Harvard University Reviews

Pros

university provides a rigorous, diversified curriculum in each academic field. many creative minds on campus. advisers are both academically established and helpful.

Cons

academic career may not be for everyone. the program you enrolled in also may not be the one you like most. probably you don't even have time to think about those.

Advice to Senior Management

different programs are structured in very different ways. it is good to know how to succeed in current program, but may also be nice to know other options

Pros

Very competitive. You can enjoy all kinds of different resources. People are nice. You can learn a lot from talking with them.

Cons

A lot of pressure. People around you are smart and hard working. One needs to work really hard to stay on board.

Advice to Senior Management

Very effective group. Students and employees enjoy the atmosphere provided by them. It's a nice place to stay for your life.

Pros

Access to incredible, global resources

Cons

Beaurocratic environment, especially surrounding hiring

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

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 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

Decent pay although as a teaching fellow you are a teaching fellow

Cons

long hours with midterms and all

Advice to Senior Management

None

Pros

The benefits are the real deal--salaries not enormous, but decent.

Cons

It's a monolith of a place. A lot of entrenched interests.

Advice to Senior Management

Higher Ed could use some fixing.