postdoctoral fellow

clinical research coordinator

postdoctoral scholar

research associate

registered nurse

University of California - San Francisco

Let me start by saying that UCSF as a whole, is a great organization.  I would have loved to work there long term, just not for the "Manager of Talent Acquisition".  

The Talent Acquisition team on the Campus side, is your classic Mean Girls scenario.  I was told, by the manager herself, that she will only hire contract employees.  The reasoning behind it is that the manager and her little minions only care about one thing, making the manager happy.  If you don't care about that, or at least outwardly show/express that, then you aren't a "good fit" for the team.  It's sad, but unfortunately true.  

Here's the red flag to look out for, count how many times they say her name during your interview.  3-5 times is acceptable if you're talking about her, they'll bring her up with every question you ask because no on is allowed to think for themselves, it has to be approved and signed off by her, including calling in sick.    

To be successful on this team, you better be ready to be a yes-person.  I was for the first 9 months of my contract.  During the last 3 months, I had the second highest req load, took on multiple projects, and was filling in, full time, for another employee that was out on medical leave.  I was ASKED to do scheduling for another recruiter so that she can focus on Sourcing (even though sourcing is my literal role).  I said I didn't have the bandwidth, unless it was for sourcing.  I was then TOLD to do scheduling.  I refused again using data.  Side Note:  I was also going through a personal issue that I mentioned to the leadership team, and after refusing the second time with data, expressing that I couldn't work overtime (because I wasn't getting paid to do it, it was expected, but you wouldn't get approved for it) I was utterly disappointed.  

When it comes to the manager, she's excellent with strategy and seeing the big picture.  Her execution, communication, and people management are poor at best. Recruiters are a different breed.  We're like sales people except we're honest.  We have pure, genuine hearts.  We see the good in people.  We love to help others.  We speak with empathy and understanding.  We have lots of emotions and can be rebellious, but it's because we typically care more than everyone else.  We can connect with people instantly.  We can smile during rough times and see the silver lining.  I see none of these qualities in the manager.  

The job itself, is NOT recruiting.  The job title and function is very misleading.  At the end of the day, you are taught to preach process to your hiring managers, not develop relationships.  

The team talks about great concepts: empathy, professional development, transparency, communication, leadership, lean methodology.  What's ironic is none of those concept exist on the team.  The process alone violates Lean Methodology with Over-Processing among other things.  Empathy?  Forget about it.  My son had a fever at school, I left to pick him up.  I told one of the supervisors.  Big mistake.  I got in trouble because I didn't wait for Jessica to be available to ask to go take care of my sick child in an elementary school 40 minutes away without traffic.  

You better be at your desk for at minimum of 9 hours, working through lunch, when you get home that night, and working on the weekends, oh and don't forget, DO NOT put in any overtime on your time sheet.  

Want to take vacation?  There's a document for how to request time off properly.  Not feeling well?  Yeah, there's a process for that too.  It's not enough to just email the team, you have to figure out your own coverage then get it approved by the manager.  Have the flu?  As long as you feel okay and don't think you're contagious, just come to the office (right around the time COVID was becoming a thing too!). If not, just take a sick day.  You can't work from home unless you're done with the probationary period of 6 months, if you get your one, singular, remote day, you can move it to a different day if you're not feeling well, but it better not be a Tuesday or Thursday, those days are reserved endless meetings talking about everything under the sun that could ideally just be an email.  

The Campus Talent Acquisition team is run with processes in place that were established because of trust issues.  Now that the team is remote, the micromanager experience has been magnified, except now it doesn't come from the manager, it goes through her supervisors.  I feel bad for them really, they can't think for themselves, can't make any decisions for themselves, have to be the bad guy to the employees.  It's not an ideal situation and I really valued those two.  

Lastly, during my last month there, I requested an exit interview on three separate occasions.  All three requests were ignored, never responded to.  I asked to speak with our Director, who I was on a first name basis with.  I asked to speak with our HRBP.  I asked to speak to Labor Relations.  There is clear evidence of favoritism, discrimination, and bias at UCSF CAMPUS Talent Acquistion.  

