Cisco

Not many companies provide you with an opportunity to make $1 million dollars in a given year. And in addition, representing one of the world's largest internet companies doing business in southeast Asia. I was the OEM Program Manager for all of Southeast for Cisco Systems Inc. Let's Talk /dam

Cisco's personnel policy, encompassing continuous ranking and firing of the "bottom 5%" results in a highly competitive and uncooperative work environment. In general, people attempt to climb to the top of the heap on the backs of their defeated co-workers. Incentive is provided to compete instead of cooperate, leading to painful, gridlocked decision making at all levels of the organization (due to the impetus to criticize the ideas of peers, then steal those ideas). Performance reviews are, in effect, replaced by regular layoffs. Continual paranoia is the pervading feeling and is necessary for survival in the Cisco corporate culture.

Responsible for managing the optical hardware by telcos and all federal agencies and the military. Gained DISA certifications twice on the software management of the hardware.

We were constantly challenged ourselves to improve our work environment and automate/improve our work tools/process. Worked with top 10% of silicon Valley engineers. We automated most of our work processes. Our team worked like a clock. We had global team of engineers. Managed large team of over 75 engineers. Supported majority of team to build both Technical skills and Leadership skills. Technical skills included team 100% got their CCNA, over 80% got their CCNP and several team members got CCIE. Supported team to build on their Leadership skills by learning to be able to voice their concerns in the meetings, be able to present powerfully and be happy.

It was a really good experience. Working in a collaborative environment. Over 147 countries 16 languages and 12 time zones. Emerging markets!

I worked with Cisco almost 5 yrs and they kept me on contract all the time. They moved me around and I was happy to locate to work. But the important thing I dislike is manager was unfair and they were favor of their people who worked long time for them. The Co-worker wasn’t corporate in team work, wasn’t share information about work while they needed my help to work. And when issues come up they’re always listen to their people and gave me a threatening to laid off. I’m very happy when I left Cisco and never came back. They called several times to rehire but thank you, I don’t want to work in unfair management.

GOOD WORKING ATMOSPHERE. Cooperative colleagues and goal oriented assignments. I worked there 2 years with good assignments and achieved my goals with challenging assignments.

Many of the student in my classes were working professionals that wanted to become Cisco CCNA engineers. Classes and labs were always full. Many of the students would return to the campus to let me and other instructors know how they apricated the information that we shared with them. Because of their training they were able to get certified and obtain new job.

overall good experience， nice coworkers，supporting management，as an engineer could not see the clear technology path