Cisco Interview Questions for Freshers 2019 | Cisco Interview Process

Cisco Interview Questions for Freshers 2019 | Cisco Interview Process

Cisco interview questions are a must to know if you are attending the Cisco on-campus or off-campus drive. These will give you an idea of what questions were asked for various roles. Before you check these questions, you can go through


Cisco Interview Questions for Freshers | Cisco Interview Process

Cisco Interview Questions and Process

The Cisco Interview process is prepared such as the interviewer checks the in-depth knowledge of the candidate in the field from which he has graduated. The capability of the candidate for the job roles for which he/she has applied is analyzed. The motive of the candidate to join the organization is analyzed through Cisco Interview questions. Thus it is very necessary that the candidate is well prepared before the interview round and has a healthy knowledge about the organization and the field from which he has graduated. The Cisco interview questions and answers round is classified into the following two categories-


  • Technical Round
  • HR Round


Cisco Technical Round Questions


The questions in the Cisco Interview round are based upon the core branch from which the candidate has graduated. The previously asked Cisco Interview questions for freshers were as follows-


  • If you do not know the size of an operator in C, how will you get to know the size of int?
  • Can we use a variable in a file using extern which is defined as both static as well as global in the base file?
  • What is the boundary problem in the allocation of the size of structures?
  • The logic to reverse a linked list.
  • What exactly happens when you compile a C program. How does it work?
  • Conceptual questions on Virtual and cache memory
  • OSI Layers and their functions.
  • Different routing protocol and how do they function?
  • What do you know about subnetting and what are its uses?


Cisco Coding Interview Questions




Cisco HR Round Questions


Some of the frequently asked interview questions are as follows-


  • Why do you want to be a part of CISCO?
  • Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
  • How would you handle personal conflicts with your colleagues?
  • What do you do in your leisure time?
  • Explain us about the best project you have done so far.


Cisco Interview Experience


#Interview Experience 1


Anurag JainnECE, VIT Universityn2018 Passoutn


Round 1: There were 50 questions which need to be answered in 1 hour of time. The questions were from aptitude and technical. Aptitude questions were easy if you have prepared. Technical questions were from C, Networking and basic electronics related subjects like digital logic design etc.


Round 2: The Cisco Interview Process was one of the best experiences for me. The Interviewer asked questions from my technical background. The interviewer asked my field of interest so I answered that I was interested in Networking. The questions asked by him was from IP Protocols and evolution of networks from beginning till modern era.


The interviewer expected answers in detail and was questioning each of my answers. Hence it was very difficult for me to answer every single question. I tried answering whatever I can.


My interview lasted for about 15-20 mins. In the HR interview, the Interviewer was very much interested in my motive to join the Organization. He asked questions such as, What will you do if any other organization pays you more than us?and also, Why do you want to join Cisco?.


#Interview Experience 2


Asha MishranCSE, PSG College of Technologyn2019 Passoutn


There was an online test which had 50 MCQs. The test was for 1hour. There was no negative marking in the test. It had 4 sections – C, C++, Aptitude, Networking and OS.

After the test, there were 2 technical rounds and 1 HR round. The technical round went on for 1hour 15mins. A few questions were


Technical Round 1


Tell me about yourself

About project

Write a program to detect a loop in a linked list.

What is the key difference between C and C++.

Features of object-oriented language. Explain each with an example

Design classes for a chess game in C++.

What is the difference between os and rtos?

Questions about rtos

What is virtual memory paging?

Explain OSI layers in networking




Technical Round 2


Problem 1: Write a program to map the given input with the output.


Input: abcdef

Output: cdfbea


Problem 2: Given the conversion values of different currencies. Suggest an optimal way to convert the given currency. For example 5$


Conversion from a dollar to rupee – 1$ = 5rupee

From dollar to pound -1$ = 2pounds

From pound to rupee – 1pound = 3rupee

5$ in rupees = 50 rupees

50 rupees in pounds = 50/3 pounds

50/3 pounds in dollar = (50/3)/2 = 25/3dollar = 8.3$ (approx)

Suggest a data structure to store this input and suggest a suitable logic.

How was your day?

How was your interview?

What do you prefer? Intern or intern with full time.

I tried answering 60% of the question. But I was not selected.


#Interview Experience 3


Mohit HoodanCSE, Amrita College of Engineeringn2020 Passoutnn


Online Test: It comprises a total of 17 questions (15 MCQ + 2 Coding Questions). Stipulated time for the test was 75 min(1 hr + 15 min).


1. Aptitude: 5 Questions- Time and Distance(1), Permutation (1),

2. C questions: 5 questions-Print the output(3)-Handling Pointers, String and Structures

3. Electronics: 1 question- Basic V=IR(Ohm’s Law) based.

4. Misc: 4 Questions- Questions from Stock & Equity and some other topics.

5. Coding: Questions 2: Code in C/C++/PYTHON/JAVA


a. Maximum value of Expression- Passed a string to the function. The following string has +,*,- operators. We need to return the maximum value that can be obtained from the string.

