Canada's Top Employers for Young People (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 32
32
CANADA’S TOP EMPLOYERS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (2026)
CSL offers waves of opportunity for young talent
S
arra Ben Abdessalem’s
path to CSL Group was
far from ordinary. A
senior business analyst
at the Montréal-based
shipping giant, she first joined
the company as a consultant on
a three-year project to develop
crewing management software.
After a year, CSL hired her
full-time.
There’s no such thing
as micromanaging
here. If you have
ideas and creativity,
no matter your age,
CSL will fully support
you, and that trust
empowers you to take
ownership of your
work.
— Sarra Ben Abdessalem
Senior Business Analyst
Ben Abdessalem found the
work, which took her on board
CSL ships on the Great Lakes
and as far afield as Australia,
deeply absorbing and her new
workplace welcoming. “I have no
maritime background whatsoever.
But what’s great about CSL is
everyone, whatever their place in
the hierarchy, will take the time to
explain whatever it is you need to
know,” says Ben Abdessalem.
“And there’s no such thing as
micromanaging here. If you have
ideas and creativity, no matter
your age, CSL will fully support
you, and that trust empowers you
to take ownership of your work.
They give me the autonomy to
work in my own way, and
that’s how I’m able to deliver
Sarra Ben Abdessalem, senior business analyst, at CSL Group.
major projects.”
For Stéphanie Aubourg, chief
human resources officer, Ben
Abdessalem’s story epitomizes
CSL’s attitude toward young
talent — provide them with the
knowledge and training they need,
then watch them sail upon the
tide. “We offer exceptional opportunities for young professionals,
including the chance to travel and
work around the world,” Aubourg
says.
CSL’s structured entry programs
are wide scale, including co-op
jobs, paid internships and — for
future seafarers — a cadet sponsorship program. Each year, the
company employs about 50 cadets,
marine engineering or nautical
sciences students from recognized
Canadian marine colleges, to work
on self-unloading ships and bulk
carriers across the Great Lakes
and East Coast.
Cadets are monitored and evaluated by onboard CSL supervisors,
with roughly 15 cadets a year
earning a sponsorship that covers
the cost of their remaining studies.
After completing their studies,
sponsored cadets return to work
with the company. Non-sponsored
cadets, after graduation, receive a
completion bonus.
On land, CSL maintains an
extensive internship program with
a high retention rate. “When we
see talent and drive, we invest in
it, and many of those individuals
go on to senior leadership roles,”
Aubourg says. “Our chief marine
and digital solutions officer, for
example, began here in the co-op
program. Stories like hers are
common at CSL.”
No matter how they join CSL,
Aubourg and Ben Abdessalem
agree that newcomers are
embraced by a workplace culture
dedicated to helping them thrive,
including tuition subsidies. “I’m
pursuing my project management
program certification and CSL has
been incredibly supportive with
time, training and costs,” says Ben
Abdessalem.
