Anybody work at CP Rail?

[nzwasp]

Specifically the IT dept?

Trying to gauge what its like to work there. I have a friend who works more in the field doing something related to IT who said it was brutal but didn't elaborate.

[Lex350]

A friend of mine worked in IT for them a few years back. He hated it. He couldn't wait to get out. I can't imagine it is any better with all the cut backs they have made. However a job is better than no job.

[Mibz]

Originally posted by rotten42
A friend of mine worked in IT for them a few years back. He hated it. He couldn't wait to get out.

Same experience, though he said there were one or two specific people who caused it to be a nightmare and it was years ago so maybe they're gone.

[klumsy_tumbler]

I have a friend that's a PM there. Apparently it's pretty bad, and they will be looking elsewhere ASAP (going along with the "A job is better than no job" mentality)

[dj_rice]

Not sure if Hampstor on here works there or not

[phreezee]

Originally posted by klumsy_tumbler
I have a friend that's a PM there. Apparently it's pretty bad, and they will be looking elsewhere ASAP (going along with the "A job is better than no job" mentality)

Same here. He said a lot of finger-pointing and adversarial culture.

[rx7boi]

Go4Long has said that he works for CP Rail but I dont think it was the IT department.

By IT, do you mean the Service Desk or field guys/remote desktop?

I worked in the Service Desk/IT department. It wasn't bad and there is room to move up. There were a couple of fags on the team who made a toxic environment but they got transferred out (ironically to a higher paying job but that's life). About 2.5 years ago, the service desk team was about 17-20 people on a shift schedule.

Working nights is a given since the IT department is 24/7. Trains don't stop running.

Our field and application support guys were contracted out to IBM.

Feel free to PM for more details. I can give you the whole culture run down lol.

[colsankey]

What are you looking at doing at CP?

[Xtrema]

Avoid unless it's a meaty contract.

Culture is awful. They treat employee like shit. They will find any excuse to fire you instead of laid off to save on severance. One case I heard was asking an admin to delete exchange logs and admin won't since there is an ongoing lawsuit (something about CP and CN exec poaching), fired with cause.

There were also plenty of horror story and mismanagement from IBM and Fujitsu days.

And the minute that US merger comes thru, there's 50/50 chance the new company will move HQ to Atlanta.

[spikerS]

I know a handful of guys that work/ed there. When I mentioned a couple times I should apply there, they all vehemently said not to, and would be the worst mistake ever if I took a job there.

Apparently their new CEO (from a few years back) is so profit driven, he has driven employee morale through the floor.

[BigShow]

Very efficiently run company that provides best in class service and is mandated by their shareholders to generate returns. The company demands high performers and those who can't perform are let go, it's simple. They have tremendous initiatives on the IT side over next few years.

[Mibz]

Originally posted by BigShow
Very efficiently run company that provides best in class service and is mandated by their shareholders to generate returns. The company demands high performers and those who can't perform are let go, it's simple. They have tremendous initiatives on the IT side over next few years.

There's some irony in the fact that this post makes the company look even worse.

[voodoo]

I work there AND in IS

[nzwasp]

Is it as bad as everyone is eluding too.

Some recruiter asked if she could put me forward for a security position today.

[benyl]

They've been insourcing everything in the last few years.

Are you ok with commuting to Ogden? Glenmore is a nightmare during rush hour.

But a job is better than no job.

[finboy]

I consulted there, very toxic work environment, I was around when they did their first round of cuts and it was BLEAK. I can't imagine things have gotten better based on this thread, I wouldn't take it unless you had no other choice to keep the roof over your head.

[revelations]

Originally posted by benyl
But a job is better than no job.

I was quite ready to jump out of a 5th story window once, years ago, because of my job, so I would have to disagree that any job is better than none.

[voodoo]

Originally posted by nzwasp
Is it as bad as everyone is eluding too.

Some recruiter asked if she could put me forward for a security position today.

I would say no. A lot has changed for people here in the last few years. A lot more expected out of people as well as more accountability. But if you work hard you get rewarded quite well.

That being said I, sure some depts are worse than others, and all companies have bitter employees.

Be weary of conductor training if you join though. Won't hire you if you don't agree to it.

Pm me if you have any more specific questions.

[Mibz]

Originally posted by voodoo
Be weary of conductor training if you join though. Won't hire you if you don't agree to it.

Whoa whoa whoa. If I work at CP I'm FORCED to learn how to drive a train?

Sign me up! Choo choo motherfuckers.

[EK 2.0]

Originally posted by Mibz
Whoa whoa whoa. If I work at CP I'm FORCED to learn how to drive a train?

Sign me up! Choo choo motherfuckers.

Mibz is going to be the Conductor that rolls his train back and forth across the level crossings during rush hour and revel in it...