Is this how it works now?

57 Comments

1. AnonymousMay 22,2024 at 8:40PM UTC

   Yes... it is rude and disheatening; granted recruiting and hiring teams are time stressed and overworked, but a form letter with a slot for customized feedback and status should be standard procedure.

2. AnonymousMay 22,2024 at 8:51PM UTC

   Yes. Unfortunately. I’ve been ghosted after 4th and 5th round interviews (with completed projects) multiple times over the past few months. It’s incredibly disheartening and it does starts to impact your wellbeing. Just know that you aren’t alone. Never stop looking until you have a signed offer and be sure to leave an anonymous Glassdoor review about your interview experience.

3. Dr. Erica WallsMay 22,2024 at 8:56PM UTC

   Sorry this happened to you. Unfortunately, this happens far too often. Sounds like you've done your part. Continue searching in the meantime. You'll find the right fit.

4. AnonymousMay 22,2024 at 9:15PM UTC

   This isn't the 80's so far as I know ghosting has been the norm for 30 years

5. Kimberly JohnsonMay 22,2024 at 9:42PM UTC

   Unfortunately you have to keep a lot of potential opportunities up in the air until you accept an offer

6. AnonymousMay 22,2024 at 9:50PM UTC

   I am now thinking that "two weeks" is the insider code for "Show her out and then don't call and don't answer her calls." Because I had the same experience with a company that brought me in to interview for a new position that I did not apply for. I applied for a very different position at the business.

   I made a lot of excuses for the reason they did not follow through, when it was their idea in the first place. We will never know for sure.

7. AnonymousMay 23,2024 at 3:41AM UTC

   Yes, unfortunately, even reputable companies do this now. Similar thing happened to me. In my company I am not allowed to get back to candidates, HR does, but I am not sure they do a good job following up.

8. AnonymousMay 23,2024 at 12:27PM UTC

   I would not fret over 2 weeks.

   if you keep contacting them like this, they may end up not hiring you because of your behavior.

   when dealing with high ups, you need to be respectful and patient

   don’t be impatient and in a rush. You are showing your character.

   if you didn’t get the job, you didn’t. If could be that you are still in the running but acting impatient and entitled will get you nowhere.
   be patient! And accept the decision like it or not

   keep applying to other jobs, they do not owe you a job, so don’t put 100% of your energy on them “not getting back to you” , it’s a waste of time and energy
   this is how it works

9. GirlBossanova934974May 23,2024 at 12:28PM UTC

   The underlying problem is very simple. We have had a lot of turnover in management due to retirements in the last few years. Unfortunately, a lot of second string and third string players have been promoted. Many of these new players are NOT ready. As a long term manager, you know your REPUTATION is the most important currency. Making promises to candidates and disappearing behind HR is a sure fire way to wreck your company's REPUTATION. As an experienced manager, you don't make promises like this. And you get back to candidates with rejection letters as needed. Reputation! Many of today's managers? They are in and out the door in 2 years or less. A revolving door of expensive free agents who run from one place to the other hoping their prior misdeeds don't catch up with them........

10. Stephanie Branch LekowskiMay 26,2024 at 12:30PM UTC

    Here's a potentially stupid question but I'll ask it anyway; why is your company or firm hiring and/or retaining these "expensive free agents"?? Nepotism, laziness, catering to the Gen Z/special snowflake/everyone gets a trophy demographic? If that's the case, if a reputation is lost, maybe that loss is well deserved.

11. Kirsten BunchMay 23,2024 at 12:37PM UTC

    Unfortunately, this seems to be common. The best advice I’ve received is to have a lot of eggs in your basket so you don’t notice as much when one goes bad. Also, be direct in your follow up - do you plan on moving forward with my candidacy? - and don’t follow up more than once. You’re too valuable to be playing this inconsiderate game.

12. AnonymousMay 23,2024 at 12:46PM UTC

    They are likely looking at other candidates. It doesn't mean they have ruled you out but it does mean they haven't decided yet. I agree that telling you two weeks and then not following up is poor "customer service." Hang in there. If this is for a senior or middle management position, telling you ASAP is aggressive planning on their part. They could have changed their staffing plan or had other things that required priority attention. Since you were talking with the ED, it happens. I am still waiting for an answer from the board chair on a CEO position I interviewed for in late March. I emailed her last week and still haven't heard if they have filled the position. I was given three weeks to hear about a decision. Although I'm still hopeful, I realize they are either still interviewing others, or have gone with someone else and may be waiting for an agreement.

