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Harvard University

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Interesting Place but hard to be impact as staff - Research Analyst Harvard University Employee Review

4.0
Apr 5, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Harvard overall is a good employer. It offer fantastic benefits including subsidized education at Harvard, great medical (access to world's best doctors at Harvard Med and other perks. Administrative work can be fascinating. You are a part of a team that helps run one of the world's most prestigious and high impact research universities. Great colleagues, everyone is incredibly smart, kind, and fun to be around. Depending on the group, your work can be interesting, challenging, and very meaningful. There are opportunities to jump across groups, schools, and departments at the University. So you can redefine yourself in many ways. For example I was able to jump from IT to the provost office.

Cons

Career advancement is challenging. There is an attempt to get better at defining career progression maps, but they're often incomplete or not fully thought out. It's hard to get feedback on how to grow within the organization and performance reviews tend to be vague. You're at a non-profit, so salary is often a bit under market. Raises are essentially the equivalent of cost of living adjustments usually in the 2-3% range. Staff are often second class citizens to faculty, students, and researchers. It can be difficult to engage the academic community and often the interaction is discouraged. There is a bit of underhanded classism, though its not malicious or intentional. You're more likely to be heard and respected if you have a phd, or have an IVY (really Harvard) degree attached to your name.

Explore other reviews about Harvard University

5.0
Jul 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

Light work if you have the right team

Cons

Low pay for amount of work

2.0
Jun 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great Union and benefits for non-profits/higher ed. Wonderful colleagues outside of leadership!

Cons

GSD Development and Alumni Relations (under current leadership) is an incredibly toxic work environment. I didn't realize the intensity of the toll it took on my until after leaving, and I am not one to leave a negative review, but as they are hiring for several positions currently, I wish to share words of caution with applicants. Cons: - Absolutely not a safe space for anyone who is Black, brown, trans, queer, working-class, or disabled - 100% top-down direction. No room for personal exploration, initiative, or creativity. - Minimal guidance from leadership - Frequent pivots, even in the late stages of projects - Petty, immature talking behind your back by leadership - No upward mobility unless the Associate Dean or Dean like you - Deeply disingenuous comments, reflections, and feedback from leadership - Complete lack of transparency on direction, goals, etc. - Small mistakes are made cornerstones of performance evaluations, while leadership routinely missteps. Leadership never takes accountability. - Top-down policy decisions, completely lacking detail, thought, and care outside of legal ramifications - Ever-changing in-office requirements

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