Not secure and reliable career path; most positions are dead-ends - Administration Harvard University Employee Review

Limited career trajectory, shrinking by the day. Positions are extremely competitive and are often posted with internal candidates in mind. Qualifications matter less than who knows you - so reach out and make friends and market yourself. Harvard top brass used to make gestures of respect toward the union, but unions no longer have the clout they used to, and Harvard top brass is no longer shy about laying off 20 to 30-year veteran employees without more than a few days' advance notice. If your job responsibilities expand worthy of a higher level, you won't be recategorized at a higher pay grade and your salary won't expand further than the cost of living increases negotiated by the union. Promotion-related raises seldom happen - Harvard wants to pay you less, not pay you more. Living costs are high in the area, and many long-time older employees have to share housing with roommates. It goes without saying that full-time permanent employees shouldn't have to live like students. If you want to progress in your career and income as you gain knowledge and skills, and your current job at Harvard isn't cutting it, your best bet is to pursue one of the rarely open higher positions in a different department or outside of the university. Harvard was a great place to work 10-15 years ago, and in a strong economy, you'd expect they'd offer more to employees, but instead they're offering less.