My department is the Customer Proof of Concept labs (CPOC). The CPOC is a part of a larger group, Cisco Sales Support Labs (SSL), which aims to assist in the sales of our products (mostly dealing with the larger customers we maintain business with). So, a customer will come in (say Home Depot or AOL or Sprint) looking to upgrade a certain portion of their network (say the core), and our job as a proof of concept lab is to prove that certain upgrades we've suggested will mesh with their network and perform according to the specs. As a co-op, you will be responsible for cabling networking devices in the lab, assisting engineers with (often random) tasks, lab maintenance, and some basic configuration of networking equipment among other duties. There is a LOT of hands on work here. Additionally, you will receive occasional training sessions by the engineers (I've been given training on VoIP, spanning tree, routing protocols, IP addressing, network address translation, various testing software, etc).

The ideal candidate would be hard working (there's always work to be done here), interested in networking, have good written and verbal communication skills, have a positive attitude and aptitude to learn. A 3.0 GPA or better is preferred, but if you're below this mark and think you deserve a chance send me your resume! I didn't have a 3.0 coming in

We're looking for a couple co-ops for the Fall, and we're going to need a lot in the Spring. Email me your resume if interested: jim_suddarth@hotmail.com. Also give me a number to reach you at and I'll give you a call. If you enjoy networking, or think you might look into networking as a career path, this is an ideal company to get experience with. This is a paid position.

A few fellow tww'ers have worked at Cisco, and I can think of a few people on here who have co-oped in this department. If you guys want to add anything, go for it.

7/12/2006 1:32:48 PM

is this the place with beer and cookies? sign me up if that's the case

7/12/2006 1:36:40 PM

well i've had both beer and cookies while working here, but you're talking about Beer and Cookie Friday, which was a TAC thing that i think they stopped doing.

7/12/2006 1:40:42 PM

I think both of those items consumed seperately is sufficiently awesome

7/12/2006 1:51:21 PM

i think bous worked in this division as a co-op

7/12/2006 2:03:51 PM

^^^ oh no, it's still on. In fact we're having it tomomrrow.

^ yep, as did cdubya, and I spent my 4 years as a co-op there as well.

7/12/2006 2:31:00 PM

too bad I'm 19 and I already have a co-op position

7/12/2006 2:32:14 PM

fine, i'll do it

7/12/2006 2:42:52 PM

Forgot to mention we're looking mainly for CSC/EE/CPE majors. Sorry Keith!

7/12/2006 3:41:30 PM

I got a similar message in my webmail the other day (lots of other kids probably did too) about Cisco looking for people for a group called SEO, what does SEO stand for?

7/12/2006 5:37:09 PM

Security Evaluation Office

7/12/2006 5:43:20 PM

they want co-ops for something called "security evaluation" they must be a trusting bunch, shame I already have a job, that could have been fun.

7/12/2006 5:45:13 PM

The co-op would most likely being opening DDTS tickets and tracking them. That would be the extent I would imagine... or possibly some use cases and testing.

7/12/2006 6:32:03 PM

jimb0 works at Cisco? Since when?

Quick questions:
-Year preference? SO/JR/SR?
-How do rotations typically work / how many rotations can you do?
-Hours and typical shifts?
-Dress attire?
-Coursework / Preferred Skills coming in?

7/12/2006 6:44:02 PM

I'm still a co-op here, I'm currently working my third rotation. I'm probably working a fourth rotation next Spring, so I might be working with one of you if you send in your resume. So you better be cool

1) Sophomores and Juniors preferred, Freshmen welcome, Seniors are not as preferred because we want people to commit to 3 rotations (a years worth of co-op experience).

2) You alternate semesters of school and full-time work here as a co-op. We like co-ops to do 3 rotations (a years worth) to make themselves useful. It takes anywhere from 2-4 months on average to train co-ops to a level where they can be really productive, so we like to see them return for more rotations to put that training to use!

3) Never heard of a part-time co-op position in this department, only full-time.

4) Jeans and tshirt. Nothing too obviously profane, although I've worn some risky shirts...

5) It would be cool if you had some networking background or experience, or a desire to learn more about it. As far as coursework, it would be cool if you took one or more networking or security courses. But you will have to be familiar with some networking fundamentals to shine in your interview. Read up on some basic CCNA materials.

7/12/2006 9:12:41 PM

Quote :

"The co-op would most likely being opening DDTS tickets and tracking them. That would be the extent I would imagine... or possibly some use cases and testing."

This job, while fun at first, became completely crappy. The pay was the only thing keeping me going, and that didn't keep me going but about 4-5 months, then I started slacking in the summer. My fault, but I was about sick and tired of running cables and doing shit work.

I got a job at MCNC and LOVED IT! I actually did tons of hands on stuff, LIVE configs, went to sites and updated/fixed routers, upgraded real networks, etc.

