Military in Sales and Leadership (MISL)

Mission

We strive to drive growth and positive business outcomes by securing and retaining veteran talent through a strong onboarding program designed to accelerate the veteran transition into future sales leaders for Cisco.

Contact Cisco

  • Get a call from Sales
  • Call Sales:
  • 1-800-553-6387
  • US/CAN | 5am-5pm PT
  • Product / Technical Support
  • Training & Certification

Our story

MISL was started in 2018 by two U.S. veterans that wanted to give back to the veteran community by supporting transitioning service members. Since then, it has expanded from one area at Cisco to multiple business lines and regions. Our team has grown rapidly, and we are looking forward to seeing what the future holds for veterans and Cisco.

Pathways

Candidate requirements

  • Transitioning active-duty veterans with interest in a customer-facing career in technology
  • Top performer in your field and against your peers
  • Drive and passion to learn, grow, and make a difference
  • Track record of taking the initiative in ambiguous situations
  • Self-driven, positive attitude
  • SkillBridge eligible

Sales

Creative problem solvers with a consultative approach and ability to clearly communicate complex ideas.

Engineering

Ability to articulate technology designs at technical and nontechnical levels; certification of CCNA or above

Other expanding paths

Certifications (helpful but not required): scrum master, PMP, and CISSP.

Upcoming webinars

Cisco SkillBridge

Wednesday, Feb 12, 2025 6:00 pm

Cisco/SkillBridge

Wednesday, Feb 12, 2025 6:00pm EST | (UTC-06:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Register for event

Cisco SkillBridge

Open Q&A – April 16, 2025 6:00PM

Cisco/SkillBridge

Wednesday, April 16, 2025 6:00 pm | (UTC-06:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Register for event

Cisco SkillBridge

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 6:00 pm

Cisco/SkillBridge

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 6:00 pm | (UTC-06:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Register for event

Cisco SkillBridge

Open Q&A – July 16, 2025 6:00pm

Cisco/SkillBridge

Wednesday, July 16, 2025 6:00 pm | (UTC-06:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Register for event

Cisco SkillBridge

Wednesday, Aug 20, 2025 6:00 pm

Cisco/SkillBridge

Wednesday, Aug 20, 2025 6:00 pm | (UTC-06:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Register for event

Cisco SkillBridge

Wednesday, Nov 12, 2025 6:00 pm

Cisco/SkillBridge

Wednesday, Nov 12, 2025 6:00 pm | (UTC-06:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Register for the Event

Alumni spotlight

Dylan, 2021 MISL alumnus

"The MISL program at Cisco gave me a unique opportunity to use the skills I gained at JCU to join an amazing team and start my career in the civilian tech industry."

Clay, 2020 MISL alumnus

"After 23 years in uniform, I was unsure what path lay ahead of me. I came across an old friend at a transition event who told me about the MISL program and pushed me to pursue it. I won't say that it has been easy...a new career, the pandemic, all the events of summer 2020...but with the support of my team here and the MISL program, even this old soldier has learned some new tricks."

Hannah, 2020 MISL alumnus

"As I transitioned from the army, I had many goals in mind for the type of company I wanted to land in. Cisco has fulfilled 100% of those goals and the environment here is welcoming and exciting with a healthy dose of familiar, thanks to the MISL community."

FAQs

Q. How long is the SkillBridge with Cisco program?

A. It lasts a minimum of 3 months to a maximum of 6 months.

Q. How soon before my transition should I reach out?

A. Reach out by 3 months but not longer than 6 months before your transition.

Q. What locations are available?

A. The Cisco Sales team is geographically dispersed, and many employees work remotely. There may be a concentration of opportunities in some offices; being geographically flexible will increase your potential for full-time hire.

Q. How do I apply?

A. Please fill out this application, and email us with any additional questions.

Q. What can help make my transition to Cisco SkillBridge smoother?

A. Being interested in a particular pathway will make your transition smoother. We offer sales (which focuses primarily on account management) and systems engineering. We have started working with supply chain and marketing teams as well.

Q. What if I am in a pathway and would like to change?

A. It can be difficult to change pathways during SkillBridge, but your program manager will be able to guide and advise you on your options and best fit.

Q. Do I need technical experience?

A. The sales pathway does not require it. You need an interest in technology and in solving customer problems. The engineering pathway requires technical experience; ideal candidates have a CCNA or above. However, those with strong technical experience and the ability to obtain a CCNA will be considered.

Q. Do I need sales experience?

A. No, but you need to be able to talk about a stakeholder objective, work with a cross-functional team to develop a solution, and present a plan clearly and effectively.

Q. I have security clearance; can I skip the background check?

A. No; we need a separate background check for our records.

Q. Am I guaranteed a role after my internship?

A. No. During this internship, we are assisting in training you for roles in specific areas of Cisco’s business. There are numerous training activities and milestones that must be met while we ensure a good fit for the next step in your career.

Q. What salary can I expect after my internship?

A. Salary is specific to the role and its location. Your program manager can speak with you about salary during the screening and interview process.

Q. Does the program run only on specific dates and timeframes?

A. Our program has some flexibility. We can accommodate individual fellowships as well as cohorts. Our cohort schedule lines up with the Hiring our Heroes schedule.

Q. What is training like?

A. MISL fellows will report to the MISL program manager. After initial onboarding and orientation, fellows will be integrated into operational teams so that they will gain firsthand experience. The MISL team will have frequent mentorship sessions to help with the transition and training process.

Q. What if I am not SkillBridge eligible?

A. Please review the Talent Bridge for Veterans program or sign up for the American Corporate Partners (ACP) mentoring program.

Q. I am having problems with my application submission.

A. Please ensure that your resume is attached. Your application will not be able to be processed without your resume.