Cisco OA: Behavioral Questions You Should Prepare For

Ace the Cisco OA With Strong Behavioral Answers

When preparing for Cisco’s Online Assessment (OA) — especially for roles like Software Engineer, Network Engineer, or Intern positions — most candidates focus only on technical questions. But there's a critical section many overlook: behavioral questions.

Cisco evaluates not just your coding or networking skills, but your teamwork, adaptability, leadership, and alignment with Cisco’s core values. Strong behavioral answers could be the deciding factor between moving forward or getting rejected — even with perfect coding results.

In this post, we’ll walk you through:

What to expect in the behavioral section of Cisco’s OA
Top behavioral questions Cisco tends to ask
How to structure high-impact responses using the STAR method
Tips to stand out in the evaluation

What’s in the Cisco OA Behavioral Section?

Cisco’s OA (especially for early-career or new grad roles) is often administered through platforms like HireVue, Codility, or SHL. The behavioral portion usually includes:

Multiple-choice scenario questions (similar to a work simulation)
Video-recorded responses to situational or past-experience prompts
Values-based questions aligning with Cisco’s “Conscious Culture”
Optional open-ended questions where your communication style is assessed

Cisco's behavioral evaluations aim to measure your:

Problem-solving under pressure
Team collaboration
Communication skills
Integrity and ownership
Adaptability in change-heavy environments

Common Cisco Behavioral Questions You Should Prepare For

Here are 10 common Cisco-style behavioral questions that often appear in their OA or interviews:

Situation-Based

Describe a time when you had to meet a tight deadline. How did you handle it?
Tell me about a situation where you had to resolve a conflict within a team.
What would you do if you were assigned a task outside your skill set?

Value-Fit / Company Culture

How do you ensure you maintain integrity in your work?
Cisco values teamwork and trust. How have you contributed to a team’s success?
How do you approach giving and receiving feedback?

Behavioral Hypotheticals (Video or Written)

What would you do if a teammate wasn’t contributing to a group project?
Imagine you made a mistake that affected a client deliverable. What next?

Self-Reflection

What is your greatest weakness, and how are you working to improve it?
Tell us about a professional accomplishment you're proud of.

How to Answer: Use the STAR Method

To answer these effectively, use the STAR framework:

S – Situation: Set the context clearly
T – Task: Explain your responsibility
A – Action: Describe exactly what you did
R – Result: Quantify or qualify the outcome

Example:
Question: Describe a time you had to work under a tight deadline.

Answer (STAR format):
S: Last semester, I worked on a software project with a 1-week timeline.
T: My task was to implement the backend API and ensure integration with the frontend.
A: I quickly broke down the tasks into daily goals, used Postman to test endpoints before frontend was ready, and maintained close communication with the UI developer.
R: We completed the project on time, and the professor praised our group for having the most stable system during the demo.

Pro Tips to Ace Cisco’s Behavioral Section

Be Specific, Not Generic

Avoid vague claims like “I work well in teams.” Use real examples to show how.

Align With Cisco Values

Research Cisco’s core beliefs (e.g., Conscious Culture) and mirror language like trust, inclusivity, accountability, and empowerment.

Practice Speaking Confidently

If the OA involves recorded video responses, practice speaking within a 2-minute limit, looking into the camera, and staying calm.

Review the Job Role

Tailor your answers to highlight the soft skills most relevant to your specific role — communication for network engineers, adaptability for interns, leadership for senior candidates.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Underestimate the Behavioral Side

You may ace the technical portion of Cisco’s OA, but behavioral and cultural fit questions carry equal weight, especially for internships and entry-level roles. Practicing your behavioral answers using real scenarios, Cisco’s values, and the STAR method can give you a major edge.