Aspirants "to" the job or "for" the job?

Question

Which of the two sentences is correct ?

1. There are huge number of aspirants to the job.

2. There are huge number of aspirants for the job.

The problem is with using aspirants rather than to or for. You aspire to achieve something, which may apply to a dream job for one individual. Having multiple people aspiring to a run of the mill job, though, is a bit odd. — Roaring Fish, Commented Nov 14, 2014 at 11:24
Alternatively, you can say,'there are huge number of job aspirants'. — weakphoneme, Commented Nov 14, 2014 at 13:31

Colin Fine · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-14 11:11:31Z

0

I can't imagine saying either one, but if you're going to, then aspire and aspirant normally take to.

I first misread this as about applicants, which would certainly take for.

answered Nov 14, 2014 at 11:11

Colin Fine

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It depends just what you want it to mean. Probably applicants for the job. Aspirants is possible, but it implies that the job is something special, something that would fulfil their dreams; the mundane word job is rather inconsistent in tone. It would work with the more formal word position instead of job, especially if the position is something special, such as a presidency or fellowship.
– Colin Fine
Commented Nov 14, 2014 at 11:19

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