I prefer that over the lab stuff, so that Cisco department for me was a good experience, but made me realize what I really wanted to do... Sales



but most people should like the job... regular corp environment, fun at times, learn some networking, your e-ego can become bigger, and you get to work in a room with multiple millions of dollars worth of equipment and touch it

[Edited on July 13, 2006 at 12:55 AM. Reason : ]

7/13/2006 12:47:48 AM

man, jimbo, what does suddarth mean?

7/13/2006 1:18:05 AM

Quote :

"I got a similar message in my webmail the other day (lots of other kids probably did too) about Cisco looking for people for a group called SEO, what does SEO stand for"

That was an email that I sent to Joyce, and was my old position. I also posted a thread about it:
http://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=410617
Let me know if you have any questions.

On another note, I highly recommend the CPoC as a coop position. Best decision of my college career.


[Edited on July 13, 2006 at 9:57 AM. Reason : link]

7/13/2006 9:52:43 AM

Quote :

"The co-op would most likely being opening DDTS tickets and tracking them. That would be the extent I would imagine... or possibly some use cases and testing."

drhavoc is not talking about my department, he's talking about the SEO when he says this, just to eliminate any confusion.

^^^Sorry to hear if you didn't enjoy it here. I couldn't have asked for a better co-op experience (although it took me a while to adjust and feel as comfortable with the work as I do now).

^^It's pretty close to meaning 'enlightened one' I've read. Can't argue with that!

^Same here!

[Edited on July 13, 2006 at 10:25 AM. Reason : .]

7/13/2006 10:22:31 AM

Like any coop, you get out of it what you put into it. I guess I'll just leave it at that.

Good to see Jimbo spreading the love on to the next generation.

[Edited on July 13, 2006 at 10:41 AM. Reason : .]

7/13/2006 10:26:11 AM

indeed. I definitely got a lot out of my time in the CPOC.

7/13/2006 10:35:48 AM

im currently getting my ccna from cisco.. i think i could do this, would be a great opportunity

7/13/2006 3:42:40 PM

do they take international students?

i have a CCNA

7/13/2006 4:02:38 PM

Word is that they don't sponsor visas though.

7/13/2006 5:44:43 PM

sounds like god awful boring

7/13/2006 11:53:32 PM

Quote :

"drhavoc is not talking about my department, he's talking about the SEO when he says this, just to eliminate any confusion."

Yeah, sorry about that jimb0. I wasn't trying to eff up your thread. Just trying to answer questions about the SEO.

The CPOC lab is actually pretty cool. I got to meet some TWWers like bous and gephelps over there. Getting to set up labs and stuff for customer testing would be a great way for someone to get their feet wet in the networking field.

Plus, you'd get to work on the same campus as BobbyDigital!!1

7/14/2006 8:09:40 AM

I'm full-time with another team now.

You get exposed to a lot of things in CPOC. IF Cisco is where you want to be, the CPOC has a good track record of co-ops becoming full-time somewhere else in the company.

The team itself is full of a lot of good engineers that have considerable knowledge.

7/14/2006 6:24:56 PM

^

the engineers there are hands down awesome.

if this is your thing, do it.

7/14/2006 9:18:57 PM

I'm in ECE right now but will probably be switching out...and my GPA is a little low.
Would you still take someone like that? I love networking--got my CCNA in 11th grade but it recently expired in May.

7/15/2006 2:12:19 AM

I can't think of anyone that cooped at the CPOC and didn't find a full-time job at Cisco afterwords, assuming they wanted one.

7/15/2006 2:18:25 AM

^^ I don't see why not. Unless things have changed, they aren't too hung up on GPA if you show a willingness to learn and work hard.

7/15/2006 8:40:28 AM

do you work with Derek Saunders there? Hes a friend, said he liked doing this and payed real well. I think hes moved up since but hes a cool guy so if ppl are like that there then I'm sure the environment is pretty cool.

7/15/2006 10:48:01 AM

Yep, I know Derek. He started after I left, but he's a good guy, and pretty representative of the coops there.

7/15/2006 12:22:06 PM

stevedude, charlesHF and okydoky, send me an email.

yeah derek's done co-oping but he still comes to hang out with us at work sometimes. cool guy.

7/16/2006 10:31:49 PM

is it true that they dont sponsor Visa's?

7/17/2006 12:49:30 PM

certainly not for co-ops.

7/17/2006 1:04:51 PM

Hey Bobby, what's the usual "absorption" rate for outside contractors as perm full time? I know a guy who worked as a contractor in RTP location for more than 2 years. Is this something that is ruled out?

7/17/2006 1:11:58 PM

They told me 6 months when I talked to them a few months ago.

7/17/2006 1:22:57 PM

^^ It varies. We don't absorb any contractors where I am at all, but in other organizations, I know folks who started off as contractors and now are full-time employees.

Basically, i have no useful info for you.

7/17/2006 1:48:46 PM

On a side note, if anyone with a networking background is interested in a full-time position at Cisco, shoot me a pm and I'll fwd the job description. A group in my org is looking for a few more newhires.

7/17/2006 2:02:32 PM

my question is, do they hire full-time internationals?

7/17/2006 2:40:55 PM

yes

7/17/2006 2:41:07 PM