Cisco interview questions. 11 from past candidates.
The process at Cisco, what each stage actually tests, and how candidates prep. Real questions where we have them, likely questions where we don't.
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[01] BY THE NUMBERS
Headline facts before you prep.
Pulled straight from Cisco's career page and public data sources. Tap any cell for the full breakdown.
Open roles now
1,805
648 posted 30d
Process duration
~13 days
median to interview
Median total comp
$255K
Levels.fyi · all roles
[02] INTERVIEW PROCESS
Standard software engineering loop at Cisco.
The stages below describe the typical SWE loop. Product, Design, and Data loops differ; pick a role to see how it changes, or jump straight to real questions reported for that role.
01Recruiter Screen
30 min
Recruiter Screen
30 minInitial call to discuss your background, the role, and logistics.
- Research the company and role thoroughly
- Prepare your elevator pitch
- Ask about the interview process and timeline
02Technical Interview
45-60 min
Technical Interview
45-60 minCoding and/or system design questions relevant to the role.
- Practice on LeetCode or similar platforms
- Think out loud and communicate your approach
- Ask clarifying questions before starting
03Behavioral Interview
45 min
Behavioral Interview
45 minQuestions about your past experiences, teamwork, and problem-solving.
- Prepare STAR-format stories
- Focus on specific examples with measurable outcomes
- Show self-awareness about mistakes and learnings
[03] REAL QUESTIONS
Reported by people who interviewed at Cisco.
11 questions sourced directly from candidates on Reddit, Blind, Glassdoor, and Scoutify user reports.
Other Roles
8 questions · 5 reported · 3 likely
Other Roles
8 questions · 5 reported · 3 likelyHow would you integrate an acquired startup's superior product with Cisco's?
Tell me about your favorite non-software product.
Tell me about your favorite software product.
What should I prepare for the interview and what is the interview process like?
Is there team matching after the final round?
Why do you believe Cisco is uniquely positioned to lead in the AI and connectivity space, and how does this influence your desire to work here?
What aspects of Cisco's mission to connect and protect organizations through innovative technology solutions resonate with you, and how do you see yourself contributing to that mission?
Cisco's culture promotes innovation through collaboration. Can you share how you would foster a culture of continuous learning within your team to support this vision?
Product Management
5 questions · all reported by candidates
Product Management
5 questions · all reported by candidatesToday is Wednesday, and you need to deliver a release on Friday that is crucial for a key customer. The engineering manager reports a major bug. What do you do?
Tell me about your favorite product.
You are a PM at Cisco facing supply chain issues. Role play a conversation with your client on how to address this.
How would you set goals and measure success for Webex?
How would you integrate LinkedIn with Cisco Webex to display user profiles on Webex during meetings?
Design
3 questions
Design
3 questionsIn the context of Cisco's AI initiatives, what instructional design principles would you prioritize to ensure effective learning experiences tailored for sales teams?
Cisco is redefining how sales teams learn in the AI era. How do you envision integrating AI into the learning experiences you design for sales enablement?
Considering Cisco's emphasis on customer engagement, how would you leverage customer feedback to improve the learning experiences you create for sales teams?
Sales
2 questions
Sales
2 questionsWith Cisco's focus on data-driven decision-making, how do you plan to utilize analytics in your approach to sales enablement?
As an Account Executive at Cisco, what strategies would you implement to effectively communicate the value of our AI and sales enablement solutions to potential clients?
DevOps
2 questions
DevOps
2 questionsWhat is your understanding of Cisco's approach to cybersecurity, particularly in relation to the Information Security Engineer role and protecting organizations from emerging threats?
Cisco's products, like ThousandEyes, provide deep visibility into network performance. How would you apply your knowledge of network monitoring to enhance customer reliability in your role?
Software Engineering
1 question · all reported by candidates
Software Engineering
1 question · all reported by candidatesWhat does your confidence level mean when building a confidence interval?
How to answer these: the STAR method
Use the STAR method: describe the Situation, the Task you faced, the specific Action you took, and the measurable Result. Aim for 60-90 seconds with one concrete metric. Practice it out loud before the interview so it flows naturally; the same structure works for every question above.