They can't figure out why there's a retention issue.  Does anything above strike you as a red flag?  

I'm not just some angry ex-employee making waves after departure out of spite.  I stand up for my morals, my ethics, and what I feel is right.  I stand up for the ones that don't feel like they have a voice or are too scared to speak for themselves.  I stand up for myself.  That's why, I'm not a good fit for the team.  


Writing IRB applications, consent forms, and all documents to submit to the IRB - developed strong writing skills and high level of collaboration with IRB members.
Negotiating study budgets with Sponsor representatives - developed in-house  procedures for assessment of budget needs and negotiating with Sponsor representatives in a prompt manner.
Professional working relationship with research study subjects, scheduling within subject/family schedule, collection of specimens, and professional environment. Working with families was the best and most enjoyable part of the job.
What I learned: importance of utilizing and expanding my own skills in order to be more self reliant and complete tasks on time. This involved lots of self study in order to expedite tasks which I enjoyed.
Hardest part of the job was the overtime hours in order to ensure tight deadlines that needed to met due to lack of staffing. I took the responsibility upon myself to complete the tasks in order to be site ready. Study representatives appreciated my diligence, which made the job more pleasurable. 
UCSF is a very demanding employer that finally took funds to invest in their infrastructure in order to get depts. up to speed on using technolgical advances.
I created great working relationships with various departments that made the environment more enjoyable to work in.

Additionally, 

Egoism and power trips are the normal way handling disputes/fair treatment from the higher ups and HR is toothless and ineffectual. Despite the liberal nature of the constituents of the this massive bay area machine, it is quite clear that even the nobility of the scientific endeavor can be muddled for the benefit of the few. As staff we are left to observe this quietly and if we speak out you may as well count on being relegated to cleaning the -80C as your primary duty, and say goodby to your potential "authorship." I have worked in 4 labs, only one is noble and genuinely good to their staff and students. One! And in that one lab my most beloved superior ever (a Harvard organic chemist and MD), left to go kaiser, stating "UC is going don the tubes." I believe him now and I am looking for my chance to move on to something better in industry. That being said, it would suck to have to accept horrible wages just for good benefits. UC, you can do much better for us but you choose to keep staff just above water financially in this city-not cool for people wanting to and in some cases changing the world.

I suppose its a good start for recent grads and maybe for a year or two, but don't get your hopes up. The UC moniker may make you starry eyed but measure your expectations before accepting your offer letter. 

Good luck out there!

A

A typical day at work includes 25+ patients coming in for surgery anxious, and not feeling his/her best.  By the time the patient has left, she/he has been treated with the most attention and care one could hope for when in need of an invasive procedure.  Management is minimal as everyone seems to know his/her role, but is always available for consultation when situations of question arise.  The most difficult part of the job is separating oneself from a patient when emotions take toll and remembering that the care you can provide is limited to the time that you are able to spend with each patient as well as the patient's privacy.  The most enjoyable part of the job is the joy patients emit as they leave: feeling better and feeling hopeful about his/her full recovery.  Drawings from pediatric patients will cover your desk and coffee and treats from adult patients will appear with a smile.

When I interviewed for a full-time position at University of California in San Francisco they called me back and offered a 6-month contract through there tep program.  I accepted but then they said they couldn’t pay 100k a year so i accepted 83k for a senior level financial analyst position that required 5 years experience. (Because it was just a contract).  

You also have to account for the parking which will costs you 160/month or more.  So minus 2k a year for that, 81k annually.

Once i started working they changed my job responsibilities that were in the job description i applied for to be a q/a tester for an online profit and  lost statement.  (Which may be illegal). Q/A analyst get paid over 100k per year easily.

I should have left right away but they checked all my references and the health benefits were good.  Two months in and after working hard every day and finishing a project early.  They ended my contract without giving any notice and smiled while doing it.  

I did also witness managers constantly yelling at and berating employees that had been working there for years.  Toxic work environment in there finance department.

