Pros
Since joining WSP, I’ve never been happier. Perhaps the change in role contributed, but more importantly, I found a place that truly values and validates the work we do. First and foremost, the people are fantastic! They are both professional and friendly. I’ve enjoyed working with nearly everyone I’ve met so far (which is in the hundreds). Of course, there are occasional engagement challenges, but everyone has always been approachable and supportive. WSP is a global firm, yet it maintains a friendly, local feel at both national and regional levels. Thanks to our size and diverse expertise, we have the opportunity to work on some of the best and most exciting projects. Our clients are also great to work with—a refreshing change from the difficult clients I encountered at my previous employer. My role is never dull or boring. While there are natural highs and lows, this has been much more manageable compared to my past experiences. The local teams consistently step up to support one another during busy or pressured times. There are plenty of opportunities and scope for growth and development if you want to pursue them. WSP offers extensive support and resources across many areas, including personal, social, health, wellbeing, benefits, technical training, innovation, and knowledge sharing. Office politics are minimal and normal level, nothing like the last place I worked that branded itself as a ‘family.’ The focus is more on being strategic, and understanding how to collaborate effectively with various stakeholders, teams, and initiatives to add value and align with overall strategic goals. When you focus on the bigger purpose, your own progress naturally follows. There’s always room to contribute to new initiatives or even start something yourself that brings value to your team and the business.
Cons
I honestly can’t fault my experience with WSP. As with any firm of this scale, driving changes—especially in areas like IT—can be challenging, and you need to navigate within established rules and processes. Additionally, while WSP has extended paid paternity leave to four weeks for male staff, there is still room for improvement in this area.