administrative assistant

career coach

laborer

caregiver

coach

MCG Careers

My experience at MCG Careers was disappointing and, at times, deeply concerning. While the initial training appeared promising, it quickly tapered off. I was left to navigate unclear procedures without proper guidance, and key documents like contacts, policies, and program expectations were never reviewed with me - many were simply unavailable. For an employment centre operating under a government contacts, this lack of structure was surprising. 

Management was disorganized and largely unresponsive. It was common to wait one to two weeks for answers to routine questions. Without an HR department, there is no impartial channel to raise issues, leaving staff vulnerable to inconsistent and at times manipulative management. Rather than addressing concerns transparently, management would often create exaggerated or fabricated "learning moments" to discipline the entire team instead of simply addressing the issue constructively. 

MCG Careers advertised mission of valuing and supporting staff does not match the reality. Full benefits aren't accessible until after 15 months of employment, with a partial package kicking in at 3 months (that notable excludes vision care). Even small workplace perks are limited. For example, flex days are only granted after 2 years of employment, and the organization's bonus program system offers minimal incentives - like a $50 gift card after a years worth of committee work. Compensation is also below industry standard, often by $10,000 or more compared to similar roles at peer organizations - except at the executive level. 

The work itself felt under-utilized and lacked purpose. Many roles seemed redundant, and most days involved long stretches without meaningful tasks. Restructuring could help deliver better services and more fulfilling work for staff. 

This is the worst management team I have ever worked with. As someone who has managed other employment centre's, the lack of employment standards, structure and ethics around career development and community support is extremely concerning. 

This may not be everyones experience, but for those who value health work environments, ethical leadership, transparency, id recommend approaching this employer with caution, especially for minorities, you will not see yourself in the leadership. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
1. Mission/Vision
To work in a company that is committed to helping individuals overcome barriers towards employment is one of the best reasons to work at MCG Careers. Designed to be the bridge towards employment, our programs create personalized planning, coaching, and provide access to training so our clients ultimately build confidence, develop skills, and secure sustainable employment

2. People
Employees in the company share the same commitment and values, which is an important trait since although we are considered an employment service, we also serve as support systems for individuals who trying to get back into the work place. 

3. Management
In Red Deer, we have cultivated a culture where our administration and employees see eye to eye on what needs to be done, and what supports our employees will need to be able to be the best for our clients. We are encouraged to look over our processes and give our input on what we deem is much more effective and always given the opportunity to try it.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
I would say that the work in itself would prove to be stressful at times, which is understandable on the nature of our work. Again, although we are deemed an "employment" service, to be able to get to that goal we have to assist our clients in navigating their personal life (as well as their barriers) to become ready, willing, and able to enter the workforce.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Specifically in our region, we are eager to come to work knowing that we are surrounded by likeminded people who are supportive, collaborative, and focused on our tasks at hand. We still find time to debrief and make sure that everyone is getting as much support/help as we can offer.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
We all usually come in and spend the first hour preparing everything for the clients and doing paperwork, and then the rest of the day is booked with clients. We do make sure that there are gaps between appointments to allow our staff to decompress or catch up on anything that needs to be done from the previous appointment, before the next one comes in.

Staff are encouraged to take breaks to reduce chances of burnout, but also allows staff to debrief if needed be.

This organization cares so little for their staff. There are so many great people who have worked there, or who are still working there, and it is sad to see how horribly they have been treated.

Example; Staff have been forced to work back in the offices during this pandemic, even though clients are being assisted virtually. There is such a lack of respect for staffs mental health and levels of anxiety during this time. But you know who we never see....the CEO and COO, who I can only assume are working from home, safe. If they only knew the discussions that were happening among the employees about how they feel.

MCG says they are all about "family" but it only applies to upper management that have all been there since 1985 and it shows. Employees are their minions and nothing more than that. They'll be nice to your face though don't worry. Unless of course, you raise a concern about an issue. Then you are automatically blackballed as a troublemaker and the people causing problems are rewarded. 

Expect to focus primarily on meeting contract numbers even if it means placing  clients in awful job environments, management being uneducated in mental health and making ignorant comments that aren't even relatable to a clients/staff mental health condition. 

Hold out for something better. Better pay, better work-life balance, an overall better understanding for what it means to treat your employees with the respect they deserve.

I've had the privilege of working with MCG Careers for the past seven years, and I can genuinely say it’s been a fulfilling and rewarding experience. The company’s dedication to helping people is not just a mission but a core value that permeates everything they do. Whether it's supporting clients in finding their next career opportunity or fostering growth and development for staff, MCG Careers always puts people first.

