Let's get something clear. When you join CP, becoming a train conductor is mandatory for all employees. This means 6-8 weeks of training, which includes classroom, field work, and train trips. For a single guy without a family, this may work OK. This doesn't work well for most people.
-Most IT in Minneapolis is with the Data Center team. Let's make another thing clear.... once hired you are level 1, 2, and 3 support. Need a server rebooted at 3 AM? Get up and do it. The help desk facilitates most support calls but there is no level 1 triage or support. This is constant day and night.
-Turnover in IT is very high. You're always covering other open positions because people are constantly leaving. In this case, the grass IS greener on the other side. Ask yourself why there's always open position at Canadian Pacific. Turnover in some areas is close to 50% in the past few years.
-No career path. Many people worked here for 2 or more years with no mention of a promotion, or even how to strive toward one. Yet, one day you'd come in and 3 people mysteriously had "Senior" in front of their title. OK?
-Leadership by fear. A lot of "this is the way it's going to be done, period"... even though the decision was made by a non-technical person. No discussion or project plans for high impact changes. Last minute decisions and a mad scramble to get it completed. Constant moving of the goalposts for processes and changes.
-Work life balance. Unbelievably bad. If you have a family, this is NOT a job for you. If you're single, starting out in IT, and don't mind working 12-16 hours a day - you'll love it here. Constant expectations to be available after hours, during vacations, holidays, etc. For an emergency, this is expected in IT. For non-emergencies, unacceptable. Old mentality of needing to be in the office during the workday, even if night work is required the same day.
