What You Should Know When Taking a University Job?

FyreWyr asks: "I've been working professionally for more than 10 years, and recently returned to school to refine my skills, and potentially, to change careers. In the meantime I'm seeking income from my University in the most practical fields, i.e., my old technical career (programming, networking, etc). So, a programming job has become available, and with it, questions. While I've done my share of business consulting, I've never worked within a University pay system, and further, project interviews have not revealed a clear project scope. Wanting to accept the project, I'm now working on a basic project overview WITHOUT compensation so that I can (get it reviewed, and) kick out an appropriate time estimate and salary. Can anyone provide 'wish-I-would-have-known' issues regarding the politics, expectations, and monetary realities of working for a major department within a large University?"

Comments

It's not what you know...

[lheal]

it's what people think you know. But the biggest difference between a big University and everyplace else I've worked (small business, big business, military, and government) is that at a uni no one is looking out for your paperwork. Not your boss, not the people down at payroll, not your secretary, no one. It's not that they won't help you, it's just that they don't.

Specifically, make double extra sure that your first paycheck is going to go through. Make sure your appointment paperwork gets from your boss to the department, from the department to the College, from the College to University Payroll, and that you're "in the system" at every step.

Be a very squeaky wheel, but keep in mind that no one likes a pushy newcomer. I've you're too squeaky, you go from "squeaky wheel" to "boy who cried wolf" (for any future encounters with the paperwork gods and goddesses).

don't work so hard!

[Tharkban]

If you're working for the University, forget all that real world experience. Just do what you feel like, look busy, and program something crappy right before they ask for it. That's what I did. Actually worked out suprizingly well.

I picked a new language for every project I worked on, learning java and perl while getting paid. Not to mention I learned how to raise levels on a mud while looking productive.

Then again, I was young, not taken seriously, and underpaid. YMMV

Re:Same as any job

[croddy]

What?

I work in the systems division of the general libraries of a major research university, and it's easily the most exciting and positive environment I've ever worked in. We get to work on a variety of projects, of different sizes, and based on different technologies. A lot of our developers are making a living and pursuing research interests at the same time. We regularly make open source releases, and our student employees are very skilled.

Your descriptions of incompetent management and poor priorities, honestly, are so foreign to me that I have a hard time believing you've ever worked in such an environment.

Re:Could it really be that much different?

[mike_the_kid]

Could it really be that much different than working for a large, faceless corporation? The same problem seems to crop up wherever one works--dealing with other people.

It can be different than working in the faceless corporation. You just have to be in the right group. I'm staff at a large urban university, and it is great.

First off, I get to use the athletic facilities. That means I can swim 2000 meters at lunch every day.

Two, its very laid back. I work with a lot of foreigners, and we have a joke about the lab being on "French Standard Time".

Three, the researchers are no-nonsense and committed. They're used to doing things for themselves, but very grateful if you can help them out.

Four, lots of comaraderie. They pull all nighters, I don't but I don't punch out early, either.

Five, great benefits. Tuition reimbursment. Free public transportation.

Six, good environment. I work in a secured area, but there are always interesting surgeons and brain-scientists around. Fun people.

Seven, you are expected to challenge yourself. Always good, and I work with some highly motivated, world class scientists.

Eight, you can do something you believe in, not just something that fills some economic niche.

Nine, job security. Nobody gets fired (though we all wish sometimes that people were).

Ten, you get to work with some cool toys. I won't go into specifics, but my lab (about 20 people) spends over $200,000 on technology to work with each year.

The bad side -- its a beauracracy like any large organization. BUT the resources are there if you have the patience to figure out which strings to pull.

The bottom line is a university job is like any other. Make sure you have a good boss, and that even if you don't align your goals with hers, you can sleep at night knowing your working toward that end.