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Is ghosting a thing now?

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Anonymous

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Is ghosting a thing now?

I've had three interviews for separate companies, the most recent with a recruiter then a zoom with the owner of the company. The interview went well and the owner said the recuiter would contact me at the beginning of the next week. The owner said they would schedule a time to fly out to my location for an in-person interview (the position is in another state). I've had no communication after all 3 of these interviews. I can understand applying for a position and not hearing back, but this is after an interview. Two of the interviewers expressed they would like to set up the next step and would be contacting me.

The week has passed and no contact from the last recruiter. This position is a senior executive one and I've had 20 year's experience. I understand if they've gone with another applicant, but why no communication?? Even a "Dear applicant, we've hired someone else" email would be nice. I've also reached out to the Recruiter (also to the owner on the last one). Crickets.

With all three applications, only one of them had the given to check my background (nothing on there that I would worry about). And I left on good terms with my last 3 employers.

I just don't get it?

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  1. Anonymous

    Ghosting is a thing and those of us who remember follow through and a certain professional etiquette are thrown off by it.

    Unfortunately even the very large successful companies have adopted this laissez-faire mindset that it's just no big deal.

  2. Anonymous

    Sadly I have seen and experienced the same.

  3. Pamela Baptiste

    Yes. It is the norm now. I don't think the Companies appreciate that this also reflects badly on their brand. It's like we don't need you so you are not worth it. HR sure doesn't appreciate the entire recruitment process.

  4. Laura

    Have you followed up with them?

  5. Anonymous

    Yes, by email and by phone (reached and left a voicemail).

  6. Laura

    Ugh, I'm sorry this is happening to you. I look at it from two perspectives - 1) it sucks and is unprofessional (had this happen to me when I was one of two final candidates for an HR ironically enough - would think HR would know better!) and 2) it tells me a lot about the company and it's ultimately one I wouldn't want to work for.

    From your post it looks like one week has passed, there is always the possibility that they may still reach out to you. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!!

  7. Anonymous

    A small business perspective:,,We had 71,applicants for a professional-level job posted via the leading online platform. We politely rejected the 13 that were not qualified with personal communication. We tried to interview everyone else. 12 did not reply. We then sent a follow up request for an interview. Only 3 replied to our second request. So far we have scheduled/confirmed 39 for interviews. Of the 39 who agreed to the date/time, 11 have no-showed. And, over half of our shortlist have ghosted us when we requested second interviews. We are not HR professionals so this has been an eye opener.

    Im sorry you are on the other end of the ghosting business. Keep trying. I promise you there are companies trying just as hard as you are to find a good match. Don’t give up!!

  8. Megan Leasher

    It's the norm and it sucks.

  9. Carrie Johnson Sorensen

    I honestly don't think it's new (although it may be increasing). I still remember the interview I had 20 years ago where they shared with me that I was one of 3 candidates they were bringing in and that only a few people had the relevant database experience. I thought the interview went great, but I never heard back either way--even after a call to both HR and to the person I had met with. I'm still irked about that one, but probably dodged a bullet if that's how they treated potential employees.

  10. Maggie Soldano

    Yes, it's a thing. I had someone ASK ME to apply (someone I worked with before) for a position on his team. He and the recruiter ghosted me for a month with no updates or communication. I finally sent them an email saying "I guess you went in a different direction, thanks for the opportunity to appy," and only THEN was I told they hired someone else.

  11. Erica Nicholas

    I am an admin but I am the one to set up 2nd and third interviews. I have noticed people don't get any response until the position is not only filled but the new person is in the building.

    I don't like that they do this because I think it is unfair to the applicant but I understand they don't want to utterly down good candidates just in case.

    The only ones to get rejected after this level are the ones that reach out to me and weren't good choices. I will ask the recruiter to disposition them. Hopefully you're dealing with something similar and it's good you haven't heard any news.

    That said, keep checking. Good luck!

  12. Anonymous

    Erica was spot on, especially for senior positions. I was in the running for the position of Executive Director of a non-profit, and if offered, I would have to move across the country. It was a long shot, as they likely had a more local pool to draw from, but it was right in my wheelhouse. For me, it was crickets for three months after the second interview. They had an outside recruiter, so they didn't know much about what was going on in the decision process. My only assumption that it took them four months to send me the rejection letter was what Erica said about wanting to have a warm body in the chair (and possibly settled) before they turned other qualified candidates loose. Most people don't like being the second (runner-up) choice. This particular company went with a candidate that had been serving on the board and likely had to wait until her term expired before becoming a paid employee.

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