architectural designer

designer

project manager

engineer

interior designer

Arcadis

At first glance Arcadis seems like a great company to work for - many different areas of expertise and therefore the potential of gaining a good amount of varied experience, a larger company that is well established in North America so the appearance of greater organization and support for employees, and many offices throughout Canada and the US so the appeal of the opportunity to travel to other parts of the country to work and gain experience.

However if it seems too good to be true it probably is, at least in Canada. In the 2 years I worked there the travel opportunities were limited, the professional development completely lacking, and the compensation abysmal. I would attribute the majority of the issues in the company to poor management and communication between offices, and a lack of empathy from the senior leadership for the juniors within the company (field techs, environmental scientists, etc. ie. those who do all the field work!). The overarching impression is one of micromanaging senior leadership and office managers throughout the country that cannot even communicate among themselves let alone to the juniors, nor do they seem willing to accept any help from their eager juniors who want to gain some professional development. If I didn't feel so much like the 2 years I worked there were a waste, I might actually find this funny, since the company claims to want to promote from within to more senior positions. However without any professional development this is impossible, and eventually after a year or two the juniors get fed up with the lack of opportunity and below standard salary's, and quit.

I could go on and on because this issues are just the tip of the iceberg, but this review would get very long. My advice is if you are considering a job with Arcadis is to treat it as an entry level job and don't get too worried about climbing the ladder. Move on after a couple years with whatever training and experience you have gained, and get yourself a much better paying job with a slightly smaller company. Good Luck.

What is the best part of working at the company?
One of the best parts of working at this company is how strongly it lives out its core value of collaboration. It’s not just a word on a wall — teams here genuinely support one another, share knowledge openly, and celebrate collective wins. That culture makes it easier to grow, take risks, and innovate, because you know you have a team behind you. It creates a really empowering and energizing environment.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The best part of working at this company is its genuine commitment to creating a stress-free environment and supporting work-life balance. One of our core values is putting people first, and that really shows in the way the company trusts its employees, encourages flexibility, and respects boundaries. It’s not just about productivity—it’s about building a sustainable, positive work culture where people can thrive both professionally and personally.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment and culture at the company are supportive, balanced, and collaborative. There’s a strong emphasis on mutual respect and open communication, which makes it easy to share ideas and work across teams. One of the most appreciated aspects is the company’s focus on employee well-being—there’s a real effort to maintain a healthy work-life balance and minimize unnecessary stress. It’s a place where people feel valued, trusted, and empowered to do their best work.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day for me starts with checking emails and prioritizing tasks for the day. We usually have a short team stand-up meeting to align on goals and discuss any blockers. The rest of the day is a mix of focused work — whether that’s tackling projects, collaborating with colleagues, or problem-solving — and meaningful team interaction. What I really appreciate is the flexibility built into the day; I’m able to manage my workload effectively while still having time for breaks, learning, and staying connected with the team. It’s a great balance of productivity and well-being.

A typical day is heads-down project work with tight deadlines and not much else going on around it. You learn a lot technically, mostly because the senior staff and project managers are experienced and willing to share what they know. Management at the team level is usually solid, and some PMs are genuinely great to work with. Workplace culture is where it falls short; it's all work, no real team activities or social side, so it gets dull fast. 

The hardest part is the pay and benefits, which are well below what other firms offer for the same work. HR is also a weak spot, often dismissive and not very helpful when you need support. The best part is honestly the coworkers and the projects you get exposure to.

Typical corporate environment(Toxic) never seen a company so cheap they have 800 million to buy a company like IBI and later cry that we dont have budgets for few employees because they can get cheap (no offense) labor from Phillipines. Everything is done by people in Phillipines and they are not bad people it is just that are not apt for doing anything and inside the company everyone would say the same but people at high ranks don't care and laid off a lot of people after they got everything they could squeeze out and basically work was done.

One of the things I truly appreciate about Arcadis is the strong culture of helping and coaching. Colleagues and leaders are approachable, willing to share their knowledge, and genuinely invested in each other's growth and success. New team members receive the support they need to get up to speed, while experienced employees are encouraged to mentor and guide others. This collaborative environment makes it easier to solve challenges, develop new skills, and build confidence. It's a tradition that strengthens teamwork, fosters continuous learning, and creates a positive workplace where people feel supported throughout their careers.

company’s hybrid work model balances remote flexibility with in-office collaboration, promoting productivity and team cohesion. Employees enjoy reduced commuting and a healthier work-life balance, while still benefiting from face-to-face interactions.
they also offer competitive wages, ensuring we attract and retain top talent. Along with strong salaries, our compensation includes benefits and performance-based rewards. This combination of flexibility and fair pay fosters a positive, motivated work environment, leading to higher satisfaction and performance.

Working at Arcadis has been one of my remarkable work experience I ever had in my career life. Mostly my work experience is in Admin Assistant role, but this company gave me a chance to work as an HR Associate. I appreciate while working in Arcadis is their company's commitment to work-life balance. You will received support and understanding if you have difficulty in your tasks and will ensure your health and well-being is their priority. I am thankful enough to be part of this amazing company!

Pros:

Patient with training. Would have events for employees at work. 

Cons:

Lazy human resources department, which don't know how to deal with rude supervisors after complaining many times. Supervisors would state one way for a process to be done one week and would change the process the next two weeks undoing all your work and would keep doing this. Work culture comes off as super lazy as internal coworkers would sometimes take a week to respond to emails or not respond at all.

It seems like a great place at first to work at because they're a huge company with benefits and all these amazing projects happening around the world. You get a phone, a laptop and they say "we're all a family here". Then as time goes by you realize no one actually has a set title or knows exactly whats going on at all. It's a game and let me tell you, you don't want to play.

Pros:
-Interesting projects
-Good people
-Salary feels competitive, performance has been recognized through reasonable raises/bonuses

Cons:
-Very low morale 
-High turnover, lots of great management and staff have left and been replaced by worse people
-Mountains of bureaucracy and processes, overseen by kind but ineffective outsourced staff in Manila
-Management is not responsive to ongoing concerns about corporate strategy and office environment 
-Losing competitive edge in many departments to other firms

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Architectural designer 4 salaries reported	$67,375 per year
Designer 5 salaries reported	$76,400 per year
Project manager 1 salary reported	$126,550 per year
Engineer 3 salaries reported	$27.00 per hour
Interior designer 5 salaries reported	$76,400 per year

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