People Suited/Not Suited for University Staff
What I've learned after 10 years: the dividing line between being suited and not
Introduction
After much thought and consideration, I have come to this conclusion.
I believe that for university staff, it is not "ability" but "resilience" that determines whether one is suited for the job.
The job of a university staff member is not a world where evaluation is determined solely by skills or intelligence.
Rather, what is important is
how much you can mentally endure this unique environment.
This is something that is hard to convey to those on the outside.
That is precisely why, when mid-career staff who actually work there talk to each other, the points we agree on are surprisingly consistent.
People suited for university staff
1. People who can accept that results are "invisible"
The work of university staff requires "preventing problems from occurring" before it requires being evaluated.
Preventing trouble before it happens
Adjusting things so that complaints do not surface
Ensuring systems run smoothly
These things
are not visible unless someone fails.
Unless you are someone who can find meaning in your work even without a "sense of accomplishment" or a "feeling of being evaluated,"
the emptiness will eventually win out.
2. People who can read the room without brandishing logical arguments
At a university,
logical arguments are not always the optimal solution.
Precedents
Power dynamics with faculty
Campus politics
Organizational face
If you ignore these factors and push for what is 'correct,' your work will come to a standstill.
Knowing when to back down or swallow your pride
—those who can make such judgments without feeling defeated are definitely well-suited for the role.
3. People who do not let their spirits wear down when they see someone who seems to have it 'easier' than them
This is a very important point.
In a university workplace,
clearly having a smaller workload
not making difficult decisions
avoiding high-responsibility tasks
despite this, there are
people who earn more than youwho exist quite normally.
(There are more of them than you think)
Seniority, placement, timing. The reasons vary, but those who feel a strong sense of unfairness toward this structure will end up spending their time constantly frustrated, and as a result, may be unhappy.
If you cannot accept that 'even so, I will do my own work,' the mental exhaustion will pile up.
4. People who can take pride in 'not treating mundane work carelessly'
The work of a university staff member is the polar opposite of flashy.
It is the polar opposite of flashy.
Documents
Verification
Coordination
Explanation
Whether you dismiss these as 'boring' or perceive them as 'supporting someone's peace of mind' makes all the difference.
This difference in perspective will lead to a significant gap in a few years.
People not suited for university staff positions
1. People who want their hard work to be directly linked to rewards and evaluations
This is not a workplace where effort is immediately evaluated.
In fact,
the harder you work,
the more likely you are to be told (or thought of as), "You didn't need to do that."
People who feel a strong sense of discomfort with this mindset
will accumulate a lot of stress.
2. People who cannot tolerate the way others work
Making many mistakes
Being inefficient
Being slow to make decisions
Refusing to take on tasks they haven't experienced before
It is a fact that a certain number of such people exist.
"It's faster if I do it myself"
"Why does this level of work suffice?"
People who keep thinking this way will become exhausted.
If the cause of your frustration is the aforementioned "people who are paid more than me," it will only accelerate that exhaustion.
3. People who constantly seek a sense of growth or stimulation
The work of a university staff member
does not change significantly from year to year.
It is a world where you cannot feel growth unless you go out and find it yourself.
I imagine some of you who have read this far are current university staff members.
Some of you may have thought, "It's the same at my workplace," while others may have felt, "It's a little different."
There are differences depending on the university.
Even so,
the ambiguity of evaluations
the imbalance between workload and compensation
a culture where coordination is prioritized over correctness
I suspect these aspects are structural features common to many universities.
Conclusion
Whether you are suited for a university staff position is not about whether you are talented.
I believe it relates to the resilience of "whether you can keep going."
Can you find your own way to compromise with this environment,
without being overly resentful or having excessive expectations?
I thought that,
that is the dividing line for whether you can continue this job.
As for how I was, I struggled, worried, and was reasonably annoyed (laughs), but I got used to it, so I am still here. That is about how it feels.
I hope this is helpful.
I am still thinking about the theme for next time.
As soon as I think of one, I would like to write an article and post it.
Thank you for reading to the end this time as well.