Arbitrary and unforgiving: good and bad, but you are worth much less than the reputation of your boss or the university - Anonymous employee Penn State Employee Review

2.0
22 Jan 2019
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Benefits are great, especially for student employees, and the university is vibrant and full of interesting and insightful minds. There is a lot of good in the institution and lots of people who care.

Cons

Everything you produce may feel half-baked due to resource constraints, largely because there doesn't seem to be any accountability at the highest echelons, and the institution is extremely ego-driven. Some personal projects get no support and some get a lot, and it feels like the distribution of intangible benefits is extremely arbitrary. If people like you, it's great. If people don't care, it's not. If they dislike you, it spreads, and everyone now pushes you away. It can become extremely toxic extremely quickly.

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5.0
17 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Flexible Hours Good work environment Competent management

Cons

Low pay Not many shifts

4.0
9 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Meaningful mission supporting community education and outreach programs. Gained valuable administrative and clerical experience, including scheduling, data entry, records management, and event coordination. Developed strong customer service and communication skills by assisting educators and community members. Worked for a well-respected public institution, which looks good on a resume. Opportunity to support nutrition education and public health initiatives, contributing to positive community outcomes.

Cons

Pay was very low compared to the responsibilities and cost of living. Limited opportunities for career advancement without changing positions or departments. Administrative work could become repetitive at times. Salary growth and raises were relatively modest.

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