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Welcome to your guide…

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27 CISCO INTERVIEW
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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

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CISCO INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

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Q1. Tell me about yourself.
Sample Answer:
My name is Richard and for the last few years, I have been working at company XYZ. During this time I have
worked on numerous projects with like-minded professionals to help my employer continually grow and
develop. I would describe myself as technically-astute, highly knowledgeable in my area of expertise, and a
solid collaborator who is passionate about continuous improvement. Before applying for this position at Cisco,
I studied the person specification and the job description carefully to make sure I had the necessary
attributes, experience, and qualities needed to excel in the role. I am someone who always works to exacting
standards; I can be left alone to complete tasks diligently and on time, and I will always positively represent
the Cisco brand whilst communicating with customers, clients, and stakeholders. I am seeking long-term
employment here at Cisco, and being someone who possesses strong analytical skills, troubleshooting, and
problem-solving skills I am confident I can come into the team and make a fast and immediate impact.

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Q2. Why do you want to work for Cisco?

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Sample Answer:
I want to work for Cisco for three reasons. Firstly, I see working at Cisco as a natural progression in my career
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development. I have built up extensive experience over the years in areas such as technical ability, problem-
solving and critical-thinking skills, teamwork, and relationship-building, and I feel I am now ready to work at
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the company that I have long respected and admired. Secondly, I want to work at Cisco because this is a
place that is constantly innovating and changing to make sure it meets the needs of its customers and users.
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The only way a company such as Cisco can maintain its success is to be at the cutting edge of customer
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demand and I find that appealing because I will get to collaborate on high-intensity projects that will push me
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even further. Finally, I want to work for Cisco because I am passionate about working alongside talented
people who are hungry to drive forward the company they are working for. We spend a lot of time at work and
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I want that time to be put to good use. People I have spoken to who work at Cisco have told me nothing but
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positive things about the culture, the values, and the strong work ethic everybody applies in their daily duties.

Q3. What do you know about Cisco?

Sample Answer:
Cisco Systems, Inc. was founded by Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner in 1984. They were computer
scientists at Stanford University and they pioneered the Local Area Network (LAN) concept. Within six years
of launching Cisco, the company had a market capitalization of $224 million. Cisco Systems, Inc. is a
multinational tech company based in San Jose, California. It develops, manufactures, and sells a variety of
products and services based on networking hardware, computer software, telecoms equipment, and various
other high-tech products. Cisco has a multitude of products and services in areas such as networking,
software, video, Internet of Things, wireless and mobility, security, analytics, data center, and collaborations.

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Cisco Systems, Inc. is undoubtedly the leader in networking for the Internet and I say this because of its
market capitalization, which stands at approximately $173 Billion, and the fact that it is innovative in the way
that it connects people and computer devices from around the world regardless of time differences or
operating system. To work for a company such as Cisco with its incredible track record of achievement and
innovation would be an honor, and something I would feel immensely proud of.

Q4. Choose one of Cisco's products and tell me how it can be of benefit to a business.
Sample Answer:
I have been particularly impressed with Cisco’s retail networking solutions for businesses. Historically, one of
the problems retail businesses have experienced is finding ways to interact with customers in-store without
speaking to them directly. Businesses have a desire to engage with customers when they are in-store as this
is proven to increase conversions, promote brand awareness, help relay important safety information, and

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improve customer satisfaction ratings. Cisco offers an innovative service whereby when a customer connects

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to the in-store WIFI, the business can communicate with them and gather important insights. It can deliver

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location-specific information to customers, offer safety advice such as social-distancing, and it gives the
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business, through DNA spaces, real-time metrics such as who is visiting their store, proximity reporting, and
footfall over a set period. This service is truly revolutionizing in-store information and data, and it allows a
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business to drive revenue through a variety of customer information sources.

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Q5. Tell me about a time you had a disagreement with a team member.
Sample Answer:
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I was tasked with working on a technical web-based project in a previous role with another team member. It
was our responsibility to work together to get everything finished within four weeks for the client. At the start of
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the project, we both disagreed on an appropriate plan of action, and a way of working. This was because we
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both came from different technical backgrounds, and we had very different ways of working. I listened to my
work colleagues’ suggested approach to completing the project, and I considered the best way forward that
would ensure the needs of the project came first. I agreed to compromise on several areas of the project but
stood my ground on the ones where I felt I had the strongest areas of expertise and experience. After in-
depth discussions, and a few heated debates, we managed to agree on a great plan of action that would
ensure the project was completed on time and to the necessary standard and specification.