One of the standout aspects of working here is the abundant opportunities for professional development and personal growth. Over the years, I’ve been encouraged to expand my skills, take on new challenges, and pursue leadership opportunities, all of which have significantly advanced my career.

What truly sets MCG Careers apart is the openness of leadership. The CEO, COO, and our regional manager in the South are always approachable, and they genuinely value feedback. It’s clear that they are committed to making improvements to policies and processes that not only help the business run more smoothly but also enhance the experience for both clients and staff. The willingness to listen and take action shows a forward-thinking culture that keeps evolving for the better.

I’m incredibly grateful for my time here and look forward to continuing to contribute to MCG Careers’ success while enjoying the strong sense of community and shared purpose we have within the team.



My experience as a career coach at MCG was unfortunately quite challenging. The workplace culture and management were not conducive to a positive or supportive environment. I found that interpersonal dynamics among colleagues often reflected a lack of professionalism, with behaviors such as gossiping and undermining others to gain favor. The project manager, who initially presented herself as hands-off and supportive, ultimately exhibited micromanaging tendencies that contributed to a less than ideal work atmosphere. Additionally, some colleagues displayed a lack of transparency, creating an environment where trust and open communication were difficult to maintain. Throughout my time there, I often felt unappreciated and disconnected from the team. Overall, the negative aspects of the workplace culture significantly impacted my experience, and I would encourage others to carefully consider their priorities before pursuing a role within this organization.

MCG Careers would be a fantastic employer if the upper management would listen. They however do not. More about the bottom line than about the clients and employees. The potential of this organization could be through the roof and more people would stay longer if they had a proper compensation system. They have some perks such as flex days for employees over two years, but it's hard to get and book time off, the vacation time is minimum, in this day and age you have to bump up to hold and retain employees, they don't seem to get that over long run it's more expensive to have turnover than to pay decent wages. That is something this company will never realize. Some offerings such as employee pancake breakfast or BBQ, was employees haphazardly making them in the kitchen and sandwiches at a park.  Don't listen to good ideas from staff on improving, sad really, this place could be great!

I have been with the company for over five years and have noticed fantastic changes in the past two years under the new ownership.  Sr. management changes were made addressing the majority of issues that were occuring and creating a much better working environment.  Staff are encouraged to grow and develop and are acknowledged and thanked for their efforts. One downside is work is directly linked to Government contracts which do not allow for great job security as the job only goes for the length of the contract which is usually 1 to 3 years but often contracts get renewed or new contracts start.  I frequently encourage friends to apply for work with MCG and am thankful for the opportunities the company has provided me with.

MCG Careers has been a good working environment for me and has provided me with a job I really enjoy and coworkers that are supportive and encouraging.  Working with the public always comes with challenges but being able to help unemployed people get the skills they need to succeed at work is really rewarding.  I like that my manager is always open to questions and suggestions and that the CEO and Regional Manager seems to care about us.  Staff are encouraged to take training and to apply for internal positions allowing promotions to happen.  If you do your job well and ask for help when you need it the company will treat you well and will help you become better at what you do.  But if you aren't willing to work or try to get better than don't apply, you won't last long.

I have been working with MCG for several years and have found it very rewarding working with unemployed individuals helping them find work.  If you have a positive attitude and genuine interest in helping others this can be a great company to work for.  However, if you have a negative attitude or aren't willing to be adaptable to changing circumstances (Thanks COVID!) then you won't do well here.  Some staff have been around for a very long time and they all seem to be the ones with the positive attitude - if you're negative you're experience will be negative.  If you a team player and positive it is a great place to work.

It is a good starting point if you are starting out in a social services field. However it has lost its magical touch. the company lacks compassion, professionalism, and knowledgeable management that knows how to take career planning into the 21st century. Although it is does make a difference in the lives of many Edmonton Residents looking for work. The hardest part about the job was lack of communication and positive enforcement/ encouragement from management. The best part about working there was the connection I made with coworkers. We became a tight knit bunch! And the most memorable thing is being able to contribute to the lives of others in a positive way. If you are looking to make a difference in your community, It is a good place to start!

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Administrative assistant 5 salaries reported	$20.00 per hour
Career coach 5 salaries reported	$48,978 per year
Laborer 1 salary reported	$21.50 per hour
Caregiver 2 salaries reported	$3,900 per month
Coach 3 salaries reported	$46,667 per year

Working at MCG Careers: company overview and reviews

MCG Careers

MCG Careers ratings

Popular jobs at MCG Careers

Salary satisfaction

Job seeker tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected