Professional but impersonal - Consultant CGI Employee Review

2.0
Oct 29, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

By their nature, large software consulting companies are difficult to assign a 'personality'. Since they don't have product lines, these companies tend to market themselves via their consulting methodology. IBM, for example, likes to sell itself as a cheap, global consulting company. Thoughtworks, as the small but cutting-edge boutique alternative. CGI's identity is based on process. Since they can't be the cheapest, they attempt to be the 'best run'. There is a focus on performance rather than minimizing cost, which engenders a more professional atmosphere than at some other companies. In general, CGI respects its employees work-life balance and provides competitive salaries and benefits.

Cons

The flip side is that the focus on process is often only skin-deep. When talking to clients, CGI likes to tout its ISO-certified project management and HR processes, but in practice only the higher levels of management concern themselves with process. The project teams manage themselves no differently than any other company. In addition, like any consulting company, your experience as an employee can vary a lot depending on what projects you are working on. Most of my time at CGI was spent on the client's site, and CGI made little effort to engage me beyond sporadic performance reviews. It would be easy to become lost in a company like CGI.

Explore other reviews about CGI

5.0
Jun 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Inclusive workplace; great benefits; supportive of personal and professional growth; decent compensation for the area; - especially given the benefits; great leadership; strong culture and values.

Cons

Can be ups and downs if you are in a more volatile area of work which has contracts come and go. AI has increased that volatility across the industry and CGI hasn’t been immune. Individuals experience can vary by manager, but it’s a very good company.

1.0
Jun 16, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

no specific positives to highlight from my perspective

Cons

I worked at CGI in both India and the USA and observed similar workplace culture concerns across both locations. The only real difference was HR—India HR felt more supportive, while my experience with USA HR was disappointing. My employment ended shortly after maternity leave due to an alleged “lack of projects,” which I experienced as a layoff. I also observed what appeared to be misuse of position by some leaders, including blurred professional boundaries, preferential treatment, and expectations that went beyond normal workplace roles—at times resembling personal-assistant-style demands rather than professional conduct. Surprisingly, I also noticed inconsistent “policies” applied differently to different individuals. In some cases, it felt like the rules changed depending on who you were. When leadership became aware that someone was related to another employee in the organization, it sometimes felt like that person was singled out or targeted rather than treated objectively. Overall, these practices—whether through inconsistent treatment, perceived power misuse, or favoritism—undermine trust, damage workplace culture, and raise serious concerns about fairness and professionalism.

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