My recruitment experience with CGI was quick to start but ultimately disappointing which led me to withdraw my application. They contacted me rapidly after my application by initiating the first interview unexpectedly during an unscheduled phone call one night, lasting about 20 minutes. This call covered my background, salary expectations, and portfolio.
 I then received an invite for a F2F meeting, with instructions to prepare a case study presentation. Upon arrival, I discovered that the meeting room lacked a display, forcing me to use my own laptop to present. The interview atmosphere was unprofessional, as the interviewers frequently used their phones. Additionally, there was an uncomfortable emphasis on my nationality, which I found inappropriate and irrelevant to my professional qualifications.
 Despite reviewing my portfolio in the initial call, they repeated the salary request question and then expressed that my visual design skills did not meet their standards. I did agree with the majority of feedback but it seemed ill-timed, as it only came up following my salary request discussion. This experience, coupled with the inappropriateness of the nationality focus, led me to withdraw my application, as I felt CGI’s culture did not align with what I am seeking in an employer, even for a trainee position.
 A practical note for potential visitors: be aware that there is no bathroom access for visitors in the waiting area.