Terrible graduate recruitment process and lied to about salary! - Graduate Environmental Consultant Arcadis Employee Review

The people and the work we do.

None really. Could use better pay consistencies and recognition of those who do well and are rewarded as such.

The company offers a high degree of flexibility, and the absence of micromanagement creates an environment where employees are trusted to manage their own work. The culture is generally positive, with low toxicity and respectful day‑to‑day interactions. There are many opportunities available, but they are not handed out; employees must actively seek them, and those who take initiative can grow. When you perform well, your work is recognized and you can maintain stability within the organization.

Favoritism sometimes influences who receives opportunities, and the environment can feel competitive, which may limit fair access to advancement. Some of the most desirable or high‑visibility projects are handled quietly and tend to be given to the same small group of people, creating the sense that access is based more on relationships than performance. In certain cases, employees have even heard comments suggesting a preference for filling roles based on gender, which is inappropriate and legally problematic. Promotion decisions can also be restrictive; for example, some employees are told they cannot be promoted because they would be “too expensive for the field,” a practice that feels both limiting and unfair. The company is not hiring enough field support, which places heavy pressure on senior staff who have no one to delegate to, while existing field staff remain stagnant with few paths forward. Compensation for employees already in the system tends to fall below market standards, and many people find they must leave the company to receive a market‑rate adjustment.