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Northwestern University

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Avoid small centers preaching goodwill. Difficult work environment, unsupportive managers, lots of red flags - Anonymous employee Northwestern University Employee Review

1.0
9 May 2024
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I liked what my job did, but the challenges I endured broke my spirit.

Cons

I started my position at NU with such high hopes. I grew up near campus and I was so excited when a role in a field I wanted to grow in came up. I worked hard for my and throughout my interview, and very much enjoyed the beginning of the position. Once I was brought on board, my new manager and peer were also hired, and I initially had some conflict with my new manager which seemed, on my end to resolve into a functioning working relationship. Throughout the time I worked there, there were definitely red flags. Other members were celebrated and I shown the bare minimum reciprocation. I only found out after my employment of the bullying I endured there and the horrible things they said about me, to other work colleagues and partners, behind my back. I built a program that they said I couldn’t handle. They would not recommend me for promotion. After I left, it collapsed within 6 weeks when they couldn’t put their money where their mouth was. It was so hurtful to learn that I worked hard for this center for 7 years and the whole time my two managers didn’t believe in me. In retrospect, they actively tried to keep me down. Well, proof is in the pudding; I left and am thriving at a position that pays double. When choosing to work at NU, avoid the small centers who preach goodwill.

Explore other reviews about Northwestern University

5.0
7 Jul 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Good opportunities - Campus accommodations are nice

Cons

- Underpay - $4000 for eight week full time research (40 hrs/week)

4.0
6 Jul 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

It's steady and stable money. Coworkers can be great, and benefits can be good**

Cons

They recently changed all of the benefits due to the government administration pulling federal funding. They changed from Blue Cross Blue Shield to United so the insurance is pretty bad now, with higher premiums and higher copays. You get a 90% discount on tuition, yet also about 97% of the graduate programs are when you'd be working during a 9-5. So it's nearly impossible to actually utilize your tuition discount. There were a lot of budget cuts, and 3% bonuses were one of the first to go. Your base pay is usually underpaid because it's higher education/nonprofit, and the 3% raise is barely enough to cover the rise of cost of living. So now it's underpaid, bad or unusable benefits, and low morale because there were also so many layoffs with the rest of the employees having to do the work of multiple people. Systems in the university are antiquated and it takes forever for anything to get done and most of it is trial and error. They say there is mobility, but it's only lateral if you're lucky. I've been here for two years and there's been such high turnover in senior management including the President that everything feels up in the air.

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