Pros
CGI provides extensive training for employees with a variety of educational and professional backgrounds, allowing each member to enter the field on the same level, while gaining experience in their new area. The company also has an excellent leave program, and encourages its members to have a life outside of the office. The company takes into consideration the individual needs of each and every employee, and makes adjustments that best suit their separate lives. I've been most impressed with their consideration of personal plans for growth and the sharing of knowledge. More specifically, lunch breaks are long and encouraged, vacation time is considered to be as important as office time, some employees have the option to work from home due to personal circumstances, and all upper management maintains a positive attitude, even when projects hit rocky places. The company has an extremely active Social Club, and provides fitness benefits as well, to make sure that the social and health areas of their employees' lives are at their peak. More than anything, the environment is focused and professional while being relaxed and personable at the same time. My background is in English Literature and Journalism, and I am honestly and pleasantly surprised at how much I find this position as an IT consultant to be satisfying and challenging. I fully intend to remain with this company as long as possible. The company is respectful of its employees individual backgrounds, cultures, and personal goals. The hours are flexible, the atmosphere quiet and encouraging. For a college grad, there are few positions that provide such a promising start to a career in Consulting!
Cons
The biggest downside is perhaps the different degrees of difficulty from project to project. Some employees end up with assignments that require longer hours, deal with more persnickety clients, and have more restrictions on working conditions. For example, some nights, overtime is required, or employees are asked to remain in the office instead of working from home. In other cases, employees are required to work at certain times to accomodate their clientele. These factors are not typical of the general CGI position, but they do exist. While CGI takes many factors into consideration when assigning employees to projects, the project may be suitable for the employee's skills, while the employee may not be as partial to the project. I have been with the company for a full year, and this is the only complaint I have heard from fellow employees. However, this has not been my experience at all, just one that I have observed from others around me. But again, allow me to reiterate that management is very flexible and truly wants the employees to be happy-- and they often make arrangements as needed when these difficult projects become too much of a workload for some.