A typical day at work consists of  arriving on time of course , setting up clinic for the day which entails; pulling out the equipment getting the patient sleeves/charts,making sure rooms are cleaned and ready for the patients. I always check the schedule to see if the day will be busy or not .I also help out in the back office; schedule appointments ,follow ups as well as new patient appointments. answer phone calls,and referral workques 
  My Co-workers are very hard working and I really like how we all work together as a team. They are also very thoughtful, helpful and sharing. The most enjoyable part of ther job is the patients and the view. I am a people person and I really enjoy seeing many of the patients here, especially after developing a relationship with each individual as they come and go from their appointments.
 The hardest part of the job is knowing that it's all temporary and knowing that it will shortly come to an end. I have learned alot here as far as the clinical set up and how to professionally deal with unhappy patients in the most respectable manner.

-I worked with users to analyze report requirements, create program specification documents, design and generate complex reports and forms using PL/SQL, Crystal Report and Microsoft Office application.

- I wrote complex programs and reports for data integrity checking, data pulls, upload or updates, analysis of business strategies and campaigns and, for mailing or telemarketing; work with users to define, develop, test and maintain new applications in support of business requirements. Trouble-shooting data and software application failure. Created and scheduled periodic daily / monthly reports to users.

- I was responsible for training University Development users about applications, programs and reports created by the incumbent and other IT staff; enters all project activities with details of solutions/programs developed daily in the Track-it help desk system and ensures that others in the department can access and utilize work product; and perform other duties as assigned.

My time at the UCSF University Store at Mission Bay was a memorable, fun and challenging part of my career. During the end of time at UCSF, there were lots of financial woes such as, Budget Cuts, which in turn, would have effected my work and it's credibility. With all the resources and great management along with fellow co-workers, the financial hardship did not effect my drive to continuing working and providing my skills and attributions to the best of my abilities. The job became much more challenging when my staff was minimized and I found myself managing/supervising the campus store myself. Again, I seized the challenge as an opportunity to better my abilities and progress and provide the University with the best possible customer services I can provide. Although the financial woes transitioned into closure to all the University Stores, I can truly say that my time I served at the UCSF University Stores was an amazing experience and one of the best environments to say I was a part of.

My day started with a 2 hour commute and at least 1/2 mile hike up to the hospital. I loved working here. Everybody was amazing to work with. There is so much knowledge there, and I learned something new everyday. I love children and I loved caring for these little ones. My favorite part of my job wasn't the medical part. It was bath time and letting them splash in the water and pulling  them around in a wagon to get a breath of fresh air outside and playing peek a boo. It was the in-between medications and treatments time that allowed them to feel normal and safe and happy for a short time. This was the best part of my job. The most painful and difficult part of my job was seeing my patient's in pain or watching them regress and waste away as their disease took over after surgery and treatment was unsuccessful. It was heartbreaking  to watch them die. They were like my children and I grew very attached to them and it devastated me to lose them.

UCSF Student Health and Counseling is a  wonderful organization with a diverse group of talented individuals. I've learned so much in the Five plus years I worked here. 
UCSF Student health and Counseling is unique because it's an Academic /Health Setting. I Assist five primary care and five mental health providers as well as a nursing staff of four. We our not only a primary care and counseling clinic but we also maintain/track all student's health compliances .I also assist with coordinating student events on campus and staff meetings along with many other administrative duties.
One of the challenging parts of my job that I enjoy would be that fast paced environment and complex schedules that consistently change. Our patient population can also be challenging because they're currently in school  pursing a degree Doctorate/Masters or PhD, the students have very limited schedule and demand the best health care at all times. My favorite part of my job is interfacing with our future health care providers of the world. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Postdoctoral fellow 20 salaries reported	$68,159 per year
Clinical research coordinator 8 salaries reported	$70,217 per year
Postdoctoral scholar 7 salaries reported	$70,266 per year
Research associate 5 salaries reported	$74,480 per year
Registered nurse 7 salaries reported	$101 per hour

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