Harvard University Reviews in Boston, MA Area

Pros

Lots of really smart people to interact with on a daily basis. Obtaining experience at Harvard is excellent for career prospects almost anywhere.

Cons

There is no hope of getting a permanent job at Harvard and one has to look outside for further career advancement.

Advice to Senior Management

The faculty are overly worshipped, when it is the researchers underneath that do all of the hard work and are not accorded the appropriate respect.

Pros

Really reduced rate for school. good benifits

Cons

No real advancement. No value of your education

Pros

Salary and benefits are among the highest in the area for the non-profit sector. The University puts emphasis on hiring internally in some cases, and knowledge of how the place works is considered an asset.

Cons

You run into faculty members who are completely ineffective managers, and there's almost no solution to a project like that. Senior leadership in general can be very reluctant to take the advice of a long-serving employee and risk a relationship with a faculty member.

Advice to Senior Management

Simply put, Harvard needs more leadership. It's probably accurate to say that most employees don't know what their Dean or President stands for.

Pros

Access to incredible, global resources

Cons

Beaurocratic environment, especially surrounding hiring

Pros

Harvard offers great professional development resources. The workshops available to all staff at the Center for Workforce Development are of excellent quality. The employment benefits are excellent. This is a good environment for those who take initiative.

Cons

Internal mobility is challenging, especially if there is little turnover in one's own department and upward mobility is limited. Not a great environment for those who like a lot of structure and rules. Some positions don't offer a lot of growth within the position for job-related/job-specific functions. There is a definite hierarchy and most staff tend to be at the bottom. Things can move slowly.

Advice to Senior Management

Require specific feedback be given to staff in performance reviews and also throughout the year. Offer way for staff to provide feedback about senior management.

Pros

some job freedom; ability to work whenever i want. cutting edge research; good food at many of the university events

Cons

arrogent professors who work their students to the bone in the hope of getting a noble prize. it's a sad fantasy they live

Advice to Senior Management

get your heads out of your ass and start listening to your students. you can't micromanage everything for christ's sake

Pros

Salary, 401 k, Meet cool people

Cons

Management lack respect for union employees, a lot of temps are hired to avoid giving benefits.

Pros

Great knowledge base. Opportunities to further career beyond most obvious path. Many mentors who encourage the personal and professional development of entry level position researchers.

Cons

Compensation. Cambridge is an expensive city. Mid-management sometimes not the best fit for the job. Quite a bit of bureaucracy, but I guess it is a given for a large university. Very hard to advance to senior level, being here is no guarantee of getting tenure.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep up the good work.

Pros

Great benifits
Good salary
35 hour work week

Cons

Not a world class working environment - same issues as small unknown places
Poor communication at times
Don't expect cutting edge world class resources

Advice to Senior Management

Live up to ideals - hold people accountable

Pros

Great academic environment. The faculty's academic level is excellent, specially the most senior staff. Great to be exposed to the latest ideas in the field.

Cons

The downside of top academics is a tough competitive environment. For junior faculty, a steep up or out system where few people stay for the long term.