Big Tech

Cisco Interview Process & Prep Guide (2026)

Difficulty: Medium-High

By Durgesh Yadav, Senior Data Engineer at 7-Eleven · Updated October 2026

Cisco interview process

The Cisco interview process usually runs in this order: online assessment, 2-3 technical rounds (DSA, networking, systems), then hiring manager.

Round 1: Online assessment
Assessment
Round 2: 2-3 technical rounds (DSA, networking, systems)
Round 3: Hiring manager

Cisco rounds in detail

Cisco India hires through campus drives and lateral panels with a heavy emphasis on networking and systems fundamentals over pure DSA grinding; expect deep TCP/IP, OS and C/C++ questioning alongside moderate coding, run by engineers from the specific business unit (routing, security, Webex, Meraki) you would join.

1. Online Assessment
~60 min · Medium
HackerRank-style test: aptitude, MCQs on networking/OS/C, and one or two easy-medium coding problems.
aptitude · TCP/IP basics · OS fundamentals · arrays and strings
2. Technical Interview 1
~50 min · Medium
DSA problems at easy-medium level plus networking fundamentals — OSI vs TCP/IP, what happens when you type a URL, subnetting.
linked lists and trees · TCP vs UDP · subnetting · sorting and searching
3. Technical Interview 2 (Domain Deep-Dive)
~60 min · Hard
BU-specific depth: packet walkthroughs, routing protocols, C/C++ memory and debugging, or systems design of a network service for senior candidates.
BGP/OSPF · C pointers and memory · multithreading · packet flow debugging · design of network services
4. Managerial Round
~45 min · Medium
Hiring manager probes projects end-to-end, ownership, teamwork and why-Cisco; light technical cross-checks.
project deep-dive · ownership · team conflict · career intent
5. HR Discussion
~30 min · Easy
Compensation, location (Bangalore/Chennai), notice period and offer formalities.
compensation · relocation · notice period

Scenario questions to practise for Cisco

Practise framing answers to scenarios built around Cisco's products and systems:

→How would you handle packet flow through a layer-3 switch from ingress port to egress, including ARP and routing-table lookup?
→How would you handle longest-prefix-match routing table lookup structure for a core router?
→How would you handle streaming telemetry pipeline collecting metrics from 100k routers without overwhelming collectors?
→How would you handle QoS and jitter handling for Webex real-time voice/video over congested links?
→How would you handle zero-touch provisioning of thousands of Meraki access points from the cloud?
→How would you handle troubleshooting intermittent packet loss across a BGP peering between two ISPs?

The Cisco tech stack to prep

CC++PythonGoLinux kernel networkingNETCONF/YANG and gRPC telemetry

What Cisco screens for

Data structures and algorithms
Networking fundamentals
Operating systems
Problem-solving

Culture & values at Cisco

Connect everythinginnovate everywherebenefit everyone

How to prepare for Cisco

Practise DSA plus computer networking deeply.
Revise OS.
Prepare project and behavioral answers.

Roles Cisco hires

Software Engineer, Network Engineer, Data Engineer, Security Engineer, DevOps Engineer

Frequently asked questions

What is the interview process at Cisco?

The Cisco interview process usually runs in this order: online assessment, 2-3 technical rounds (DSA, networking, systems), then hiring manager.

How hard is the Cisco interview?

We rate Cisco interviews medium-high on difficulty, on a scale that runs from low-medium to very high. Plan your preparation around what Cisco screens for: data structures and algorithms, networking fundamentals, operating systems, and problem-solving.

What does Cisco look for in candidates?

Cisco screens for data structures and algorithms, networking fundamentals, operating systems, and problem-solving. Culturally, it values connect everything, innovate everywhere and benefit everyone. Line up one example from your own work for each value, alongside the technical preparation.

How do I prepare for Cisco interviews?

Practise DSA plus computer networking deeply. Revise OS. Prepare project and behavioral answers. On PrepNPlaced, the Company Game Plan builds a preparation plan for Cisco, Resume Score checks your resume against the job description, and the AI Mock Interview lets you practise your answers out loud.

What roles does Cisco hire for?

Cisco commonly hires for these roles: Software Engineer, Network Engineer, Data Engineer, Security Engineer and DevOps Engineer. Tailor your resume and preparation to the one you are applying for.

Preparing for Cisco?

PrepNPlaced builds your company game plan, an ATS-ready resume, and real interview practice for this exact process.

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