Apprentice Review
at Cisco
Level 2 Apprenticeship
Project Management
Feltham, UK
Review Submitted: September 2026
Overall Rating
5 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
5/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
Core Responsibilities and Day-to-Day Activities:
Operational Management & Service Delivery: Overseeing service delivery excellence, monitoring service metrics, and ensuring contractual commitments and SLAs are met.
Customer Advocacy: Serving as an advocate for the customer within Cisco, bridging communication between customer stakeholders and Cisco's internal engineering, support, and account teams.
Incident & Problem Management: Overseeing critical situations (CritSits), coordinating cross-functional technical resources for rapid issue resolution, and conducting root cause analysis to prevent recurrence.
Proactive Risk Mitigation: Reviewing network health, identifying potential operational risks, and implementing proactive optimization strategies aligned with the customer's business goals.
Strategic Business Reviews (QBRs): Collaborating with account teams to prepare and deliver operational reporting, highlighting service value, performance trends, and future technical roadmaps.
Operational Management & Service Delivery: Overseeing service delivery excellence, monitoring service metrics, and ensuring contractual commitments and SLAs are met.
Customer Advocacy: Serving as an advocate for the customer within Cisco, bridging communication between customer stakeholders and Cisco's internal engineering, support, and account teams.
Incident & Problem Management: Overseeing critical situations (CritSits), coordinating cross-functional technical resources for rapid issue resolution, and conducting root cause analysis to prevent recurrence.
Proactive Risk Mitigation: Reviewing network health, identifying potential operational risks, and implementing proactive optimization strategies aligned with the customer's business goals.
Strategic Business Reviews (QBRs): Collaborating with account teams to prepare and deliver operational reporting, highlighting service value, performance trends, and future technical roadmaps.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
- Learning by Doing
The best part of this program is how much I learn every day. It is a great way to see how Cisco networks actually work in the real world.
- Supportive Team
I am surrounded by experts who are happy to help me grow. Whenever I have a question or need advice on a difficult task, someone is always there to guide me. This makes the learning process much smoother and less stressful.
- Making a Difference
It is rewarding to know that the work I do actually matters. Being part of calls and helping with projects made me feel like a real member of the team, rather than just an apprentice.
- What’s Next
I feel much more confident in my skills than when I started. I’m looking forward to taking on more challenges and continuing to build my career here at Cisco.
The best part of this program is how much I learn every day. It is a great way to see how Cisco networks actually work in the real world.
- Supportive Team
I am surrounded by experts who are happy to help me grow. Whenever I have a question or need advice on a difficult task, someone is always there to guide me. This makes the learning process much smoother and less stressful.
- Making a Difference
It is rewarding to know that the work I do actually matters. Being part of calls and helping with projects made me feel like a real member of the team, rather than just an apprentice.
- What’s Next
I feel much more confident in my skills than when I started. I’m looking forward to taking on more challenges and continuing to build my career here at Cisco.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
This apprenticeship has given me a solid technical base, but it has also taught me how to manage projects and communicate well with others. Whether I eventually move into a PM or AM role, these skills will help me stay organized, keep stakeholders updated, and ensure the team succeeds.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
Overall, the program feels purposeful and well-thought-out. It provides enough guidance to keep me supported, but enough flexibility to allow me to take ownership of my own professional growth.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I was completely supported. There is a great balance between being given the independence to learn on my own and having a safety net of experts ready to guide me whenever I need it. It makes working here a great experience.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Cisco to a friend?
Yes
Why?
World-Class Learning: You get to work with cutting-edge technology and industry-leading experts, providing a learning experience you won't find anywhere else.
Supportive Culture: The focus on collaboration and mentorship is genuine. You are constantly encouraged to grow, and there is always someone ready to help you succeed.
Career Growth: There are endless opportunities to develop your skills and explore different career paths, making it an ideal place to build a long-term future in the tech industry.
Supportive Culture: The focus on collaboration and mentorship is genuine. You are constantly encouraged to grow, and there is always someone ready to help you succeed.
Career Growth: There are endless opportunities to develop your skills and explore different career paths, making it an ideal place to build a long-term future in the tech industry.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Cisco?
Show Genuine Interest: Do your research on Cisco’s products (like networking, security, and cloud). Showing that you follow tech trends goes a long way.
Emphasize a "Growth Mindset": Cisco values people who are eager to learn. Don’t be afraid to admit what you don’t know yet—focus on your curiosity and your drive to find the answers.
Highlight Teamwork: Cisco is all about collaboration. Give examples of times you worked well with others to solve a problem or reach a goal.
Focus on Communication: In interviews, keep your answers clear, concise, and structured. Being able to explain a technical concept simply is a major plus.
Be Yourself: The culture at Cisco values authenticity. Let your personality show through, and don't be afraid to ask the interviewer thoughtful questions about the role or the team.
Emphasize a "Growth Mindset": Cisco values people who are eager to learn. Don’t be afraid to admit what you don’t know yet—focus on your curiosity and your drive to find the answers.
Highlight Teamwork: Cisco is all about collaboration. Give examples of times you worked well with others to solve a problem or reach a goal.
Focus on Communication: In interviews, keep your answers clear, concise, and structured. Being able to explain a technical concept simply is a major plus.
Be Yourself: The culture at Cisco values authenticity. Let your personality show through, and don't be afraid to ask the interviewer thoughtful questions about the role or the team.
