Working @ UT-Austin?

Bob Wills

Bob Wills

500+ Posts
Anyone here work at UT-Austin as a staff member (i.e., not faculty)? An opportunity popped up, and I was curious how you felt about UT as an employer. FWIW, I am already familiar with working in the state/edu sector versus the private sector.
 
I work at UT. I like it. It's a fairly low stress environment with great energy. Generally, the people care a lot about their work and the University. There are some brilliant and creative staff members at UT. It amazes me sometimes. The vacation schedule is nice. The University closes during the week between Christmas and New Years, so that's free vacation time that does not count against your accumulated time. It's the best week of the year sometimes. This year, we get two weeks off, because of how the dates fall on the calendar. There are random perks, like getting in free to the Blanton Museum and getting access or discounts to some events/speakers. I had discounted basketball tickets for a few years. I've been hearing about a telecommuting policy coming down from UT System for almost a year. Hopefully, UT will implement it shortly.

The downsides... you pay for parking. And generally, you don't park near your office. However, you get to ride Cap Metro for free, so that's a perk. Also, you pay for access to the Rec Sports facilities (Gregory Gym, etc.). It's not much cheaper than a membership at Golds, etc, but it is rather convenient. Also, incentive pay is nill. Generally, everyone gets standard raises, depending on how your department is funded. If you perform above expectations, you may get a 3.5% raise instead of a 3%. If you perform below expectations, you may get a 2% raise. And there are never bonuses, unless you're a coach. But again, that all depends on how your department is funded (and also your job). It seems insurance benefits have been reduced lately (not this year, but previous years), but not as much as it is in the private sector.

A lot of the good and bad also come from the job duties and your boss. Make sure you have a good boss, and UT is generally a great place to work. Feel free to PM me any questions.
 
I enjoyed working at UT when I did. The pay was not that great though. Not the best, not the worst, I guess. I found my gig that paid me more money, same benefits yet gave me six to seven times the paid time off. Game, set, match.

I still keep in contact with the people I worked with to this day. They keep asking me to come back but they know I won't. I second the comment about the smart and great people all over the University.

I never had to deal with the parking situation but it was bad when I left in 2000. I can imagine it is worse now. If you don't mind office type work, go for it. The dress is pretty casual compared to lame suit and tie jobs.
 
I was an engineer at UT for 6 years. Good pay, low stress (although none of my peers or even myself realized it), and ridiculous amounts of time off. Terrific employer.
 
It sounds like your impression of working at UT is similar to what I have experienced working in edu. You're frequently surrounded by very talented folks that tend to stick around, and although compensation is occasionally under average, the unique benefits from working at a large university make up for it to a certain degree.

Thanks for your opinions. We'll see what happens.
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"gave me six to seven times the paid time off"

Wow, tell us more.

UT staff averages 12-15 paid holidays per yr and anyone who's been there a few yrs gets ~30 days of paid annual leave. Plus 12 days paid sick leave.

So you get at least 6 X 45 = 270 days of paid leave per yr?
 
Okay, I went on the 15 days off. I get just over 3 months off with pay per year. So maybe I can qualify that by saying that I get six to seven times the amount of time off as a newer employee and 3 times that of the people there long enough that they rest their bones when they are off.

I also get to pick my own schedule, work and am not stuck in an office.
 
I don't see it that way, maybe most peoples mental is stuck in that grind. Who knows. There are different things to see in the world all the time. Different people to talk with, learn from, share and laugh with. Different people driving doing different things to always be on the lookout for. Clouds, buildings being erected, hot chicks driving their cars adjusting things, you name it. Never the same if you know what to look for. My scenery changes, an office, not so much. I guess the level of water at the water cooler goes down, same with the coffee pot.

The XM radio is not a bad thing either. Very entertaining.
 
On the pay thing, the University is constantly hiring. Once you get in, you will find it much easier to job hop within the University to up your pay and responsibilities. In the coming job market, the stability of a job at UT will be important.
 
Also, to get in the door you can work with UTemps. It is the temporary type agency for UT. They have jobs ranging from answering phones, filing or typing. It just depends.

Often a department will try people out via UTemps and then offer them the job. I got my job there doing just that. It is something that if you are in between jobs and want some money coming in yet don't want to work everyday. Then when you want more hours and money you make your availability increase.

You have to take a typing and spelling test as well as fill out the lengthy application. But you can do it online or in their offices. Something to consider for new grad's in the job search.
 
I've been trying for a year to get on at Texas, but I just can't get a foot in the door. I even have 13 years experience in higher ed, am familiar with FERPA and have been doing advising for all that time.

Yet, I can't even get an interview.

It's who you know at Texas, not what you know.
 
Do you have a specific department you are trying for? That is weird because I know of 3 people who have moved to Texas in the past few months who all got hired within a few weeks of being in town. Do you still live out of town or have you moved to town?

If you are still out of town they may think that gas would have you quit or something, I dunno. I do know that if we could we tried to hire people in our department that were somewhat local since we were sometimes on call to respond to emergencies and things like that. If somebody was far away they would not be of much use and somebody had to double up for them.

That sucks. I will keep my ears open for you.
 
Loop,

I'd like to be in an academic department, but I'm open to anyplace that pays enough for me to make my bills each month with something leftover.

I'm not looking to get rich. I still live in Temple but I have someplace I can stay in Austin during the week so that I'm not driving back and forth every day.

PacSER,

I check the website almost daily for new postings. I must have sent two dozen resumes in 2008 alone. Yet I can't get an interview. Most times I don't even get an acknowledgement that my application was received.
 
Are you listing your address as Temple or as the place you would stay in Austin? I really do think that if you are listing Temple that this is why you are getting passed over for even an interview.

Say they have ten or so applicants and they are all from Austin, yours being from Temple. If you get the interview you will nail it and land the job, no doubt. But being the far away odd ball you don't get that chance. Try listing the Austin address as if you were local.
 
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