Pros
The mandate of helping Canadian companies export in complex markets is one that many can get behind. There are many talented employees and some talented management and executive cadre.
Cons
Where to begin: Untrained leaders with too much same same: individuals who found themselves at CCC and stay due to the good salaries; however an overwhelmingly white and/or male cadre means old ways outweigh new innovative ideas. An old boys club? Perhaps, it's getting somewhat better, but there would need to be a complete overhaul to give CCC a chance to re-invent itself for the modern day company to truly benefit from its services. They do have committees to govern decision-making, but the walls are up so high that barely any word gets out until it's a major decision impacting staff. Within this leadership committee if you are one of the executives, while you're trusted with your duties the others will without a doubt micromanage into your files. It is leadership by committee as a way to disperse accountability. Low level of loyalty to employees: while employees are unionized, this is the "little union that could", offering little protection for its employees who at a management's "thought of the day" will change job description drastically for a massive number of staff. That said, if you're not doing the job they want you to do - or if you're not getting visibility for it - keep your guards up because management will not hesitate to make you a "surplus employee" and send you on your way. This easily happened to 2-4 employees in the past years. Talent management: While some are attracted to the salaries and benefits, others by the passion of working with companies and helping them grow internationally - there are some really good staff in many positions across the Corporation. There is no talent management capacity at CCC, and once you're hired - you're stuck as there is very little (less than 10%) chance of moving up in position. As much value as you bring - you can be a source of knowledge with very high potential - but that doesn't matter and they will not bat an eye when you leave for another employer. Broken hierarchy: CCC has an ideology that it needs to have many directors to help Canadian companies, because if you're lower than a director you likely have less credibility. Given this, CCC has a very high number of directors with very few working level employees. This has led to poaching of the willing - as soon as you show any sign of helpfulness as a working level employee, that door will be pried open and you will be stuck in a world of too many bosses - with your own management not doing too much about it. I could go on - there's so much fixing that needs to happen before CCC can actually be a place that nurtures your career.