Pros
Benefits-tuition reimbursement Flexibility with time in and out- able to set your own hours No micromanaging from Research Support Managers (RSM)
Cons
Researchers are very disrespectful and do not treat admin staff like they’re human beings with feelings. I read a review here with a researcher making a comment about the admin staff saying “how hard is it to fill out a form...it shouldn’t take three days.” That is the exact environment of RAND offices. The majority of admins in the DC office are some of the most hardworking people I’ve met and yet unappreciated and underpaid. Most are in grad school part time while working at RAND full time. There is a lack of respect from researchers and the administrative assistants are treated like the help. Researchers will see you out and about outside and even in the office and walk right past you without saying a word but will send you an email within five minutes asking you to do a task for them. Its actually quite shocking. There’s a lack of professional growth as well. Once you’re an admin, you’re expected to stay there for years. Positions outside of the admin role are not mentioned in AA meetings. Some AAs have studied in relating fields especially in the policy sector with BAs and Masters degrees. It would be nice to see which positions are available for upward promotion.
