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Harvard University

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Inspiring community, limited growth opportunity, not great on diversity - Anonymous employee Harvard University Employee Review

3.0
May 2, 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

It is an awesome environment to be in. Internationally diverse, bright people, surrounded by people who are really making a difference in the world. Lots of culture, and learning opportunities via free classes. Good gym benefits, health benefits. Paid time off is good if they let you use it. Automatic one week off at Christmas break is awesome. Your job will be more stable then the private sector, but I have seen plenty of people laid off unexpectedly.

Cons

Especially if you are a minority, growth opportunities are limited. Most places, though not all, expect you to work very hard for not great pay. There is a lot of classism and elitism which can be challenging and frustrating to deal with.

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5.0
Jul 13, 2026
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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
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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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