Thread regarding Cisco Systems Inc. layoffs

Only here for the money

I hate saying this, but the paycheck is the only reason I’m still at Cisco. The money’s way better than anything I've been able to find right now, and that’s the sad part. It keeps me putting up with all the nonsense here. Maybe new hires don’t have it the same, but after years of being here, walking away would mean a huge drop in pay. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, I guess.

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| 3401 views | | 23 replies (last May 11, 2025) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1jtfw8trc

23 replies (most recent on top)

New hires are put on outdated legacy projects and told to keep a positive attitude.

A warning to others considering Cisco: it's been that way for decades and not just for new hires. All of Cisco's largest programs were in a constant state of collapse and everyone from new development that could actually add new value versus bringing other programs up to zero got pulled into to disaster after disaster after disaster. This is one of the reasons Cisco has spent more than three decades acquiring.

With the CEO of Microsoft claiming as much as 30% of their new code is AI generated everyone still in software is probably going to end up on bug fixing duty for much of their career. Google "hippos complex medical procedures" for more.

Then these new hires get trapped at Cisco and can't afford a home

I went to one of the online calculators and to buy my average colonial house well outside any major metro in what is still considered a middle class neighborhood would now require an income of $200K just to qualify with $40K down. As this area started growing in the 1980s when they largely stopped building ranch houses there aren't many cheaper options. According Google AI only 12% of US households make $200K or more, and that's assuming they have no significant college, auto, health or other forms of debt and have an extra $40K lying around for a down payment. Did they stop teaching economics in high school?

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Post ID: @146+1jtfw8trc

"Maybe new hires don’t have it the same"

New hires are put on outdated legacy projects and told to keep a positive attitude. Then these new hires get trapped at Cisco and can't afford a home

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Post ID: @12w+1jtfw8trc

I have been waiting 32 years to get my GC. Been at Cisco for 8 yrs now.

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Post ID: @mf+1jtfw8trc
We're a touch over a week from the next Cisco conference call

I can already fill it in for you

  • all bad things are blamed on tariffs
  • but don't despair, our secret AI is building a quantum computer that will train new AIs to build even better quantum computers...will be ready very soon
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Post ID: @k0+1jtfw8trc
if you leave, you are out in a terrible hiring market with a low-reputation company as your last employer;

A year ago I'd be saying "the longer you stay the more your skills are likely to decline so it's worth taking a reasonable pay hit to get far better work and get your whole career back on track." Now from bond market warnings on CNBC to the airing of "Escape from Alcatraz" our national policy changes on a dime so there is no statistical foundation on which one can build a reasonable plan. We're a touch over a week from the next Cisco conference call and it will be interesting to see if management even tries to publicly commit to a direction.

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Post ID: @hs+1jtfw8trc

The best part-time job I ever had. My garden has never looked better.

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Post ID: @g9+1jtfw8trc

Ya I wouldnt do any job without the money except b00b inspector or beer taster.

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Post ID: @fq+1jtfw8trc

the pay is bad. easily 20% or more increment elsewhere

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Post ID: @de+1jtfw8trc

@cf
what about the citizen babies from all these years

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Post ID: @ch+1jtfw8trc

@c7 forgot the basic math. Know my facts: 70 > 40 > 10 > 0
How many Indians can wait 40+ years just to receive a green card? It’s an unwritten employer’s slavery. Life happens.

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Post ID: @cf+1jtfw8trc

@c7 over 10 can also mean over 40

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Post ID: @cb+1jtfw8trc

Who isn't. This ELT is so uninspiring. CR is way past due date and most SVPs are sycophants. And it doesn't matter if you're good or mediocre, you'll get LRd anyway. Ask the Brussels TAC for example.

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Post ID: @c8+1jtfw8trc

"It takes over 10 years working as a H1B slave to earn green card"

Know your facts, currently it is taking over 40 years for Indians to earn a GC

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Post ID: @c7+1jtfw8trc

Depends on how you're paid. There's much better pay for sellers outside of Cisco. Just have to put OTE vs. Quota into consideration.

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Post ID: @c4+1jtfw8trc

@c0+1jtfw8trc

that too if lucky and not LRed.

i thought h1b people waiting for EAD card won;t get LR'ed as part of the LR formula.

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Post ID: @c3+1jtfw8trc
13% of Cisco employees (H1B slaves) are here to chase "American dream"

It takes over 10 years working as a H1B slave to earn green card, that too if lucky and not LRed. Is it worth, varies with your family background. How desperate one can be?

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Post ID: @c0+1jtfw8trc

"At the end of the day, aren't we all here for the paycheck?"

No, 13% of Cisco employees (H1B slaves) are here to chase "American dream"

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Post ID: @bz+1jtfw8trc

At the end of the day, aren't we all here for the paycheck?

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Post ID: @bf+1jtfw8trc

well our pay at Cisco isn't great...but yeah, for most employees, I would say: effed if you leave, effed if you stay

if you leave, you are out in a terrible hiring market with a low-reputation company as your last employer; your only advantage over others is your willingness to work for less (don't contend this - if you work at Cisco, you are living it)

if you stay, you remain in a dead job with dead prospects and a dead compensation curve

as a result, most of us are of the same mind - take the money until it runs out

on the day I am LRd it won't even take me ten minutes to have mental closure, I've been mentally preparing for years

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Post ID: @ax+1jtfw8trc

95% of all employees will say same. No one is exicited to work here anymore like the old days.

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Post ID: @aq+1jtfw8trc

Inspiring.

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Post ID: @an+1jtfw8trc

Everyone at Cisco.

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Post ID: @aa+1jtfw8trc

Same

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Post ID: @a7+1jtfw8trc

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