Q6. What are your long-term career objectives?

Sample Answer:
I have been waiting for a position to come up at Cisco for several months now, which I hope goes to indicate
my desire to work here long-term. I have a huge amount of respect for the work Cisco Systems has done over

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the years, and I have first-hand experience with some of your products and services. Therefore, I know of the
quality of work you produce and the talent that you hire here. Having a good understanding of the company
culture has convinced me that Cisco is a place that I want to work at for a lengthy period of time. Within five
years, I still hope to be working here in the same role and seen as an integral part of the Cisco team. Longer-
term, I hope to have proven my worth and my consistency at Cisco and I plan to have gained advancement to
a more senior level within the company.

Q7. Tell us about your weaknesses?

Sample Answer:
My two biggest weaknesses are the fact I have trouble saying no, and I need to gain more experience taking
the lead on projects. From an employer’s perspective, me finding it difficult to say no is probably a good thing.
However, I do need to make sure the quality of the projects I am working on is never compromised. I have

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never missed a project deadline yet, and to keep that achievement, I need to ensure I don’t take on too much

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work. My desire to lead on projects comes from my long-term career objectives. As I mentioned in a previous

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answer, I want to gain advancement in the future, and to be prepared for that, I will need to take the lead on
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some projects which I want to do. I am the type of person who always reflects on my performance because I
want to improve, and if you ever see anything about the way that I go about my work that you want me to
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change, just let me know and I will take the action necessary.
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Q8. How would you rate the quality of your work?

Sample Answer:
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I would typically rate the quality of my work as outstanding. I am a fast worker and if I am ever waiting on
other people to get my project or task finished, I can use appropriate relationship building and interpersonal
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skills to drive things forward. Having said that, there have been one or two situations in the past where I have
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worked too fast to get a project finished and the quality has been slightly compromised as a result. This is just
because I am a fast worker but I do need to keep my eye on the quality of work and slow down slightly to
ensure things are not compromised.

Q9. What’s been the hardest experience in your previous work?

Sample Answer:
Undoubtedly, the hardest experience is where I had to work with a client who was constantly changing the
goalposts of a project I was working on. My manager had given me a brief to work with the client closely and
to make sure we stayed within the allocated costs budget. I understood how important it was to complete the
project to the client's wishes but as the project developed, he kept asking for additional add-ons and changes
that were not within the agreed specification. Every time I respectfully pushed back against his demands, he

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changed them. I had to use a combination of solid communication and interpersonal skills to keep the client
on-board and I needed to be innovative in my approach to finding cost-effective solutions that did not increase
our costs. By persevering, and by trying various solutions I was able to meet the majority of the client's
demands which not increasing our allocated costs. Working on this project was a great experience and one
that I learned a tremendous amount from!

Q10. Explain your interest in technology and how it applies to your career goals.
Sample Answer:
My interest in technology stems back to my childhood when I used to take apart my computer to see how it
worked, much to the annoyance of my father! I had a fascination with things technical and as time went on I
would spend time reading various blogs to find out what was up and coming in the tech world. Then, whilst at
school, I obtained a summer placement at a local computer repair shop which was a great way to gain some

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important soft skills and customer service skills. I became quite proficient at repairing computers during the

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placement and again I got to understand how they worked from a basic technical concept. I then graduated

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and started my first job at company XYZ as a computer programmer and it was at this stage in my career
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development where I really got to learn about coding, the internet, and how you can make a difference in this
ever-growing industry if you have the passion to do so. My first piece of code was written in my spare time
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and I developed a piece of code that stopped your browser from closing, which was particularly useful in the
early 2000s when you needed to keep a webpage open if you were uploading a large file for example!
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Although I have little time for things outside of work now, I still regularly read website blogs such as
DigitalTrends, Wired, and VentureBeat. You could say I am still a bit of a geek at heart which I think is helpful
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when working on important projects and when trying to find solutions to tech-related problems. All this relates
to my career goals because I think it is helpful having a solid foundation in tech and how things work. After all,
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you can then relate to the consumer and what they need, something which Cisco has done really well over
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the years! As I previously stated, I want to gain advancement in this company in a few years and my tech
background will help when leading on important product and service-related tasks and projects.

Q11. Why should we hire you for this role at Cisco?

