Originally posted by: dr150
My wife is an executive at Cisco. All I can say is that Cisco is a stable company that'll be around. They're developing products for the future and are very financially sound The people that work there are extremely smart. Just last week, my wife interviewed MBAs/PHd.s from the best schools who were at the top of their classes. Only a very few got job offers. The people that leave Cisco always seem to get amazing jobs, which bodes well for its rep./prestige. The hours can get long but it's up to the individual to make things work. Some are workaholics, others take it way easy. The 4 weeks vacation and sabbaticals kick butt. If you're looking for options, forget it. All companies (including Google) are cutting down on this due to accounting expensing. Options only go to the top performers. Moving around within the company is easy of you're ambitious. Some move alot and climb quickly, some stay put and progress slowly due to their lack of ambition or "work to live" mentality. Career education is very good and Cisco helps you pad up your skills to ones desires.
As far as living, anywhere in CA is expensive. Pick your poison. San Jose is spitting distance to great stuff (SF/Bay Area, Tahoe for skiing, Napa, Santa Cruz). Temp is moderate wher you can wear shorts all year long.
Google has a good rep. and Santa Monica works for many people for different reasons.
That's a great situation to be in having offers from these two fine companies. As Bill Gates says, Google is in its "Honeymoon period." It will eventually cool off as Cisco did (when everyone wanted to work for them in the 90's--a lot of multi-millionaires roam the cubes).
But don't think you'll get rich at Google. Option days are over and only those that got in early benefitted. You'll just be an employee. But there still is growth and maybe you can get promoted. I'd check your title out and check for time to promotion.
As some said earlier, Cisco makes stuff (assets). Google is an internet company and it's fortunes could sway faster in the wrong direction as a result (i.e. job security). Ig you have a 5 year "get out" plan, then this aspect doesn't really matter.
Good luck!