They save time

They keep evaluators focused on the priorities for the search

They help ensure consistency across reviews of multiple applicants

They are a starting point and guide for search committee discussions

They help mitigate the impact of personal and collective biases and provide a structure by which all applicants can be assessed fairly

– Want to learn more about common biases that impact faculty searches? See this excellent summary (Section 4.1) from the UW Handbook for Best Practices in Faculty Searches.