Sample Answer:
I believe you should hire me because my level of technical knowledge and expertise are amongst some of the
best. Cisco Systems has always excelled at what it does because of the talent it has working there, and I
genuinely believe I will be a strong asset to bring into the business. You should hire me because I never think
of myself. I am selfless and I will work collaboratively with other people to ensure Cisco’s commercial and
financial objectives are always met. Finally, you should hire me to work at Cisco because I am passionate

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about what I do, I enjoy my work, and I always take the time to ensure my knowledge of this industry is kept
up to date.

Q12. How did you find out about this job position at Cisco Systems?
Sample Answer:
I have wanted to work at Cisco for some time now and on that basis, I have had a Google alert set up on my
phone for adverts that are specific to this role. As soon as the job was advertised, I submitted my resume. I’d
already planned out and created my resume before the job was advertised, which hopefully indicates my
levels of enthusiasm for working here. I have kept an interest in Cisco’s performance over the last twelve
months or so and I follow you on social medial and in particular LinkedIn where I know you are very active.

Q13. How would you build relationships with difficult clients or customers?

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Sample Answer:

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I would make sure the dialogue with the client was strong as I am a firm believer that good, positive

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communication is vital to building positive, long-term relationships with clients. I would get to know more about
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the client and what’s important to them in their business. If I can get to the bottom of their needs, then I will be
able to provide a service based on what they want, and this should serve to improve relations. Although I
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would always maintain professionalism with the client, I would try to establish a personal connection of some
sort; perhaps by finding out what interests them outside of work. If there is a personal connection, again this
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can help to improve relationships and communication overall. Finally, in addition to showing compassion and
understanding when required, I would make sure professional boundaries were maintained and that the
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client’s needs were met at all times.

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Q14. Tell me a time when you went above and beyond for a client or a customer.
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Sample Answer:
SITUATION: In my previous job I was working on the creation and development of a website for a
customer. It was a particularly difficult project because the customer continually altered the requirements
of the website design and specification.
TASK: It was my job to make sure I provided excellent service for the customer, respond to any of their
queries promptly, whilst at the same time ensuring the project was profitable for my employer.
ACTION: Each time the customer requested a change to the website, I tried to accommodate this where
possible, and providing the amendments didn’t affect our profit margin, I was happy to do the work. I
even spent time working in the evenings and at weekends for free, to help make the website as effective
and functional as possible and to also meet the deadline.

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RESULT: Once the website was complete, I handed it over to the extremely satisfied customer. I
calculated I had spent an additional 36 hours on the project in my own spare time. To go above and
beyond for people is something that comes naturally to me and something I very much enjoy.

Q15. Describe a time when you had to overcome a challenging problem.

Sample Answer:
During a particular team project for my previous employer, we were seven days away from the project
deadline and everything was going smoothly and as planned. Unfortunately, two important members of
the team had to go off without notice; one due to sickness and the second due to compassionate
reasons. The project was thrown into turmoil, and it initially looked like the project would not get
delivered, having potentially disastrous consequences for the client. I decided to step up to the plate and

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search for ways we could get the project over the finishing line. I started scouting for talent from other

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departments, and after a day of intense searching, we managed to hire two people to help us complete

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the project. We all worked around the clock due to the time already lost and pulled together, dug deep,
and focused on the project outcomes. At the end of the deadline the project was completed, and more
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importantly, to the required specification. I believe I am at my best when under pressure and can always
be relied upon to be resilient, innovative, and determined.
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Q16. Explain how you would deal with ambiguity in a difficult situation.
Sample Answer:
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Whenever I deal with ambiguity, I always ensure I communicate with clarity and I focus intently on my
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end goal. For example, in a previous role, I was tasked with looking after important customers from the
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initial point of purchase, through to them receiving their goods. Whilst all customers are of equal
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importance, we often had high-spending clients who demanded a certain level of service. Often, I was
required to deal with ambiguity after customers had placed an order for a certain niche, hard-to-source
products that had limited availability. Understandably, the customer wanted to be kept up-to-date on the
progress of their order. To ensure I provided the right level of service, I would keep in constant contact
with the customer, the product supplier, and also the logistics company to ensure delivery was as quick
and as efficient as possible. I always found the best way to deal with ambiguity was to remain calm,
deliver on your promises, and communicate effectively and regularly throughout the entire purchasing
and delivery process. Ambiguity is all part and parcel of working for a large and successful organization
such as Cisco, and I can be relied upon to meet my objectives within this role.

