One Simple Tip to Get More Qualified Applicants

Is your institution, college, or department struggling to attract the right candidates to your open positions? You might want to take a closer look at your job titles. If the titles you’re using are generic and vague like, "Assistant Professor" or "Director", they won’t convey anything about the specific job or the type of candidates you’re searching for. Job titles are often the first impression candidates have of your opening. Without a clear title to clearly describe the role, job seekers might not bother to take the next step or learn more.

Search any job site and you'll see that users are typically presented with a list of job opportunities with limited details about each position. As a result, using generic titles may cause many candidates to overlook your listing, unaware that it could be the right fit for them.

Take a moment to review how your institution displays job titles for its open positions. Ask yourself: Are these titles specific and descriptive, or are they vague and generic? If the right candidate saw only the job title, would they immediately know the position is meant for them? If your answer is no, you're likely missing out on qualified applicants. ?

If this sounds like your institution, the fix is easy:?

For faculty positions, include the academic discipline in the title. This not only clarifies what the job entails but also ensures that candidates with relevant expertise will easily recognize the position as a good fit for their skills and background.??

• Instead of "Assistant Professor,” use "Assistant Professor of Anthropology"?

For administrative positions, list the specific administrative area. Clearly describing the department or function in the title helps candidates quickly understand the nature of the role and whether their experience aligns with it.?

• Instead of "Associate Director," use "Associate Director of Development"?

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In today’s competitive recruitment landscape, where time and resources are often limited, making this small change to your job titles is simple, but could make a significant impact on your applicant pools. So, the next time you post a job, think carefully about the title. A well-crafted, descriptive job title could be the key to ensuring that the right candidates apply.?

Not sure where to start? For institutions that post on HigherEdJobs, our dedicated account managers are here to provide one-on-one guidance throughout the posting process. Feel free to reach out to them directly or visit our website to learn more about posting jobs with us.??