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.