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Q17. Tell me about a time when you had to make an important decision with limited information.
Sample Answer:
In a previous role, I was often required to make quick decisions without much information to hand. One
particular situation involved a client requesting important changes to a project we were working on for
them and they needed an answer within the hour. Normally, I would take the time to calculate a cost-
based exercise to determine the impact on our budget and the profitability whenever a client requested
additions or changes. However, this was not possible. I weighed up the risks of losing the client for future
projects as they had already spent a considerable amount of money with us over the years. On that
basis, I agreed to the changes but reiterated there would not anymore. I only ever make quick decisions
if the risk of not doing is at the detriment of the organization I am working for. I will always balance risks
versus the benefits in any situation like this that I am presented with.

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Q18. Describe a time when you managed to find a simple solution to a complex problem.
Sample Answer:
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I was in a meeting in my previous job where the company’s sales figures were being discussed by the
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managers. Although the sales figures were healthy, there was concern amongst the group that the
profitability was not as good as it should be, due to the marketing spend that was ongoing. At the end of
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the meeting, I decided to try and find a solution to this problem. I met up with the marketing team, and
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they explained to me the bulk of the marketing spend was going on Facebook and social media adverts.
After some investigative work, it became apparent that the team was not using Facebook tracking pixels
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that are designed to measure the performance of the advertising spend. I quickly informed them of what I
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had found, and moving forward from that day on, the organization was able to measure accurately the
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marketing return on investment. This allowed us to cease adverts that were not giving us any return,
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which in turn increased profitability.

Q19. Tell me about a time when you took a calculated risk at work.
Sample Answer:
In a previous job, I had not been there that long when I was offered a promotion. This came entirely out
of the blue, and whilst I am very ambitious and enthusiastic, I decided to turn it down. The reason for me
turning down the opportunity was based on the fact I genuinely wanted to learn my new role to a high
standard, so I could then help the organization and my team develop. Although I feel I could have
performed well within the promotion, I did not want to risk my reputation and the performance of the
company, especially as I had only been there for a relatively short period. This was a risk on my part, as I

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may not have been offered the opportunity for promotion again. However, it proved to be the right
decision as my manager respected my choice, and I went on to be one of the company’s highest
achievers.

Q20. Tell me about a time when you failed.

Sample Answer:
In my current role as a marketing coordinator, I was part of a team tasked with managing an advertising
campaign for a brand-new product. The product was a new type of laundry detergent that was high-
performing at lower temperatures and was more environmentally-friendly than what the market provided.
My team was responsible for organizing the production of a radio advertisement, as well as banner
advertisements for websites. These tasks were all completed on schedule and to a high standard, but

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surveys later showed that the adverts were not particularly effective when creating purchases. Initially, we

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all felt quite defeated – having spent a lot of time and energy on these two projects. Thankfully, we managed

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to learn a few things to improve on. Firstly, we realized that our online advertisements had not been catered
enough to the target audience. This meant that our campaign was not nearly as effective as it could have
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been. Secondly, we learned to keep our excitement and hopes in check during a project. Optimism and
excitement are essential, but it’s important to stay grounded when completing tasks. This way, you can
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keep a level head if something goes wrong.

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Q21. Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your supervisor or manager.
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Sample Answer:
I recall being in a meeting with our company directors and discussions were taking place around the fact
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that we needed to find ways to reduce costs over the forthcoming twelve months. The company was
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doing well; however, we needed to increase profitability, and one way to achieve that goal was to reduce
costs. It was suggested by one of the directors that we could save money by reducing the size of the
customer service team. We had five staff within that department and he proposed to go down to three
people. However, I felt this would be detrimental to the company because our reputation amongst our
customers was formidable, and the main reason for that was the after-sales support we provided. I
explained to the director the reasons why I felt this would not be beneficial to us moving forward. I
provided examples of other companies within our sector that did not take their customer service as
seriously as we did, and their online reviews and their sales reflected that. As an alternative, I suggested
we could go down to three staff within the customer service department but replace the two positions lost

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with an outsourced service dedicated to after-sales. He agreed that we should explore this option further
and I volunteered to do the exploratory work to assess how viable this was, to which he agreed.

Q22. Talk me through an impressive project in your portfolio.

