Cisco Ideathon

When Cisco went public in 1990, its market value was already $224 million. With more than 74,000 employees all around the globe, Cisco is led by Chuck Robbins. He is the company’s Chairman and CEO. Cisco is an American multinational technology company that specializes in specific tech markets, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), domain security, and energy management through its numerous acquired subsidiaries, such as OpenDNS, Jasper, Jabber, and WebEx.

Students with talent and imagination have an amazing opportunity to participate in Cisco’s technical innovation through this program. The Cisco Ideathon finalists receive an internship opportunity before being hired on a full-time basis by Cisco. We encourage you to sign up for this exceptional chance to set up a stage for yourself to take the lead by using creative thinking and fresh viewpoints.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Cisco Ideathon, students must be:

• Enrolled in a Cisco Networking Academy partner college or university
• The candidate must be a Netcad student.
• Should be a college student with a CGPA 6+.
• Students must have completed any one of the following courses:
  • Networking Essentials
  • CCNA Module 1
  • Introduction to Cybersecurity + Cybersecurity Essentials
  • Cyber ops
  • Python
  • DevNet

Rounds

Round 1: Online Assessment

This section is divided into 4 parts and 22 questions (10+10+1+1) that have to be completed in 90 minutes.

• Aptitude: This section includes 10 questions and is easy to medium level. The time limit is 15 mins for this round.
• Networking: This section includes 10 questions of medium to hard level. These are more scenario-based questions. For example, two situations will be given and you would have to select any one option for it. The questions are from CCNA 2-3 and CCNP.
• Basic Coding: This section has one coding question. The level of difficulty would be easy to medium.
• Advanced Coding: This includes one medium-level coding question. The level of difficulty would be medium to hard.

Tips to succeed in this round

• Revise basic aptitude topics and networking concepts.
• Practice writing basic and medium-level code snippets.

Round 2: Idea submission

In this round candidates get a mail regarding the problem statement. In the mail, the participants are given three problem statements out of which any one needs to be solved and presented in a PPT. Participants get 2-3 days to prepare their presentation. This round is a no-elimination round.

Tips to succeed in this round

• Choose a problem statement that you are interested in and have expertise in.
• Conduct research and come up with a creative and innovative solution.
• Create a clear and concise PPT presentation to explain your solution.

Round 3: Technical Interview

In the Technical Interview round candidates are required to tell about their idea submission and present the ppt. Also, be prepared to answer questions regarding the problem and why did you choose it. In this round questions are asked from networking and DSA.

Tips to succeed in this round

• Be prepared to discuss your idea submission in detail.
• Be prepared to answer questions on networking and DSA.
• Be confident and enthusiastic.

Round 4: Managerial Interview

Management interviews will focus primarily on your leadership skills and experience, but an interviewer will also ask questions about your qualifications, background, and communication skills. You will encounter questions regarding your project, why did you choose the project, etc. You will also be asked to describe strengths and weakness, how you have dealt with conflict in the past, any problems that you might have faced in the past and how you overcame them, things that you do apart from technical, etc.

Tips to succeed in this round

• Be prepared to discuss your leadership skills and experience, as well as your background, qualifications, and communication skills.
• Be prepared to discuss your project and why you chose it.
• Be confident and professional.

Round 5: HR Interview

This is a preliminary assessment to ensure you are suitable for the position. Questions regarding basic information about prior work responsibilities, essential talents, credentials, weaknesses, and compensation expectations are all part of the HR interview process.

Tips to succeed in this round

• Be prepared to discuss your previous job roles, core skills, qualifications, weaknesses, and salary expectations.
• Be honest and genuine in your answers.
• Be confident and enthusiastic.

Rewards

The winners of the Cisco Ideathon receive a variety of prizes, including:

• Cash prizes
• Internship opportunities at Cisco
• Full-time job offers at Cisco
• Mentorship from Cisco executives