6 Cisco Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Introduction

This question assesses your technical expertise and ability to design solutions that meet client needs, which are critical for a Solutions Architect role at Cisco.

How to answer

• Start by outlining the client's business challenges and needs
• Detail the specific Cisco technologies and products you used
• Explain your design process, including any collaboration with stakeholders
• Discuss the implementation phase and any challenges faced
• Highlight the outcomes and how they benefited the client

What not to say

• Providing vague descriptions without technical details
• Focusing solely on the technology without discussing client needs
• Overlooking the implementation challenges or solutions
• Failing to mention measurable outcomes or client feedback

Example answer

“At ABC Corp, the client struggled with network reliability and security. I designed a comprehensive solution using Cisco ASA firewalls and Cisco DNA for network management. Collaborating closely with their IT team, we implemented this in phases, addressing concerns about downtime. As a result, we improved their network uptime to 99.9% and enhanced their security posture significantly, receiving positive feedback from their CIO.”

Introduction

This question assesses your technical expertise and problem-solving abilities, which are critical for a Network Architect role, especially when dealing with complex systems.

How to answer

• Clearly outline the project's scope, including objectives and scale of the network
• Describe the design process, including tools and methodologies you used (e.g., Cisco design principles)
• Identify specific challenges faced during implementation and how you overcame them
• Highlight the outcomes, including performance improvements or cost savings
• Share lessons learned that could inform future projects

What not to say

• Providing overly technical jargon without context
• Failing to mention specific challenges or how you handled them
• Not quantifying results or impacts of the project
• Taking sole credit and not acknowledging team contributions

Example answer

“At Cisco, I led the design and implementation of a multi-site architecture for a Fortune 500 client. The main challenge was ensuring redundancy while maintaining performance. By employing a Cisco ACI solution, we achieved a 99.99% uptime and reduced latency by 30%. This project taught me the importance of thorough risk assessment and stakeholder communication.”

Introduction

This question assesses your technical expertise and problem-solving skills, which are crucial for a Lead Cisco Engineer responsible for maintaining and optimizing network infrastructure.

How to answer

• Outline the specific networking issue you encountered and its impact on the business or services.
• Explain the troubleshooting steps you took, including any tools or methodologies used.
• Highlight any collaboration with team members or stakeholders during the resolution process.
• Detail the final solution and how it improved the network performance or reliability.
• Share any lessons learned from the experience that could benefit future troubleshooting efforts.

What not to say

• Providing vague descriptions without specific details about the issue.
• Focusing solely on technical jargon without explaining the solution in layman's terms.
• Neglecting to mention teamwork or collaboration where it was significant.
• Failing to discuss the outcome or impact of the solution on the organization.

Example answer

“At my previous position at NTT Communications, we faced intermittent connectivity issues affecting our VoIP services. I led a team to analyze network logs and discovered a misconfigured router. We systematically traced the traffic paths, and I implemented a configuration change that restored service and reduced latency by 30%. This experience reinforced the importance of thorough documentation during configuration changes.”

Introduction

This question assesses your technical troubleshooting skills and your ability to navigate complex networking environments, which is critical for a Senior Cisco Engineer.

How to answer

• Outline the specific network issue, including symptoms and affected systems
• Explain the diagnostic steps you took to identify the root cause
• Discuss the solution you implemented and why it was chosen
• Mention any tools or technologies used during the resolution process
• Conclude with the outcome and any lessons learned

What not to say

• Being vague about the issue or not providing sufficient context
• Failing to mention the impact of the issue on the business
• Neglecting to explain your thought process or steps taken
• Taking sole credit for a team effort without acknowledging collaboration

Example answer

“At Huawei, I encountered a significant network slowdown affecting multiple departments. After analyzing traffic patterns using Cisco NetFlow, I discovered a misconfigured Quality of Service (QoS) policy. I collaborated with the network team to correct the configuration, which restored normal performance levels. The incident highlighted the importance of regular audits and proactive monitoring.”

Introduction

This question is crucial for a Cisco Engineer role as it evaluates both your technical troubleshooting skills and your ability to communicate complex concepts clearly.

How to answer

• Start by briefly describing the networking issue and its impact on the organization
• Outline the tools and methodologies you used to diagnose the problem
• Detail the specific steps you took to resolve the issue, including any collaboration with team members
• Discuss any preventive measures you implemented to avoid future occurrences
• Conclude with the positive outcome and any metrics that highlight your success

What not to say

• Providing a vague description of the issue without technical details
• Taking sole credit for the resolution without acknowledging team input
• Failing to mention the tools or technologies used for troubleshooting
• Not discussing the impact of the solution on the organization

Example answer

“At Orange, I encountered a major network outage affecting our VoIP services. I utilized Cisco's troubleshooting tools to identify a misconfigured router. After collaborating with my team to reconfigure the settings, we restored service within two hours. I then implemented a monitoring system to proactively catch similar issues, which has since reduced outages by 30%.”

Introduction

This question assesses your hands-on experience with Cisco technologies and your ability to troubleshoot and resolve network issues, which are crucial for a Junior Cisco Engineer.

How to answer

• Outline the project scope and your specific role in it
• Identify the Cisco technologies or tools you utilized
• Detail the challenges you encountered and how you approached them
• Discuss the final outcome of the project and what you learned
• Emphasize teamwork and collaboration if applicable

What not to say

• Avoid vague descriptions without specific details
• Do not focus solely on technical jargon without explaining its relevance
• Steering clear of personal blame for any challenges faced
• Neglecting to mention how you contributed to resolving issues

Example answer

“In my internship at a local ISP, I was part of a team tasked with configuring a new network for a small office. We faced challenges with VLAN configuration due to miscommunication among team members. I took the initiative to organize a meeting to clarify roles and responsibilities, which helped us streamline the process. Ultimately, we completed the project ahead of schedule, and I learned the importance of clear communication in technical projects.”