Have you been ghosted by a candidate?

Question

She was great in the interview.  Really seemed excited about working for us.  We were excited too, and offered her the job.  She sent her signed offer letter a week ago and that's the last we've heard from her.  This position requires a certain level of security checks so the start date is a little fluid, but she said she was ready when we were.  Three of us have been trying to get in touch with her.  Email, voicemail, text.  I even thought maybe i could find her on Insta or Snap Chat (really).  Nothing.  No response.  She's simply disappeared....

STACEY HOWARD · Answer

Potential employers ghost candidates all the time. Candidates were taught by them that ghosting is acceptable.

jpozza · Answer

I was recently ghosted by Bank of America for a position, after spending 45 minutes completing a online test I received a email from HR indicating I passed.  I then received another email indicating a dated and time  for a phone interview, I responded within one hour and never heard back.   This is such a poor reflection on Bank of America and very unprofessional.

Daffeyo Tubman · Answer

I always find it interesting that so many recruiters and headhunters people feel affront when candidates ghost them these days.  Companies (yes, the Corporate HR Recruiter) and headhunters have done that to potential candidates for DECADES.  Now that it is a candidates' market and the shoe is on the other foot, recruiters are offended?

Wow, if I had a penny for everytime a recruiter or headhunter ghosted me, I could take months off every year...turn about is fair play, perhaps recruiters and headhunters who are ghosted now will remember how it feels and treat their candidates better when the market changes again...

Jennifer Lenhart · Answer

Yes now hiring companies will know what it feels like. Not so great huh? Big waste of time huh? I had an interview a few years ago with a child care company which I’m WAY over qualified for and many years of experience. I was aware of the measly pay and part time hours. I just wanted to work after being with a baby for 5 years. Hello human interaction. He said he would get back to after a week. 2 weeks went by so I shot him an email telling him I had other offers(I didn’t). He replied after 2 more weeks that it was summer and he was so busy with camps and he’d let me know soon. He never got back to me and I never emailed him again. Worse than being ghosted. Never been led on by an employer. Glad I’m not working for a flaky jerk like him!

Betsy McCloskey · Answer

Yes. I was ghpsted by a candidate after 3 interviews and a letter of offer. She was fully aware of the salary and benefits. Too top it off, she reached out 6 weeks later and stated her desired salary and said she would take the job immediatley. Uhhhhh......no thanks. I felt Iike I dodged a bullet.

cmst3 · Answer

Agree with several comments. Recruiters are known for their lack of professionalism (not trying to pigeon hole) and follow through with potential candidates. I've had several 'push, push, push' me to do things, change resume, change job description, cancel/re-schedule interviews, etc. That's rude. Just be honest- if I'm not a fit, fine- just let me know & move on.
I would Never not respond to an offer and I still send thank-you emails for the interviews. : )   Good luck!!

Anonymous · Answer

I recruit volunteers for a non-profit that I helped co-found, and yes, I've been ghosted by candidates who were offered the volunteer role. Both times that I can think of, the offer was made via email and/phone, and I never heard back.  I actually see this is as a positive, in the sense that  I would rather the ghosting happen before their first shift. Our non-profit serves vulnerable adults, so by estimation, if a candidate doesn't have the level of professionalism to email or phone to say they've changed their mind, and they are no longer interested, we have cut our losses. They may have ended up skipping  out on their volunteer shifts. Better to know now than later.

I completely agree with earlier comments that recruiters and HR staff are often guilty of being the ones who ghost candidates. As someone who strives to be professional throughout the application process when I've been the one applying for a job, I am astounded at how unprofessional some HR recruiters can be. They don't practice what is preached by career coaches. It truly is a 2-way street.

Katie Malone · Answer

Wow... That's wild. I was ghosted by an interviewee one time and I thought that was bad enough. At least send an email to say you've moved on.

dont mislead · Answer

So have u got lucky yet and heard from her yet???

estrin · Answer

Ghosting is relatively new to our workplace today. It may be due to a candidate market. Anytime the unemployment rate falls below 4% (it is around 3% today), there are more jobs than good candidates. Candidates seem to have their pick of jobs. While that doesn't make ghosting acceptable, candidates particularly feel they can ghost recruiters because they think the recruiter is unimportant. However, recruiters and companies alike, make notes in the file about being ghosted. Eventually, that candidate has forgotten they have stood up a recruiter for a phone interview (the most common ghosting event) and applies again. Because of detailed note taking, the candidate has been marked a 'no show' in the file. The candidate is simply rejected, then wonders why they can't get a job. I am quite certain with the advent of the coronavirus, jobs will be cut, hiring freezes will occur and finding a job will be much more difficult. It is best, as always, not burn bridges. It always comes back to haunt you.

Have you been ghosted by a candidate?

You're invited.

See what women are sharing on Fairygodboss.