Cisco Internship 2026

My Cisco Internship Interview Experience

I went through the Cisco selection process for the 2026 Summer Internship. The initial process involved an online assessment with 40 MCQs on CS fundamentals and networking, along with two coding questions (a DP-based and a Graph BFS-based problem). After this, I was one of only 6 candidates selected from my campus for the next rounds.

Round 1

This round was conducted via Webex. I was anxious but prepared by revisiting CS fundamentals, networking concepts, and my resume. The interviewer delved deep into my projects and asked questions spanning CS fundamentals, Networks, and DBMS. For the coding question, I was given a problem related to Linked Lists: Deleting and Reversing. I solved it and clearly explained my approach, which the interviewer seemed satisfied with. I felt confident about moving to the next round, and indeed, I received an email confirming my selection for Round 2.

Round 2 (Senior Engineer Panel)

I started nervous but gained confidence as the conversation progressed. The interviewer asked about my favorite project, and I chose one I was confident explaining, along with technical questions related to it. Conceptual questions covered OOPs, Networks, and DBMS. For the coding question, it involved strings and modulo operations; I explained my approach, and the interviewer was satisfied without me needing to code it. I also faced an aptitude-based puzzle, which I solved partially, explaining my reasoning. Behavioral questions focused on teamwork and challenges. I felt confident again and was selected for the final HR round.

Round 3 (HR Round)

This was a short round conducted by a senior HR personnel, lasting about 5 minutes. The questions included, 'Where do you see yourself in 5 years?', 'What do you know about Cisco?', 'Tell me about your father’s education?', and 'What are your thoughts on the offered stipend and location?'. I had prepared answers and responded confidently. I was overjoyed as I cleared this round, becoming the only candidate from my university to make it this far.

Post-Interview Outcome

Despite clearing all rounds, I waited two weeks for the final offer without updates. Upon reaching out to HR, I was informed that I had not made it through. This was my first experience with rejection after performing well, but I took it as a valuable learning experience.