13. AnonymousMay 23,2024 at 12:52PM UTC

    I had two interviews last week and they said they wanted to make a decision by eow. Still haven’t heard a week later and I’m going to move on and assume it’s a no for me. It’s okay for them to ghost us but if we did that it would be frowned upon - it has gotten so bad and rude I’m so done

14. AnonymousMay 24,2024 at 1:00PM UTC

    This happened to my son. He had the interview on a Wednesday and was told they had 1 more interview on Thursday and wanted to make a decision on Friday. Of course he didn't hear back on Friday and I told him even if they made a decision it would take time for the company to write up an offer. But as the end of the following week was coming near he was expecting this to be similar to what happened after an interview at another company. He sent a follow up email, but as before no response.

15. AnonymousMay 23,2024 at 1:20PM UTC

    Typically for legal reasons they let HR handle rejections.

16. JoAnn HoppeMay 23,2024 at 1:23PM UTC

    Some companies just aren’t professional anymore. I had one company ghost me after

    asking me for my availability for a final interview with their CEO and I gave her dates and times and then zilch. I followed up and again zilch.

    I figured I’d dodged a bullet.

    also, sometimes the definition of “soon” or even “two weeks” isn’t concrete but flexible on their end.

    im sorry, i know it’s frustrating. Sometimes it’s out of the manager’s hands. A long time ago, I let my assistant go (she was awful and i inherited her - highly encouraged by both my boss and HR). I’d been interviewing her replacement and found my candidate and was excited to move forward. In the day I was going to make an offer, I got a call from HR about their brand new hiring freeze- indefinite. Ugh! But I did call my candidate and told her I was very interested in moving forward once the freeze was lifted. She appreciated my update and several months later we were

    able to make her an offer.

17. Stephanie Branch LekowskiMay 27,2024 at 8:54PM UTC

    More recruiters should be like you. I don't care if I didn't get the job; taking the time to let me know impresses me because it shows acknowledgement and consideration of my time.

18. JoAnn HoppeMay 28,2024 at 6:24PM UTC

    It’s the golden rule - treat others as you’d like to be treated. (Although the assistant I terminated would beg to differ!). I’m communicative - always want to know what’s going on.

19. AnonymousMay 23,2024 at 2:13PM UTC

    That is horrible.

20. AnonymousMay 23,2024 at 3:22PM UTC

    Do you know why the role is open? if it is a replacement or a new position often it can take longer for them to figure out what they really want and the candidate pool can shift that timing sometimes. Not an excuse in any way for their leaving you hanging but their world clearly doesn't revolve around your search.

    I would send one more email be sure to set it so you know when they have read it (read receipts). Let them know you are also in final conversations with another company but that they remain your first choice. Ask them for an update and also to be kind enough to let you know if you are no longer being considered, even if a decision has not been made yet. Give it a time box - for example say something like if I don't hear a reply by this Friday I will assume you are no longer interested and will move forward with the other company. It's a bluff for sure but will get you an answer from them one way or another.

    If you hear back from them keep the bluff going and the gentle pressure on to assure they don't slip timing again. Get from them the final steps and stages so that you can stay ahead of what comes next. Good luck!

21. AnonymousMay 23,2024 at 10:08PM UTC

    Also, go to LinkedIn and see if those you are trying to reach are still working at this company. Many people leave and we have no idea. I would send one more email, and in the subject line you put a directive. This is an eye catcher (I was a former recruiter and it worked every time). Still use it in my work today. Subject Line can be simply put: Follow-up, add the title

    In the context of the email, reflect back on the interviews, the appreciation of their time, and how you fit the role. Then in the end, simply state, Looking forward to your favorable reply, then of course your name. See if that helps get some attention.

22. AnonymousMay 24,2024 at 12:05PM UTC

    Things happen, realizing they gave you timelines that ended up not working for them, probably didn't look at the availability of the decision makers and then didn't follow up with you. Disheartening, I would show grace, keep looking for jobs, as now it's a holiday weekend and some may be out of the business next week. If you're still available when they circle back then make that decision. But keep looking.

23. AnonymousMay 24,2024 at 12:34PM UTC

    Totally normal for nursing at all levels. Then all of a sudden all the offers come in at one time.

