subscribed to several publications like Network World and TechTarget that provide the latest on networking innovations.
I also attend Cisco Live annually to get trained on the newest product releases and features across Cisco’s portfolio. Within my company, I volunteer for proof-of-concept projects to get hands-on with evaluating emerging solutions before wider rollouts.
Additionally, I have completed several courses on Cisco’s network programmability solutions and am currently learning more about Cisco SD-WAN. I am passionate about continuously expanding my knowledge in order to provide the most innovative solutions to business problems.”
Give specific examples of how you stay updated – through publications, events, certifications, self-learning etc. Convey your excitement for learning to position yourself as someone who will excel in Cisco’s innovative environment.
5. “How do you handle pressure or stressful situations?”
IT roles inevitably involve occasional high-stress situations like network outages or project deadlines. Cisco wants people who can thrive under pressure. Demonstrate that you have coping strategies to manage stress effectively.
Sample Response:
“I am comfortable working under pressure and have developed effective approaches to handle stress. In high-pressure troubleshooting scenarios, I stay focused by blocking out distractions and prioritizing the most mission-critical tasks first. I also quickly coordinate with peers and leadership to get the required employee bandwidth focused on the issue at hand.
To minimize stress during major project deadlines, I use tools like schedules and checklists to better understand workload distribution across the team. I proactively communicate any roadblocks to leadership so they can realign resources or priorities as needed.
Outside of work, I practice yoga, meditation and make time for hobbies, which helps me recharge and return to challenging situations with renewed energy. My strategies allow me to thrive in high-pressure environments while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.”
Demonstrate a take-charge attitude in resolving issues combined with healthy stress management practices. Companies like Cisco look for people who can operate effectively during crises or challenges.
6. “How do you ensure you deliver projects within budget and on schedule?”
Cisco values execution excellence. Share proven methods for effective project planning, cross-functional collaboration and managing timelines.
Sample Response:
“Delivering projects within defined budgets and timelines starts with detailed requirements gathering early on. This allows us to create realistic plans factoring in all resources needed and potential risks.
During project execution, I leverage tools like Microsoft Project to track progress closely and flag any deviations from schedules or cost estimates. I also maintain open communication across all stakeholder groups to identify delays or roadblocks early.
If budget or timeline alterations are unavoidable, I work collaboratively to present multiple options to leadership with risk assessments. This allows them to realign priorities or resources and make adjustments.
With these tactics of detailed planning, transparent communication and collaborative problem-solving, I have consistently delivered projects within or under budget while meeting aggressive deadlines.”
Emphasize your experience with project management tools, methodologies and soft skills like communication and collaboration which are vital for on-time, on-budget delivery.
7. “How do you ensure a high quality of service when supporting technical products?”
Cisco seeks customer-focused employees who can represent their solutions with credibility and professionalism. Highlight your dedication to customer success and continuous learning.
Sample Response:
“Ensuring high quality service as a technical support professional requires expertise combined with empathy. I make sure I fully understand our products’ capabilities so I can effectively educate customers and provide knowledgeable recommendations.
When troubleshooting issues, I employ a structured approach to root cause analysis. I keep customers updated on progress and explain technical details in easy-to-understand language. I also leverage internal resources like engineering teams when required.
Post-resolution, I take customer feedback seriously regarding their experience and suggest process improvements. I also make time to learn about new product functionalities through internal training.
Fundamentally, I believe in treating each customer with patience and respect. By combining technical expertise, structured problem-solving and continuous learning with stellar customer service, I am committed to delivering optimal quality and experiences.”
Show you are eager to learn more about Cisco offerings and will represent them well. Highlight how your customer orientation makes you stand out.
8. “How do you handle situations when you don’t have the answers?”
IT roles frequently involve dealing with unknowns given the complexities of technology. Demonstrate humility, curiosity and resourcefulness.
Sample Response:
“When presented with
1 What is a deadlock in Operating Systems? What are the situations for the deadlock to happen?
When an operating system reaches a deadlock, each process waits to get the resource that was assigned to another process.
Consider a real-time example of traffic that is going only in a single direction. Here, we can consider the bridge as a resource. If one car backs up, the deadlock situation will be resolved easily. Multiple cars may have to be backed up on deadlock occurrence. So it might lead to starvation.
The process will be considered to be in a deadlock when the following conditions get satisfied simultaneously:
- When more than one process shares the same resource and those processes are all different, each process has to wait for the other to use the resource because only one process can use it at a time.
- Hold and Wait: Already, at least one resource is being held by a process, which is also waiting for resources.
- No pre-emption: We can’t stop or remove a process from the list of processes that are waiting for the resource to become available.
- Circular Wait: A group of processes will wait in a circle for resources that other processes hold.
2 Write a program for printing all permutations of a given string.
A permutation means re-arranging the ordered list(L) elements into a correspondence of one-to-one with the L itself. It is also known as an “order” or “arrangement number”. There will be n! permutation for a string with length n.
The recursive algorithm uses backtracking to find all the possible combinations of a given string. This method finds the permutation of numbers by switching one element each time through the loop.
We are providing the “XYZ” string as an input in the below given example. It will produce 6 permutations for a given string. The permutation for a string “XYZ” are “XYZ”, “YXZ”, “ZYX”, “XZY”, “YZX”, “ZXY”.
Program:
Output:
CISCO Interview Questions & Answers | (How to PASS a CISCO SYSTEMS, INC Job Interview!)
FAQ
How to prepare for a Cisco interview?
How many rounds of interview at Cisco?
Is it hard to get a job at Cisco?
How many rounds are there in Cisco?
What is the interview process like at Cisco Systems?
Depending on the position you’re applying for, Cisco Systems may have a different interview process. But the majority of jobs will call for at least one technical and one behavioral interview. Both in-person and telephone interviews are options for the process.
Are Cisco interview questions a good idea?
Although Cisco interviews are fair and predictable, they can sometimes be difficult. You may get an important advantage and raise your chances of getting your ideal job at Cisco by studying typical interview questions and responses. Anyone preparing for a job interview at Cisco Systems might benefit from using these Cisco interview Q&As.
How many Cisco interview questions are there?
Share Your Experiences Glassdoor has millions of jobs plus salary information, company reviews, and interview questions from people on the inside making it easy to find a job that’s right for you. Cisco interview details: 6,346 interview questions and 5,814 interview reviews posted anonymously by Cisco interview candidates.
How do I get a job at Cisco Systems?
You can stand out as a strong candidate for the position by successfully finishing a certification program or networking course and practicing with the Cisco interview questions and answers in this article. In general, the interview procedure at Cisco Systems is simple.
