Here's my experience with Cisco's Finance Rotation Program (FRP).
1. Online Application - Applied on school website & Cisco website
2. University Recruitment - Attended job fair on campus to speak with the leads of the program. This was my opportunity to network and show my personality to make it to round 1 interview.
-Heard back about 1-2 weeks after job fair to find out I made it to first round interviews.
3. First Round Interview (Held on University campus with everyone else in my school that was invited for Round 1 interviews) - Behavioral questions based off my resume. Know previous FY revenue, current stock price, and also current projects Cisco is working on. Why Cisco?
-If you do well enough to stand out, expect an email about a week before the scheduled "2nd Round Interviews"
4. 2nd Round Interview (Held in SJ Location Office) - Arrived in the morning and met the other candidates. 2nd Round Interview was held for both FRP and Interns. *Note - About 12 Candidates for the FRP - maybe 70% from SLO, 15% from Berkeley, 10% from Santa Clara, 5% from SJSU. Had breakfast and was introduced to some members of the Finance Department. After breakfast, headed to interview sessions. 3 (30 min interviews back to back) - 1 Financial Analyst, manager, etc.
Questions:
Person 1: Behavioral Questions
Person 2: Why Cisco? Expectations for the program? Somewhat situational questions.
Person 3: Basic Technical questions: Difference between cash and accrual accounting. Tell how it affects BS, IS, or both. Cisco's previous FY revenue. Current Stock Price. Look into current news for discussions.
After interviews, you get a coupon to grab lunch in their awesome cafeteria. From then, you get the chance to talk to everyone else and get a small tour of the company.