Sample Answer:
I was responsible for delivering a challenging project that had a very tight budget and limited staff. To
make the project effective, I came up with an idea that enabled me to make use of a pool of talent for
specific project-related tasks from around the globe. Because I was using tried-and-tested outsourcers
from different countries, this meant a large portion of the technical project-specific tasks could still be
carried out at night whilst I was sleeping. Each day when I logged on at 6 am, I would have already
received updates from the project outsourcers on the progress they were making with their specific area.
This ensured the project workflow continued 24-hours a day, which enabled me to get the project

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completed on time. In addition to this, the cost for using outsources from some countries was

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considerably lower than others, which again enabled me to meet the specific financial constraints of the
project.
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Q23. When have you worked as part of a team to complete a difficult task?
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Sample Answer:
In my previous job, I volunteered to work with 5 other members to complete a difficult project that had
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fallen by the wayside due to a contractor going out of business. The task required all 5 of us to work
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closely together to integrate a new software system with the client’s website. We only had four days to
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complete the task in accordance with the specification and the client’s requirements. Time was of the
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essence and we needed to work hard to get everything done to a professional standard. We started by
reading the client brief carefully and then I decided to take the lead and allocate specific tasks based on
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each team member's capabilities and area of expertise. We then set timescales for each team member to
reach, which would ensure the task got completed in time. Throughout the four-day working period, we
all supported each other as and when required to motivate each other through regular communication.
The result was the project was completed on time and to a high standard, much to the satisfaction of the
client.

Q24. Why did you leave your last job?

Sample Answer:
My employer was fantastic and whilst I was there, we managed to move the business forward
significantly. For example, we helped the business reach record turnover through outstanding customer

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service and by constantly achieving our sales targets. However, I did not feel my skills and qualities were
being put to best use and I wanted a fresh challenge with a new, forward-thinking and innovative
company.

Q25. What are your greatest strengths?

Sample Answer:
In particular, I have five key strengths. These are having the ability to work hard to complete a task even
when under pressure. A loyal attitude and approach to work, which means I will never let you down. The
ability to even work alone unsupervised, and also as part of a team, which means I have a flexible
approach to work. I am also someone who can adapt to change, and I realize that change is important, if
a business is going to grow. Finally, I am a strong customer service-focused employee who can provide

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exceptional service. I can be relied upon to perform to a high standard in this Cisco role and will ensure

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all customers and clients receive the same great service.

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Q26. What are your salary expectations in this role here at Cisco?
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Sample Answer:
I have carried out some research about the average salary for this position, and the general range is
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between $48,000 and $65,000. Whilst I do personally feel I am worth the higher end of the salary scale, I
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understand and appreciate I need to prove to you my worth. On that basis, I would be comfortable with a
salary of $60,000.
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NOTE: Please conduct your own research into the general salary range for the job you are applying for
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with Cisco.
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Q27. That’s the end of your Cisco interview. Do you have questions for the panel?
Sample Answer:
QUESTION – Who has the final say on the products and services that are launched each year by
Google?
QUESTION – Are you able to tell me about any new products or services that Cisco will be launching in
the next 12 months or so?
QUESTION – What would you need me to concentrate on in this role within the first 30 days or so of
commencing work?
QUESTION – What advice would you give to the successful candidate who wants to excel here at Cisco?
QUESTION – What’s the culture like here at Cisco?

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How to Use These Interview Questions and Answers:

These interview questions and answers are intended to guide you in your preparation for your job
interview. These questions have been picked by the PassMyInterview team because we believe
that they are the best representative of what you will face in your interview.

The sample answers in this resource are collated from years of experience and research in the
recruitment sector. The answers confidently display the appropriate qualities and competencies
that the interviewer expects from successful candidates.

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Read the sample answers carefully, and take note of what skills and competencies they

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demonstrate. You might notice that, when the question asks for examples, the answer uses the
STAR method to construct the response:
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Situation. Start off your response to the interview question by explaining what the ‘situation’ was
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and who was involved.

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Task. Once you have detailed the situation, explain what the ‘task’ was, or what needed to be
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done.
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Action. Now explain what ‘action’ you took, and what action others took. Also explain why you
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took this particular course of action.

Result. Explain to the panel what you would do differently if the same situation arose again. It is
good to be reflective at the end of your responses. This demonstrates a level of maturity and it
will also show the panel that you are willing to learn from every experience.

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In order to get the best possible results, apply this system to your own examples and experiences
in working life. These sample answers are intended to inspire you to create your own responses
to the questions.

Disclaimer:
PassMyInterview is not responsible for anyone failing any part of any selection process as a result
of the information contained within this resource. PassMyInterview and their authors cannot accept
any responsibility for any errors or omissions within this resource, however caused. No
responsibility for loss or damage occasioned by any person acting, or refraining from action, as a
result of the material in this publication can be accepted by PassMyInterview.

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