CGI Group Reviews in Montreal, QC Area

Pros

On the surface: good set of values, many clients, wide range of expertise needed. However this company is managed like a holding (for share price). As such, it is better for financial analysts with a little IT experience than for IT specialists looking for growth, and diverse training.

Cons

Published values not respected from upper management and down the chain. No IT leadership as this company follows the train and is mostly for "body" placement. Very little empowerment of employees as decisions power is kept at the top with little delegation thru the ranks (middle management and employees). Management structure changes frequently. Very weak HR function with few described roles and responsibilties. No ombudsman to enforce sound management practices. Training is hard to come by. On the whole, a large company managed like a small one.

Advice to Senior Management

The fact that CGI is managed like a holding should not detract its leaders from the actual well being and respect of its customers and employees. You should rethink CGI's growth in favour of an equilibrium between quality for customers, respect and empowerment of employees, and growth. You should develop also at least a minimal IT vision and leadership (yes, that is called research and development, and it requires investments), that is something that purchasing companies will not do.

Pros

- Overtime is paid (significant boost to yearly salary)
- Working from home is permitted
- Good company for resume

Cons

- Bureaucracy
- Heavy processes make software development prohibitively expensive
- Difficult to grow professionally since technical competency from colleagues is not consistent. Too many unqualified developers.

Advice to Senior Management

Command and Control / Heavy Processes is not always best suited for Software Development. Company should go agile/lean if to improve margins of profit and gain advantage in bid offers.

Pros

This company has a lot of potential.
Health benefits are on par with other large size organization.

Cons

Priority is given to the financial health of the company.
The benefits of this are not seen by the employees.

Advice to Senior Management

Employees are the most important asset of the company, please look at the feedback of this site.

Pros

the money is not so bad and if you're lucky you have a manager that respects you. If you do then your job isn't so bad.

Cons

the money is not so great - the company's reputation is not so great as people do not even know what the company does sometimes. the company needs to promote itself as it does have a rich history and impressive global footprint.

Advice to Senior Management

train employees and empower them

Pros

It is a consulting firm for many different industries. You're highly likely to find something that interests you.

Cons

CGI has the terrible habit of promoting "the next person in line" and not the person who is best suited for the job... at least, that's the case in our business unit.

Advice to Senior Management

Give your head a shake every so often, and really think about if your decisions make sense. Make sure the people you are committing to activities are actually able to perform in, and have the tools they need to complete the task within the time frame you think is appropriate. Or better yet, ASK THEM before signing on the dotted line.
Also try to figure out why so many skilled technical resources are leaving in such great numbers. What are you doing to provoke this?

Pros

Good salary ,a great place to learn and to start your career.A very relaxed and friendly environment most of the time. Great health benefits and other interesting ones. A great place to make a name for yourself. Free coffee.

Cons

Lack of communication; sometimes poor leadership and blind trust in dishonest people and negligance towards hard working people. Stressful environment. There is some bad planning and poor trainning. It is also a relaxed environment but some people take advantage of it. There should be more discipline but by adding balance not by turning into a sweat shop.

Advice to Senior Management

Get rid of the rotten apples;people that badmouth the company and say nice comments in front of management.More communication between members,management and different departments.

Pros

to have an experience in a consulting firm

Cons

CGI Do not respect their employees whose mandate is over and have to place them to a new client. CGI forgets how much you brought before beeing on the bench.
If you want to stay there, you should follow a carreer plan and invest you own money to stay at the level. CGI won't pay for any formation for you...
And it is a workshop too;
the client is always right even if it is obvious that it is wrong. CGI have many mediocre carreer managers and directors using their consultants expertise and make the work of the latters, as theirs. NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BE RESPECTED AS AN EMPLOYEE. NEVER WORK THERE

Advice to Senior Management

listen to you employee (the consultant) and respect them.

Pros

The best reason to work fro CGI group is being able to put the name "CGI" in your CV later on. The reputation of the company is good so it could help upper your value to other employers.

Cons

The major downside would be the low salary compared to market
Lower advancement opportunities

Advice to Senior Management

I would tell them to be more straightforward towards their employees regarding salary issues.

Pros

none. just here waiting to find something better.. and it wont be tough

Cons

lack of recognition, no respect from management.

Advice to Senior Management

Realise that good employees are all leaving, stop running this place like it's a small factory.

Pros

CGI is a good place for Career development.

Cons

There is no real reward for those who success but punishement for those who fail.

Advice to Senior Management

Recognize the contribution of ther employees to the compagny success by sharing a real bonus to encourage peaple to partipate actively to their business unit performence.