Interview Questions / Cisco

Cisco Interview Questions & Process

Software Engineer, Network/Systems Engineer, Security Engineer, and Cloud/Infrastructure Engineer

Updated July 2026

Cisco hires software engineers across networking, security, collaboration (Webex), cloud, and platform infrastructure, and its loop has a distinctive twist: alongside standard coding, most candidates get real networking-fundamentals questions at nearly every stage. For infrastructure and systems teams, expect TCP/IP, the OSI model, routing, and protocol depth to sit right next to your algorithms.

The process is a fairly classic three-stage shape — a recruiter screen, a technical screen, and an onsite — but runs four to eight weeks and can expand to four or five onsite interviews. Coding sits around

The cost of walking in unprepared

Cisco's process runs 5 stages. Most candidates only find out they weren't ready once the result lands.

Merra: run the Cisco interview before it counts

Hope, Merra’s AI interviewer, runs a Cisco-style mock out loud — the same question styles, real follow-ups — then scores you on the five dimensions real interviewers use, with a recording and transcript.

  1. 1Sign up free — no card, 5 full interviews available until used.
  2. 2Take the diagnostic — 15 minutes with Hope, get your baseline score.
  3. 3Practise Cisco-style — company-tuned questions, honest feedback, watch your score climb.

No card details required. Your first 5 interviews are free.

Practise the Cisco interview now

5 free interviews. Instant scored feedback. Know where you stand before Cisco decides for you.

Start your free interviews5 free interviews · no card needed · cancel anytime

The Cisco interview process

  1. 1Apply to a specific networking. Apply to a specific networking, security, collaboration, cloud, or platform team.
  2. 2Recruiter screen (~45 minutes). motivation, experience, and cultural fit.
  3. 3Technical screen. one to two 45–60 minute Webex rounds with a hiring manager and senior engineer: a resume walkthrough plus a medium coding question, often with networking fundamentals.
  4. 4Onsite. four to five one-hour interviews: coding, system design, networking depth, and behavioural.
  5. 5Team/manager debrief and decision. Team/manager debrief and decision; the full loop commonly runs four to eight weeks.

Real Cisco interview questions

As reported by recent candidates. The same styles Hope asks in a Cisco-style mock.

“Given a list of intervals, merge the overlapping ones and explain the sort step.”
SWE — Arrays
“Detect whether two strings are anagrams and discuss the time complexity.”
SWE — Strings
“Walk through what happens, layer by layer, when you type a URL and press enter.”
Networking
“Explain the difference between TCP and UDP and when you'd choose each.”
Networking
“Design a service that monitors the health of thousands of network devices.”
Systems — Design
“Tell me about a time you worked through a disagreement with a teammate.”
Behavioural

Prepping alone vs with Merra

Without Merra

  • ✕Read questions, rehearse answers in your head
  • ✕First time answering out loud is the real interview
  • ✕No structured feedback on how you actually come across
  • ✕Find out you weren’t ready from a rejection email

With Merra

  • ✓Practise out loud before the real interview
  • ✓Structured evaluation and feedback after every session
  • ✓Review your session history and track improvement
  • ✓Personalise practice by role, company, and focus areas

Pricing

5 interviews free
then £12.99/mo or £29/quarter · Pro from £29/mo
  • ✓No card needed · 5 free interviews available until used
  • ✓Full scored feedback on every interview
  • ✓Company-tuned mocks for Cisco and others
  • ✓Recording and transcript included
  • ✓Cancel anytime
Start your free interviews

Cisco interview FAQs

Does Cisco use HireVue?

Cisco's official careers pages don't name HireVue or a universal recorded-video round; candidates most often report recruiter calls and live Webex technical interviews.

How many rounds are there?

Three stages — recruiter, technical screen, and an onsite of four to five interviews — typically over four to eight weeks.

How hard is it?

Moderate coding, but the networking-fundamentals bar is what separates Cisco from a generic SWE loop — brush up on protocols and the OSI model.

How long does it take?

Commonly four to eight weeks, depending on scheduling and team.

Related interview guides

AMD interview questionsAdobe interview questionsAirbnb interview questionsAnthropic interview questions

Merra is an independent interview practice platform and is not affiliated with Cisco. Interview formats vary by role, region, and year.

Know where you stand

Your first interview with Hope takes 15 minutes and gives you a baseline score. Free, no card, instant feedback.

Start your free interviews5 free interviews · no card needed · cancel anytime