I am trying to apply to higher education positions but they take sooo long to respond back.

11 Comments

1. KathyJanuary 17,2026 at 2:41PM UTC

   Absolutely, the hiring process in Higher Education can take a while. Just hang in there. If you can swing it, try to attend the conferences. Keep an eye on the Higher Education website for job openings. If you did an internship in higher ed, be sure to ask your supervisors for references and suggestions; they might have some useful connections. Good Luck!!

2. AnonymousJanuary 17,2026 at 4:24PM UTC

   Are the administration positions, they move faster than faculty positions, but still. They are up against funding cuts and a poor atmosphere for higher ed at this point in our country. If you are interested, start networking your way in there and learning what's going on. Higher ed functions much differently then corp roles.

3. AnonymousJanuary 17,2026 at 8:56PM UTC

   You might try the services of The Babb Group. They can help with CVs and branding as well as bringing you job postings that are not widely posted on the big job boards. It is largely a networking and numbers game though I will say.

4. KeishaJanuary 20,2026 at 9:33PM UTC

   That group I didn’t find beneficial at all for me.

5. Elizabeth Stiles WestJanuary 18,2026 at 12:11AM UTC

   Attend any in-person networking events, network online, contact your former co-workers who are still in the field and make sure they know you're looking. If you apply and don't hear after a reasonable period of time, contact them and reiterate your interest. Make sure you apply both for online and in-person positions, and just keep trying.

6. GirlBossanova934974January 18,2026 at 1:41PM UTC

   I am not so sure about higher education but I am seeing non higher education roles take several weeks to get back with me after I sent in my resume and cover letter. HR departments are understaffed and after 2-3 years of cutbacks, the entire system is moving very slow. Heaven forbid if the job market picks up. The avalanche of employees that are ready to jump ship from these companies is probably off the charts.

7. AnonymousJanuary 18,2026 at 1:46PM UTC

   It does take a very long time and the funding might be pulled. Keep at it but build in related fields in a he meantime.

8. Laura JohnsonJanuary 18,2026 at 3:12PM UTC

   This is notorious! And nothing ever changes. I was in higher ed a long time and their hiring can take months. All you can do is wait.

9. AnonymousJanuary 18,2026 at 5:08PM UTC

   You find things to do while you wait. Take courses, reach out to those who work in the field, and keep applying.

10. AnonymousJanuary 21,2026 at 1:12PM UTC

    I work in higher education. I would not advise anyone to pursue a career in this sector. The last year has been very difficult with the loss of government funding and strict regulations. Graduate enrollments have fallen sharply at institutions that rely on international students. These changes have precipitated staffing cuts. Beware.

11. AnonymousJanuary 25,2026 at 11:35PM UTC

    Reach out to your network, attend a conference related to the specialty area you are trying to work in, and be open to community colleges as well as universities!