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Key Perceptions of Higher Education Careers from LinkedIn Users

By Marcia Silva posted 12 days ago

  
With close to 29,000 followers, LinkedIn remains one of HERC’s primary channels for connecting with current and passive job seekers. We frequently share LinkedIn polls to gauge the opinions of job seekers and professionals in higher education on relevant and timely topics pertinent to working in this field.  
 

Here are some recent poll findings to consider when planning employee recruitment and retention strategies.

Perceptions of the Higher Education Workplace

LinkedIn Poll: How has your perception of careers in higher education changed compared to a year ago?
When asked how their perception of careers in higher education has changed from a year ago, over half (65%) of respondents said it was “Less Appealing,” a quarter (25%) said “About the Same,” 6% said “More Appealing,” and 4% said “Not Sure.”
 
One respondent who appeared to find higher ed careers more appealing shared this comment: “As a current doctoral student looking to navigate the pathways to transition to higher education, I’m more intrigued despite the political, financial, and individual perspectives of controversy. At the end of the day…education will never be eliminated or abolished as life and living is a continuous and lifelong learning process.”

LinkedIn Poll: Which factor has most influenced your perception of careers in higher education over the past year?
When asked what most influenced their perception of higher education careers over the past year, over half (57%) of the respondents noted “Workplace Environment/Culture,” followed by “Compensation and Benefits” (28%), “Career Advancement” (11%), and “Other” (4%).
LinkedIn Poll: For those who have worked in and out of higher ed, which work setting did you prefer?
Despite the less appealing perception of careers in higher ed, we asked those who have worked in and out of higher ed which setting they preferred, and the majority said higher ed (60%). Just over one-fifth (21%) of respondents preferred working outside of higher ed, while 12% said both/all were equal, and 8% stated they were unsure.

A couple of notable comments submitted by respondents include:
  • “Higher Ed was less stressful and personally more fulfilling than my out of Higher Ed experience. Although, there are some stressful areas within Higher Ed, Higher Ed has still been my preferred work environment/setting.”
  • “Higher education was a different environment when I joined.”
 
KEY TAKEAWAY
Workplace culture is the most significant factor pushing professionals away from higher ed careers. Institutions must improve leadership, work-life balance, and employee experience to retain and attract talent. Higher ed employers need to reshape their messaging to highlight improvements in workplace culture, professional development, and institutional values to counteract declining appeal.
 
Job Searching
LinkedIn Poll: If you've been looking for a job in higher education, how do you feel about the current job prospects?
Last summer, we asked job seekers looking for opportunities in higher education how they felt about job prospects; the majority expressed that it was negative (56% said, “Not Good,” and 18% said, “Very Bad”). Nearly a quarter (23%) said job prospects looked “Decent,” while only 3% said “Great.”
 
One respondent commented, “There are so many job listings, but no reply on applications, and there seems to be the same listings over and over again. What's the scoop? :) 14+ years of experience, 12 Online + adult training w/ travel for EMR and crickets...”
LinkedIn Poll: Are you planning a job search in higher ed this year?
Even though job prospects in higher education seemed bleak last summer, when asked at the start of the new year if they are planning to search for a higher ed job this year, over half (64%) said, “Yes,” 19% said “No,” and 15% said, “I’m Not Sure Yet.”
 
KEY TAKEAWAY
 
While job seekers may feel discouraged about the availability or quality of opportunities, their commitment to pursuing a career in higher education remains strong. To attract and retain talent, higher education employers should focus on improving how they communicate opportunities, growth potential, and workplace culture.
 
Staying in Higher Education

LinkedIn Poll: What characteristic do you need the most to work in higher ed?
When asked what characteristic is most needed to work in higher education, nearly half (48) said “Patience,” followed by “Compassion” (23%), “Team-focused” (16%), and “Determination” (12%).
 
One respondent shared this commentary: “Oh man, the mental gymnastics I went through trying to answer this. Gaining perspective into working in higher education has been a reality check, for sure. Hence why I voted, 'Patience' like almost half the other respondents also voted. Very telling of the reality of working in higher ed.”
 
KEY TAKEAWAY
 
The perception that higher education careers require extreme patience may signal frustration with institutional processes, decision-making, or workplace dynamics. To maintain engagement, employer branding and recruitment, messaging may need to acknowledge these challenges while also emphasizing the rewards and impact of working in higher education.
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