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    University of California Berkeley Reviews

    Updated June 26, 2017
    1,627 reviews

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    Full-time Part-time
    4.0
    Star Star Star Star Star
    Rating Trends Rating Trends
    Recommend to a friend
    Approve of CEO
    University of California Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas B. Dirks
    Nicholas B. Dirks
    307 Ratings

    1,627 Employee Reviews

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    Pros

    • Very flexible and understanding (at least in my department) when it comes to work-life balance (in 59 reviews)

    • great work environment and city (in 82 reviews)

    Cons

    • Low pay compared to non uni jobs (in 65 reviews)

    • Work/life balance is really up to you (in 17 reviews)

    More Pros and Cons

    1. "New Student Services"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Student Orientation Leader in Berkeley, CA
      Former Employee - Student Orientation Leader in Berkeley, CA
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I worked at University of California Berkeley part-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Offered extensive training, dynamic work environment, and generous opportunity for growth

      Cons

      Work/life balance could be improved

    2. "Salary"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Postdoctoral Scholar in UC Berkeley, CA
      Current Employee - Postdoctoral Scholar in UC Berkeley, CA
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at University of California Berkeley full-time (More than 3 years)

      Pros

      good place, excellent scientists, easy to publish papers.

      Cons

      living is expensive and salary is kind of low

    3. "Decent job with unequal/unbalanced team"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Student Services Advisor in Berkeley, CA
      Former Employee - Student Services Advisor in Berkeley, CA
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook

      I worked at University of California Berkeley full-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      I really liked working on a college campus with the mission to help students. Good benefits and work-life balance. I enjoyed that management was mostly hands-off and trusted employees to do their work.

      Cons

      -In the department of engineering (EECS), employees with children often had more flexibility than those who were single or childless. This kind non-inclusive work culture took a tole on me and part of the reason I didn't want to stay around in that department.
      -Berkeley spoils and fawns over the professors, which can really undermine supportive staff when enforcing policies and creating consistent structure for the students.
      -There is a lot of hand-holding, babysitting that comes with the new generation of students. And the school seems to think that students need to be carried through every step of the way, even allowing them to move around certain policies or rules if they have their parents call the school. Perhaps I'm old school, but I think part of the university experience is learning how to do and achieve life skills on your own-with the support of school staff, but not bending rules and cutting corners to do so.

    4. "Post Doc"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Postdoctoral Research Associate in Berkeley, CA
      Current Employee - Postdoctoral Research Associate in Berkeley, CA
      Recommends

      I have been working at University of California Berkeley full-time (Less than a year)

      Pros

      Competitive environment, competent colleagues, lots of opportunities to learn, good exposure

      Cons

      unhealthy work life balance,

    5. "Graduate research"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in Berkeley, CA
      Current Employee - Anonymous Employee in Berkeley, CA
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I have been working at University of California Berkeley full-time (More than 3 years)

      Pros

      Good co-workers, perfect weather, calm atmosphere

      Cons

      Too expensive rent fee, high competitive

    6. "RSSP - The pay is good, but RSSP not so much"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Resident Assistant in Berkeley, CA
      Former Employee - Resident Assistant in Berkeley, CA
      Doesn't Recommend
      Neutral Outlook
      Disapproves of CEO

      I worked at University of California Berkeley part-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Compensation of Room and Board, sometimes close to campus, professional development, and increased knowledge of campus resources

      Cons

      RSSP really does not care about it's RA's, laundry is very expensive, late night work, RSSP lacks on professionalism when it comes to RA safety.

    7. Helpful (1)

      "Beautiful place to work but budget constraints make it tough"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Former Employee - Program Assistant in Berkeley, CA
      Former Employee - Program Assistant in Berkeley, CA
      Recommends
      Neutral Outlook
      Approves of CEO

      I worked at University of California Berkeley full-time (More than 3 years)

      Pros

      Lots of smart people
      Beautiful campus
      Interactions with students
      Great culture

      Cons

      Lots of bureaucracy
      Limited budget
      Health insurance and other benefits could be better

      Advice to Management

      Explore additional funding sources, as it is impossible to get anything done without money. Limit the amount of middle managers and bureaucrats that can slow down the pace of productive change.

    8. "Professor"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Professor in Berkeley, CA
      Current Employee - Professor in Berkeley, CA
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook

      I have been working at University of California Berkeley (More than 10 years)

      Pros

      The ranked number 1 public university in the US, and a top tier 1 university in the US. Amazing colleagues and students. Fantastic location, and ecosystem.

      Cons

      There is no con to working at UC Berkeley, working there is a privilege I am greatly honored to have. It is a fantastic place.

      Advice to Management

      Managing a public school is difficult, UC Berkeley has to keep competitive with the market so its faculty which is the core of its success keeps rising.

    9. Helpful (1)

      "Great Place to Work"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Undergraduate Financial Aid Counselor in Berkeley, CA
      Current Employee - Undergraduate Financial Aid Counselor in Berkeley, CA
      Recommends
      Positive Outlook
      No opinion of CEO

      I have been working at University of California Berkeley full-time (More than 8 years)

      Pros

      It has its ups and downs, especially with cash flow, but the university consistently does what they can to keep it's staff happy. Excellent co workers all round

      Cons

      Hard to get increases in pay, and moving up in the company really only happens if someone retires, so you have to plan the long term game to works here

      Advice to Management

      Keep on keeping on

    10. "Graduate Student Researcher"

      Star Star Star Star Star
      • Work/Life Balance
      • Culture & Values
      • Career Opportunities
      • Comp & Benefits
      • Senior Management
      Current Employee - Graduate Student Researcher in Berkeley, CA
      Current Employee - Graduate Student Researcher in Berkeley, CA
      Approves of CEO

      I have been working at University of California Berkeley part-time (More than a year)

      Pros

      Good atmosphere on campus for everyone

      Cons

      Healthcare benefit is a failure

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