Career Research Report
Google and Cisco

Prepared for
Mahsa Modirzadeh, Professor
Linguistics and Language Development Department
San Jose State University

Prepared by

San Jose State University

October 16, 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction……………………………………….……………………………………………….3
The Ideal Company……………………………….……………………………………………….3
Company I: Cisco…………………………………………………………………………………4 Background……………………………….……………………………………………….4 Products and Services…………………….……………………………………………….4 HR Work Culture…………….……………………………………………………………4 SWOT Analysis…….……………………………………………………………………..5
Company II: Google………….…………………………………………………………………...6 Background………………………………………………………………………………..6 Products and Services………………….………………………………………………….6 HR Work Culture……………………….…………………………………………………6 SWOT Analysis...………………….. ………………………………………………….....6
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………...8
Next Steps…………………………………………………………………………………………9
References………………………………………………………………………………………..10

INTRODUCTION
One of the most difficult decisions one has to make is the career path that they will take, and the right company to work for. It is essential for me to find a company that I would love to go to everyday because I believe that if you are happy at where you are working then you will exceed at your job naturally. Therefore, the purpose of this report is to discover a company that best suits my standards and criteria, from the company’s work environment to their size and location. Due to my major being business administration with a concentration in human resources management, I examined each company’s relations with their respective human resources department.
I have narrowed my research to two companies, Google and Cisco. Google is a multinational corporation that specializes in Internet-related services and products while Cisco is an international company that designs, manufactures and sells networking equipment. This report analyzes many aspects of the two companies such as their background and history to an examination of their SWOT analysis by using a variety of online resources, for instance, the companies’ websites, Data Monitor, and the San Jose State University’s electronic databases. Following a thorough study of the two companies, I concluded that employment at both companies would suit me the best in regards to an ideal company.

THE IDEAL COMPANY FOR ME
The perfect corporation to be employed for would have to have particular distinctiveness that complements my professional and personal preferences. One of the most important traits I believe a company should have is the need for innovation. While the specific types of innovation policies differentiate widely for different companies, it all requires skill and creativity which are critical towards productivity and have been shown to play a significant role in the growth of companies. A culture of innovation assists a business to increase productivity and thrive in a competitive market, as well as creating higher value products and services.
In addition, the ideal company is a company that values and respects their employees. It is important to care about the workers because they ultimately make up the workforce for the entire company. Companies that treat their employees well by providing an enjoyable work environment and appropriate benefits create a motivated and engaged staff. Consequently, they can make a corporation much more productive than competitor companies with a disengaged workforce. For that reason, many of the world’s most profitable firms are beginning to realize that a valued culture is one of their intangible assets that contribute to a business’s health. In the end, companies that clearly value their employees are more appealing to work for and provide an incentive for each individual to stay and grow within the company.

COMPANY I: CISCO
BACKGROUND
Cisco Systems was founded in 1984 by Leonard Bosack and Sandy Lerner, who were both computer support staff at Stanford