CDM Smith Employee Job Reviews in the United States

"Excellent company to work for"

"I've been in the construction industry for over 35 years. I have extensive experience in the Design-Bid-Build world but also Design-Build. I've won multiple national awards, as well as being a licensed contractor. In the last 15 years, I've been in a senior managerial role, with full profit and loss responsibility, in the Heavy Civil, Industrial, and Municipal project sectors."

"Great company to work for, cares about employees, and gives opportunities for advancement."

"CDM Smith is a top-notch company with a global reach. As a privately held company, they've created and foment a healthy, employee minded culture where your talents are celebrated and your opportunities are broadened. They understand that the customer needs and the industry challenges can only be met by healthy, well-educated employees."

"Great company with a healthy culture. CDM allows people to do what they do best."

"Good company, just limited in the diversity of their work"

"I just recently celebrated my fifth anniversary with CDM Smith. CDM has been a great company to work for. Until recently. Many changes have been made in upper management and I do not agree with the new organization."

"CDM Smith is a terrible engineering company to work for. It robs more senior staff by only paying them 60% of an overtime hour while billing the client the full amount (this is also age discrimination regardless of how their own attorneys want to spin it). One does not learn that until one is actually there because it is not stated anywhere in the offer letters. They are working to outsource engineering services to foreign countries to "save money" and increase company profits, but they don't bother to tell their U.S. clients that, some of whom are state departments of transportation and would have serious ethical and public safety issues with outsourcing. The foreign "engineers" are nowhere near the quality of U.S.-degreed engineers, and their work is much inferior and has had to be redone by U.S. employees. The company is extremely top-heavy with extremely high audited overhead rates (multiplier about 3.0 versus other competing firms at 2.6). The pay sucks for the average worker unless you are able to schmooze management to get ahead. The company management does not follow its own ethical standards. If these clowns offer you a job, run!"

"CDM Smith was a good company to work for before the merger."

"CDM Smith is going through a transition since merger of CDM Inc. and Wilbur Smith. Company has lost sight of its core values and the only thing that matters now is the bottom line. The company is no longer a good place for older workers."

"I have worked for CDM Smith Associates Inc. since Nov. 2007. I have very good understanding, communication with the supervisor, co-workers and clients. I was satisfied with CDM Smith."

"I had a great experience at CDM Smith. It was a great opportunity to work in the fast-paced marketing environment, able to handle many different tasks and projects. I learn so much from my former co-workers and truly felt a part of a winning proposal team of writers and graphic artists."

"CDM Smith is a multi-national engineering consulting company employing over 5,000 people."

"Awful, exhausting, and demeaning."

What do you like about working at CDM Smith?

"My direct reports were wonderful and talented. We had to look out for one another since senior management did not."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Don't do it. Working at CDM Smith was the worse experience of my career. Hard work and excellence is not rewarded. I worked my butt off at CDM Smith. In exchange, employees were allowed to swear at me and send demeaning emails to me and my team, my boss implied that I was a liar, and senior leadership did not stand behind decisions they made, leaving my team hanging out in the wind. All of this from a firm that claims they want to be an Employer of Choice. Do yourself a favor and choose to work somewhere else."

What don't you like about working at CDM Smith?

"My direct managers were terrible. One did not have the courage to stand up for her team and the other micromanaged us to death. This was the most toxic work environment I have ever worked in. Employees were disrespectful and nasty to one another and no one held them accountable for their actions. Instead this behavior was tolerated by senior management even when it was brought to their attention. management. Grown adults bullied more junior staff and no one did anything about it. The compensation package was terrible; esp. the bonus program. My bonus was 1/20th of what it was at previous employers and what is at my current employer."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"A major culture change is required. Start with RESPECT. Insist that co-workers demonstrate respect for one another or show them the door. Be open to new ideas...That's not the CDM Smith way is heard over and over again whenever anyone with new, fresh ideas suggests a change. Stop favoring tenure over competency. There is too much dead wood hanging around. COMMUNICATE HONESTLY!"