Eight interviews, then crickets. This candidate heard nothing after an extensive series of conversations—including with the startup’s CEO. Yet from all accounts, each interview went very well. The candidate, frustrated, made polite follow-ups. Still, silence. She had been ghosted.
There are a number of reasons employers and recruiters are increasingly ghosting. But the effect on the candidate is almost always confounding and undermining.
Ghosting as a trend
Not added to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary until as recently as 2017, ghosting is defined as the act or practice of abruptly cutting off all contact with someone (such as a former romantic partner) usually without explanation by no longer accepting or responding to phone calls, instant messages, etc.
Unfortunately, no longer limited to former romantic partners, ghosting in job search is a growing trend. In a survey of 500 job seekers and 500 employers published by Indeed last year, 77% of job seekers said they’ve been ghosted by a prospective employer since the onset of Covid-19, with 10% reporting that an employer had ghosted them even after a verbal job offer was extended.
But it goes both ways. In the same survey results, Indeed reported, “Ghosting seems to have grown in popularity amongst job seekers over the past year: 28% have ghosted an employer, up from only 18% in 2019. Meanwhile, 76% of employers have been ghosted in the same time frame, and 57% believe it’s even more common than before.”
The gaslighting effect
Unfortunately, for job seekers, the effects of ghosting are deep. The lack of response can seriously impact self-confidence. It’s a version of gaslighting: “Was I crazy to think this was going well?” When the candidate described above posted this problem on Elpha, a number people replied they had similar experiences being ghosted in job search and shared how this undermined their confidence. On a more practical level, a lack of response wastes the candidate’s time and may also stall their search if it was a role they were really excited about.
There are myriad reasons job-search ghosting happens. The hiring manager or recruiter may be overwhelmed and overworked, and often has no incentive to update the candidate. In fact, giving no update may be easier than delivering bad news.
But sometimes the reason has nothing to do with the candidate. Perhaps the hiring process came to a halt due to a change in priorities, budget issues, or even distractions from beginning a new quarter. Or the company may realize, after several interviews, that they need to change the job description and repost. In any case, it may be no reflection at all on the candidate.
How to respond
What to do when ghosted in job search? Keep it relative to the level reached. A polite and unintrusive follow-up is almost always appropriate when not hearing back after several interviews. Be sure to avoid anything in the email that may send it to spam, perpetuating the situation. Finally, don’t be part of the problem. When no longer interested in a position, let the employer know.
Perhaps getting ghosted is a close call—dodging a bullet from a company with a culture that’s disrespectful, disorganized, or any number of negatives. And most likely, it’s not personal. But when it happens, it’s time to regroup and move on.
Photo by JÉSHOOTS