A Day in the Life of an Intern

by Samantha Binns · United Kingdom

I’m a new hire at Cisco in the UK.  Since graduating from University in July with a First Class degree in Brand Promotion and Photography, I have moved all the way from Leeds to London and landed my first job at Cisco. This is my first “proper” job out of university.

I was initially concerned that as a new hire, others would be unfriendly and it would be hard to meet people. In previous roles, I’ve been treated as though I was invisible. But what I found was everyone was surprisingly friendly and welcoming. I’ve even had senior execs ask if I’d like a cup of tea!  This may seem small but it matters when you’re new to a company because it made me feel respected and that my opinion matters.

I’ve learned that Cisco is all about working proactively, being innovative and collaborative and being able to work flexibly. I heard a quote from Rob Lloyd at the Global Company meeting that as a Cisco employee, you could take your job within Cisco and make it your own, you have the chance to go anywhere within the company.

For example, through working primarily for the Office of Phil Smith, the UK & Ireland Chief Executive, and having direct access to the UKI Operational Directors and their admin team I have been given the chance to assist in projects such as the Ireland Partner Forum, ‘We Are One Cisco’ Roadshows, Cisco’s 30^th Anniversary, to aiding the IDEALondon team in marketing to reach their target audience of my peers. These opportunities are dependent on what I make of them.

Ultimately, Cisco is an amazing place to work; to grow and adapt, the working culture is open and unique. I love what my job is turning into. From springing straight out of university to my first job, I just can’t believe there is a free coffee machine on tap!