[04] CODING PRACTICE
LeetCode tagged for Cisco.
The 15 highest-frequency problems candidates report being asked in Cisco loops, pulled from the public company-wise question bank.
Easy
What it testsLinked lists
Why it appearsPulled from the public company-wise question bank, with a frequency score of 0.5 for Cisco. Acceptance rate 62.5% on LeetCode.
Open problem #206 on LeetCodeEasy
What it testsArrays + hashing
Why it appearsPulled from the public company-wise question bank, with a frequency score of 0.5 for Cisco. Acceptance rate 45.6% on LeetCode.
Open problem #1 on LeetCodeHard
Why it appearsPulled from the public company-wise question bank, with a frequency score of 0.4 for Cisco. Acceptance rate 44.0% on LeetCode.
Open problem #1235 on LeetCodeMedium
What it testsIntervals + sorting
Why it appearsPulled from the public company-wise question bank, with a frequency score of 0.4 for Cisco. Acceptance rate 39.3% on LeetCode.
Open problem #56 on LeetCodeMedium
What it testsSystems design
Why it appearsPulled from the public company-wise question bank, with a frequency score of 0.3 for Cisco. Acceptance rate 33.2% on LeetCode.
Open problem #146 on LeetCodeEasy
What it testsLinked lists
Why it appearsPulled from the public company-wise question bank, with a frequency score of 0.3 for Cisco. Acceptance rate 80.4% on LeetCode.
Open problem #1290 on LeetCodeMedium
Why it appearsPulled from the public company-wise question bank, with a frequency score of 0.2 for Cisco. Acceptance rate 33.9% on LeetCode.
Open problem #2 on LeetCodeMedium
What it testsTrees, Dynamic programming
Why it appearsPulled from the public company-wise question bank, with a frequency score of 0.2 for Cisco. Acceptance rate 30.4% on LeetCode.
Open problem #3 on LeetCodeMedium
What it testsMatrix
Why it appearsPulled from the public company-wise question bank, with a frequency score of 0.2 for Cisco. Acceptance rate 56.7% on LeetCode.
Open problem #48 on LeetCodeMedium
Why it appearsPulled from the public company-wise question bank, with a frequency score of 0.2 for Cisco. Acceptance rate 38.4% on LeetCode.
Open problem #909 on LeetCodeEasy
What it testsStrings
Why it appearsPulled from the public company-wise question bank, with a frequency score of 0.2 for Cisco. Acceptance rate 68.5% on LeetCode.
Open problem #344 on LeetCodeMedium
Why it appearsPulled from the public company-wise question bank, with a frequency score of 0.2 for Cisco. Acceptance rate 24.1% on LeetCode.
Open problem #468 on LeetCodeEasy
Why it appearsPulled from the public company-wise question bank, with a frequency score of 0.2 for Cisco. Acceptance rate 45.0% on LeetCode.
Open problem #246 on LeetCodeMedium
What it testsStrings
Why it appearsPulled from the public company-wise question bank, with a frequency score of 0.2 for Cisco. Acceptance rate 50.0% on LeetCode.
Open problem #394 on LeetCodeMedium
What it testsTrees, Dynamic programming
Why it appearsPulled from the public company-wise question bank, with a frequency score of 0.2 for Cisco. Acceptance rate 29.5% on LeetCode.
Open problem #5 on LeetCode[05] HIRING PULSE
Cisco's hiring pulse.
We re-scan Cisco's career page every few minutes and keep the full posting history, so these counts come from the board itself, not an aggregator.
Posted (7d)
149
Posted (30d)
624
Posted (90d)
1,600
Scanned every few minutes · newest tracked posting May 23, 2026
[06] SALARY SNAPSHOT
Know the bands before the loop.
Median total compensation at Cisco by level, as reported by employees on Levels.fyi. Worth knowing before the recruiter asks about expectations.
