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Stanford University

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If you come from private sector, you will be shocked here - Manager Stanford University Employee Review

1.0
Sep 16, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Pretty campus, good PTO policies

Cons

I came to Stanford from the private sector, as so many people told me it was a "great place to work." I got there and was shocked by the utter ineptitude of my colleagues and managers. It was like stepping into a third world country. It turns out a lot of people working there either a) have been there for 20+ years and don't know how the rest of the professional world works or b) could not get a job anywhere else. I'm not kidding: I actually had several people tell me that Stanford was their employer of last resort because no one else wanted them after getting laid off. One important thing no one tells you when you're interviewing, is that there is no mobility. At all. Been stuck with a horrible manager for 5 years? Too bad. Been working below your capacity for the last decade? Suck it up. Going here was the worst decision of my life. I was lied to about my position, forced to lay people off unnecessarily by leaders who don't understand numbers, reported to someone who couldn't manage his way out of a paper bag, and surrounded by miserable, openly hostile colleagues who wanted out but weren't competent enough to get a job elsewhere. Save yourself.

Explore other reviews about Stanford University

5.0
Jun 25, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Stable beyond the out-of-ordinary circumstances like 2008 housing crisis and covid. Among other colleges and universities, salaries are higher as I looked at other listings at time of hire,

Cons

University as a whole has its base financial and guidelines for rules and policies but each department and program acts like its own system and has their own specific policies that sometimes supersedes the universities own rules stricter. It's hard to maneuver and there's a lot of verbal rules and understandings that aren't said loudly.

4.0
Jun 19, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Overall, Stanford is an amazing place to work. The environment and benefits can't be beat. You can go for a swim on your lunch break or a walk around the lake. The recreational classes and opportunities are usually great. Eating at the dining hall, although pricy, is a real treat.

Cons

If you're not senior management, faculty, development, etc., Stanford's pay has not kept up with the cost of living in the area. If you come for a job from outside of California, be prepared for a real shock when you see the kinds of rentals and the prices. Beauty has a price. You will not be able to live near campus as the average employee. Unless you're really familiar with the traffic in California, don't look at places that you think are an hour away, because they'll be two hours away by car. And you'll have to pay to park on campus, so not driving at all is your best option. Many administrative jobs are held by partners of people working in tech or faculty, because that's the only way you can afford to live there. If you don't have a partner making $200K+, you'll be taking the train or bus for an hour. If you're thinking about buying a house and you don't have a suitcase of cash, that sound you're hearing is my laughter. It's also important to realize that the working conditions across campus vary by unit. Working at the Graduate School of Business will seem more like a corporate job; working in Medicine could be brutal; and the treatment you will get can vary by department.

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