I found that my manager was lacking management skills as well as could not speak english with our clients. The business unit for which I have worked at the office in Quebec City was lacking contracts, clients and challenges for engineers and internship students before the worldwide financial crisis started.

The business unit manager was looking so closely to the profitability of its business unit that training was seen only as an expense and not as an asset. Young engineers need training and conferences expenses reimbursed. Training is a great way to retain engineers with less than 10 years experience.

Genivar grows rapidly externally by acquiring approximately one smaller consulting engineering company per month. Genivar would greatly benefits if their different geographic offices that shares similar or complementary expertise would collaborate together in the future. Synergies between different offices would increase Genivar profitability. My experience is that different offices with similar business units are working in "vase clos" from each other and are not sharing information. Each manager at each office is fighting for their job and wants to prove to the Vice President of that business unit that they are the best.

The physical workplace was really bad due to poor ventilation, bad sound proof offices and toilettes rooms as well as parking lot problems. Lot of offices for engineers do not have a window. The cafeteria was at least new and nice but the only problem is that it was in the basement so not much for the view and light from outside.

I would not recommend Genivar to my friends but I would rather tell them to check out jobs with other similar consulting engineering companies such as SNC-Lavalin, BBA, Golder, Hatch, Kiewit, etc.

I hope this can help other young engineers looking to work at Genivar in Quebec City.

Posted on 22 September 2009 by Rater #8 | Flag as inappropriate

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