Data Scientist
Source: Levels.fyi| Level | Total | Base | N |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 4 | $118K | $115K | 4 |
| Grade 6 | $129K | $118K | 9 |
| Grade 8 | $181K | $150K | 20 |
| Grade 10 | $237K | $184K | 28 |
| Grade 11 | $279K | $193K | 6 |
| Grade 12 | $339K | $218K | 7 |
Product Designer
Source: Levels.fyi| Level | Total | Base | N |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 4 | $111K | $107K | 6 |
| Grade 6 | $134K | $129K | 9 |
| Grade 8 | $171K | $147K | 50 |
| Grade 10 | $201K | $167K | 11 |
| Grade 11 | $255K | $203K | 11 |
| Grade 12 | $283K | $193K | 11 |
Source: Levels.fyi · median of reported samples · N = sample count
Full compensation breakdown on the Cisco company page[07] AFTER YOU APPLY
What happens after you hit submit.
Scoutify sent 75 applications to Cisco for 26 users in the last 12 months, then watched what came back. Not survey answers; observed outcomes.
Get a screen
2.7%
share of applications
Reach an interview
2.7%
share of applications
Days to interview
13 days
median from apply
Median cycle length (apply to terminal outcome): 13 days.
Based on 75 applications from 26 Scoutify users · last 12 months
[08] APPLY LOGISTICS
Applications go through Workday.
Cisco runs hiring on Workday, so the application form and recruiter follow-ups flow through it. Use the same email everywhere and keep the profile fields consistent with your resume; recruiters see both side by side.
Enterprise-grade human capital management platform used by the world's largest organizations. Workday Recruiting is a core module within its broader HR suite.
Scoutify checks Cisco's career page for new roles, so you can have Sniper apply to Cisco's next opening that fits your filters, usually minutes after it goes up on Workday. Sniper sends one application per posting, and the employer's confirmation email for most applications lands in Scoutify Mail.
ATS identified from the application URLs on Cisco's recent postings
[09] PEOPLE ALSO ASK
Common questions about Cisco interviews.
Does Cisco sponsor H1B visas?
Yes, Cisco does sponsor H1B visas for international candidates. This allows qualified individuals from outside the U.S. to apply for positions and work at Cisco, particularly in key locations like San Jose and Bengaluru. If you have the necessary skills and qualifications, you can apply without worrying about visa issues.
What is the average salary and compensation structure at Cisco?
The average salary range for positions at Cisco is between $166,182 and $233,266, based on current job postings. For higher-level roles, median total compensation can be significantly more; for instance, a Distinguished Engineer earns a median total comp of $661,000. This structure reflects Cisco's commitment to competitive pay in the tech industry.
What is the interview process like at Cisco?
The interview process at Cisco typically includes technical assessments, such as coding challenges from platforms like LeetCode. Candidates may encounter questions like 'Reverse Linked List' or 'Two Sum,' which evaluate your problem-solving skills. Additionally, expect behavioral interviews that assess your fit within Cisco's culture and values.
What is the current hiring volume and what roles are open right now at Cisco?
Cisco currently has 1,866 active job postings, with 641 positions added in the last 30 days and 124 in the last 7 days. The top roles include Software Engineer (129 openings) and Solutions Engineer (35 openings), indicating a strong demand for technical talent. If you're looking to join Cisco, now is a promising time to apply.
[10] OVERVIEW
What candidates run into at Cisco.
Tech company interviews typically include a mix of coding, system design, and behavioral rounds. The exact format varies by company size and role level.
[11] PREP TIPS
How candidates prepare.
[12] EXPERT FRAMEWORKS
Frameworks and sample answers from interview coaches.
Curated from Columbia Engineering's licensed BigInterview library: expert-written tips, sample answers, and walkthroughs that work for any interview.
Source: BigInterview (licensed by Columbia Engineering)
[13] FAQ
Questions candidates ask about Cisco interviews.
Salary, visa sponsorship, process, hiring volume. Drawn from public data on Cisco.
Yes, Cisco does sponsor H1B visas for international candidates. This allows qualified individuals from outside the U.S. to apply for positions and work at Cisco, particularly in key locations like San Jose and Bengaluru. If you have the necessary skills and qualifications, you can apply without worrying about visa issues.
[14] MORE INTERVIEW PREP
Companies candidates compare with Cisco.
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