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William Swansen has worked in the employment assistance realm since 2007. He is an author, job search strategist, and career advisor who helps individuals worldwide and in various professions to find their ideal careers.
A Cisco interviewer will ask this question to ensure that you incorporate safety in your hardware designs. Not only does the equipment you design need to function correctly, but it also needs to be safe to use. When answering this question, you should address both the high-level design elements and elements specific to a piece of hardware. These same design elements also likely enhance the durability of the equipment and its longevity. The Cisco interviewer may also ask you follow-up questions about specific equipment they expect you to work on if hired.

William Swansen has worked in the employment assistance realm since 2007. He is an author, job search strategist, and career advisor who helps individuals worldwide and in various professions to find their ideal careers.
"When designing a piece of hardware for Cisco, there are several considerations I would build into the design. These include functionality, usability, and safety. Each of these is equally as important and must integrate with the others. The major element considered for safety is power. I would ensure that the power is appropriate for the piece of equipment, that is consistent, and that there are safety elements such as circuit breakers and fuses if it were to be interrupted. Other safety-related design factors include access to the hardware, physical elements such as sharp edges, and the hardware controls."
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