Great Company, but be prepared to work longer hours and harder than you ever have before
Pros
Stable market leader that is never satisfied with the status quo. Their products are second to none, and they truly understand the value of products that compliment each other. They use all their own products internally and that certainly lends credibilty in the sales process. They have a very good benefits package and provide 4 weeks of vacation per year to new employees.
Cons
Work / Life balance is something that is talked about all the time, however it is very hard to achieve, especially at the end of each quarter. Sales is a tough game with any company, however at Cisco your territory and your quota don't always align. A brand new rep right out of their training program can achieve 115% of quota (with no true sales experience), while a seasoned individual can be "worked out" of the company depending upon the geographical piece of dirt each is given. At the end of each fiscal year, accounts are shuffled and territories are re-aligned, which means unless you are a global account manager, you aren't going to be calling on the same customer more than 12 months. Very hard to become a trusted advisor to a customer in this scenario.