Ghosting...
I thought I was done with this when I stopped dating. In the past 3 weeks, I submitted my resume, did the pre-screen phone call, and did a Zoom interview. At the end of the interview, the woman told me that they "were eager to get someone to start" and I'd "know, either way, by the end of the week". A week goes by, and literally nothing. I thought perhaps I misheard her and maybe it was "within a week". I emailed the appropriate people to make sure I didn't miss a correspondence... and still... SILENCE.
I've come to the conclusion that I've been ghosted and that everything was lip service. My question is... is this NORMAL? I've been with my current company for 12 years and haven't needed to do the job-hunt for awhile but the more I look into this, is seems that companies ghosting prospective employees is just "what happens". This is super discouraging and, for me at least, just adds another level of anxiety when it comes to this whole process.
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Emily Keiper
It’s completely normal unfortunately, but a good tell tale sign that their hiring skills are lacking. It could also be a red flag for their overall culture …. If they ghost candidates then do they truly care about their hires/people? Makes you wonder.
Keep at it, they aren’t all ghosters. Good luck!!
ELIZABETH DELUCA
Unfortunately, “ghosting” is not a new phenomenon among recruiters looking for candidates, however, this practice has become more common due to the chaos in the job market caused by COVID.
I have experienced it myself three times in the past month. It can be extremely frustrating when you have spent a significant amount of time researching, preparing, and participating in screening calls and interviews and you don’t receive any feedback.
Three reasons why ghosting is happening more often are as follows:
The recruiters are too busy and simply don’t have enough time to get back to every candidate.
The hiring company has either put the job on hold, or they are not returning the recruiter’s phone calls.
They are unprofessional, lack communication skills, and don’t prioritize getting back to candidates, especially if they are no longer under consideration for the job.
If you have gone through a few rounds in the interview process and don’t hear back from the recruiter, here are a few tips for attempting to get an update on your candidacy:
Call the recruiter directly. Chances are you will get their voicemail so be prepared to leave a message which includes your name, the role you interviewed for, and the date of your last contact with them. In addition, reiterate your interest in the position and mention a few relevant skills that you can offer to the hiring company.
If you don’t hear back from them, send an email to the recruiter with the same information mentioned above.
Be polite, persistent, and professional but if after three attempts you still don’t have an answer it is better to spend your time pursuing new opportunities rather than waiting for a response that may never come.
In today’s job market ghosting has become a common practice, but try not to get discouraged or take it personally. Move forward in your job search with confidence and optimism and you eventually be rewarded for your efforts.