Eg: I/P: 6+2*5 ——–> O/P: ((6+2)*5) i.e 40


b. Maximum length of non-distinct character substring: Passed a string to the function, we need to return the maximum possible length of non-distinct characters substring.

Eg: I/P: abbbbcde O/P: 4 Explanation: bcde


Round 1-Technical Interview: 2 Interviewers – started @ 9:30 – Durations 1hr


Summary: Asked questions on Cyber Security, Networks, Programming concepts and some Personnel questions.


Questions asked-

1. Tell me about the projects which you have done in your college?

2. Some brainstorming questions on the particular project? Ex: Why this solution, long term scope, tackle problems, how did you dealt with this problem and all? Technical questions also.

3. What is IP address? How many IP addresses are possible? How can you spoof IP address?

4. Since there are 2^32 = 4 billion possible IP address, but there are more smartphone than that number itself, around 6 billion. How is the present world dealing with this problem.

5. Subnet the following IP address; variable length subnetting?

6. 255.255.0.255 Is the following IP address possible?Why?

7. 255.255.0.248 Is this possible? Why?

8. Tell me about the project which you are doing in EY?

9. How can you spoof a data packet? Explain you method?

10. What is a firewall? Different types of Firewall? How does a Firewall works?

11. Does Whatsapp uses firewall? How is Whatsapp secure?

12. How does an antivirus detect viruese? What are malicious files?

13. What is a logic bomb? How antivirus perform scans and detect if a file contains virus?

14. Given a scenario: You have a department under you. What are possible measures you will take to ensure network security. Explain your mechanism.

15. What are EDR? How is that a best method?

16. Mechanism behind Video Call in Whatsapp?

17. What is the difference between C and Python? What is tight bound coupling and loose coupling in languages? What is a type-full and type-less language?


Some Personnel Questions-

1. What are your parents doing?

2. If you gt a PPO from EY and CISCO, which one will you choose and why?

3. Since CISCO had a dedicated lab in you PC, what all things you have tried out in the lab?

4. Why CISCO?

5. What is your life’s philosophy?Had some spirituality questions after that.

7. Do you have any reservations in picking up your team members?

8. How do you tackle problems in life?

9. Tell me three qualities which your friends, teachers and parents admire?


Then, I asked some questions on the role, scope, growth and all that, followed by some technical questions.


Round 2 – Managerial Round


Interacted with the manager about the role, position and work which I will be doing. He explained in depth about the role, challenges, knowledge required and circumstances. Basically, he gave an overall picture about the forthcoming role added with some advices.


Questions which he asked:


1. Tell me about yourself?

2. What are your favorite subjects?

3. Asked about extra curricular things which I have done in college?

4. Why do you like writing? What all articles you have written in college magazine, followed by some discussion on that.


Then he explained about the role, company and let me ask questions about the job, whether technical or non technical.


Round 3 – HR


She asked some basic questions on a personnel level, about the place, interview experience and all.


1. Are you happy with the role or you want to switch?

2. Are you comfortable in living in Bangalore?

3. Are you happy with the salary, work timings and all that?

4. Take me through your resume? Which all company have you been associated with in past?

5. Are you available for internship in Jan’20 to Jun’20?

6. Anything else you want ask?


Verdict: PLACED


How to crack the Cisco interview?


Cracking the interview round of an organization is never a very easy task and that too for an organization such as Cisco. Therefore it is very important that the candidates prepare well for the Cisco Interview Questions. So, here are a few Cisco Interview Preparation tips which in some or the other way can help the candidate to crack the Interview round of the organization.


  • Stay updated with the content which you have written in your Resume. Interviewers also ask questions from your resume.
  • Prepare questions on subjects on which you are going to tell the interviewer you are interested in. The Interviewer will definitely ask questions on it.
  • Search for such sources from where you can get answers of the most commonly asked interview questions. Also, find the most convincing answers to those questions.
  • Remember one thing, whether it Cisco Interview questions or interview questions of any other organization, the interviewer is never interested in your family background. Always try to answer in such a way that you will benefit the organization in all possible ways.
  • Always try to relate your answers to personal experiences which you have gone through in your life


These Cisco Interview Questions tips may play a vital role in your selection in the interview round as they are the final huddle which the candidate has to face before being selected in the organization.


If the HR round of any organization is to be, the Cisco Interview questions always revolve around the personal thinking of the candidate. But, if we talk about the Technical part of the Cisco Interview Questions, the questions usually vary according to branch from which the candidate belongs.


For Example, the student from CS background may be asked a question such as-

  • Write a program to print numbers into words such as 123 into One Hundred and Twenty Three.
  • Explain the terms Pre-order, In-Order and Post -order with examples.
  • What is OSI layer and tell their functions?




You can refer the below links and prepare better for Cisco Interview.



Cisco interview questions

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