Cisco Ideathon Interview Experience 2023

About Cisco:
Cisco’s purpose is to power an inclusive future for all. Cisco believe in the power of technology and what it makes possible for our communities, businesses, and governments around the world. Cisco Systems, a technology company based in America, which operates internationally, is best known for being the top networking company. It is one of the largest corporations in the world. Founded in 1984 and has its headquarters in San Jose, California. 
In 2021, Fortune ranked Cisco #1 for the second year on their annual list of the 100 Best Companies to work with . LinkedIn and Glassdoor also ranked Cisco as a top place to work in 2021 and recent years.

About Ideathon:
The Cisco Ideathon is an opportunity for students with potential and creativity to be a part of Cisco’s technological innovations. It presents a competitive model to showcase original thinking and problem-solving aptitude using technologies like 5G, the Internet of Things, networking infrastructure, and collaboration to address global issues related to education, healthcare, water conservation, environment, and sustainability. The program enables qualifiers of Ideathon to get an internship with full-time placement opportunities.

Eligibility 2024:

• Must be a Netcad Student.
• Students must have completed either of the following courses: Networking Essentials OR CCNA Module 1 OR Introduction to Cybersecurity + Cybersecurity Essentials OR Cyber ops OR Python OR DevNet
• Cutoff CGPA (highest degree):- 6 and above
• No current backlogs / arrears

We have two tracks : Networking And Software (I am from Software track) , you have to choose any one of them .

As per Cisco there are only 2 rounds OA and interview but to describe it more efficiently let us call it as a 5 round process which are as follows:

Round 1 : Online Assessment

This was a major elimination round.

This section has 4 parts and 22 questions (10+10+1+1) which has to be completed in 90 minutes

• Aptitude: This section included 10 questions and they were easy to medium and the time limit was 15 mins.
• Networking: This section also included 10 questions and questions were of medium to hard level and they were more scenario-based questions like two situations were given and we have to select the proper option for it. The questions we got are from CCNA 2-3 and CCNP .
• Basic Coding: This section had one coding question which first seems to be an array question but actually it is of DP.
• Advanced Coding: This included one medium-level coding question , This question requires a dry run to understand the logic and it is too easy to code afterwards .

Round 2 : PPT submission (Not an elimination round)

After that qualified candidates got a mail regarding the problem statement, there were three problem statements on which we had to provide a solution and make ppt presentation. 2-3 days were given to us for this submission.

After PPT submissions almost everyone got mail for interviews.

Round 3 : Technical Round

Its a 1 v 1 round , The interviewer introduced himself , he was with cisco for about 2-3 years but have a industry experience of 10+ years .

• As the ppt was taking some time to load I was asked to explain my project .
• Why you had chosen this problem statement .
• PPT presentation .
• Elaborate more about how you are going to implement it.
• Is their any existing tech that is already implemented which is similar to your solution.
• Then he had given some examples and asked to differentiate my solution .
• Shown some loop holes in my solution and asked how you will fix it.
• Then some networking question like Protocols of different layers of OSI.
• How TCP and UDP is different .
• Protocols of different layers .
• Why do we need 7 layers of OSI layers if we have 4/5 layer in TCP/IP model .
• Lot of Scenario based questions.
• Some Packet tracer questions.
• Some project questions.
• At last he asked me some DSA questions, not the actual coding questions, Just some basics of DSA as time is running out .
• You can expect some managerial type questions here too.

Round 4 : Managerial Round

Again a 1 v 1 round . Person having a good experience in the industries .

• She asked me to explain my projects.
• Why you made this project.
• What problems do you face.
• Have you worked in a team.
• How you had managed the team .
• What do you think you lack in .
• Your Hobbies and Interest .
• Soft skill you think you think you are not good in .
• How you overcome from your weakness .
• What you do apart from technical.
• What you have done in the Internship.
• Do you have any questions till now.
• Do you know about the job profile you applied.
• How you manage 2 internship at the same time.
• What you had done in the internships.
• Are you willing to relocate .
• Where do you want to see yourself in 5 years from now .

Round 5 : HR round Also called ETR (Emerging Talent Recruitment) round

Again a 1 v 1 round .

• Introduce yourself .
• How you manage 2 internship at the same time.
• Any stipend you are getting from these internships.
• Do you know about the job profile you applied.
• Are you willing to relocate .
• Your preferences of relocation .
• Are you available for the internship.
• Have you ever been to the headquarter city .
• What is your expected CTC .
• He explained about my role, working days, about offer, and necessary things.
• Do you have any questions in it / Are you okay with it .