24. Jennifer TannerMay 24,2024 at 12:52PM UTC

    Unfortunately, the short answer is yes, this is the new normal now.

    It sucks for job candidates because it's a massive waste of time and effort. Also, it sucks for the entire job market. There is so little accountability or transparency about hiring practices, making it difficult to call out specific companies on potential discriminatory or illegal hiring policies.

25. AnonymousMay 24,2024 at 1:15PM UTC

    Sadly, yes, this is normal to the point that it's beyond words. It's seriously discouraging for a lot of people trying to either get into the workforce for the first time or having to re-enter it. The ones that do respond back after interviews even just to reject you are rare gems. I've been looking for a job to move on from my current one for nearly 9 months and the ghosting has only gotten worse.

26. AnonymousMay 24,2024 at 1:31PM UTC

    This happened to me as well. They basically ghosted me. I needed to know so I messaged the president on LinkedIn and basically demanded an explanation. He apologized for the hiring guy not letting me know. I didn't want to work there after that anyways. I'm not saying do what I did, and hopefully that's not common but it has happened before.

27. AnonymousMay 24,2024 at 1:49PM UTC

    Whether or not this is "the new normal," this is your view into company culture and what you can expect if you worked there. I have been guilty of ignoring red flags during the interview process and lived to regret it when I took jobs. They are showing you who they are and what they value...PAY ATTENTION.

    I was recently downsized from my position due to severe economic challenges in my industry. Do I need an job? Yes! Will I be desperate and ignore what is shown to me? NO!

28. AnonymousMay 24,2024 at 1:58PM UTC

    I see this on the employer side but I can also say I see it on the applicants side also. I have had to hire for 3 different positions this year and out of the applicants I request interviews for I only received a 25% response rate. Yes, I do respond back to every interview in a timely manner. So I can understand how you say your time is important or wasted. Well it’s a time suck for me to. I also have notice those between a certain age group are the worse at ghosting. So wondering if those employers HR personnel that are ghosting the most fall within that age group.

29. AnonymousMay 25,2024 at 6:33PM UTC

    Respectfully, HR requesting an interview is very different than actually having the interview, giving the candidate a timeline on decision, then never contacting them again.

30. Colleen HansonMay 24,2024 at 2:10PM UTC

    I feel like most employers anymore act as though they are doing you a favor by even offering an interview. In my opinion many employers do not value anyone's time but their own. There is absolutely NO excuse for not responding to someone who has given their time and has followed up appropriately. Those are the employers that do not value/respect their employees and a huge red flag. They seem to forget that without employees, they would not have a business! I would keep looking!

31. AnonymousMay 24,2024 at 2:29PM UTC

    That should be a clue not to work there.

32. AnonymousMay 24,2024 at 3:03PM UTC

    I'm so sorry this happened to you. According to what I'm reading and my own experience over the last 7 years, yes, this feels like the norm. I agree, you are seeing into their culture and environment. Take notice. There could be lots of reasons (vacations, internal re-orgs/short staff, waiting for another candidate, budget shifts, blackouts of times of year - e.g. hiring decisions get put on hold due to a board meeting coming up or graduation/ busy time of year- Sometimes it's just bad leadership or hiring managers not having the autonomy to hire. The list goes on.) All of it could be remedied by clear communication .

    It could be upper management (an individual or the collective-- or just no one knowing who is the final decision maker).

    Your time is valuable. Folks gave great advice about looking at LinkedIn, etc. From experience, I'd say, do the best you can to shake this off and move forward. Knowing the answer is just more time you're spending on them, when it's better for you to spend it on you and your goals. There are people and companies who care. .. or at the very least, don't leave you hanging. Good luck.

33. pts208May 25,2024 at 1:41PM UTC

    If companies leave you hanging, is there a way you can tell (prior to interviews or this stage) whether a company is good (meaning well-run & they care at getting back to applicants) or not?

34. Eileen DonovanMay 24,2024 at 7:04PM UTC

    I had the same experience. Multiple hours of interviews and they even flew to me for in person interview. They would make a decision in a week. Weeks went by with no communication until my recruiter followed up a 3rd time and just told went with other candidate. Very rude.

35. Rebecca Sullivan-EhnertMay 25,2024 at 12:00AM UTC

    This is how it works. The world

    has changed and it’s weird and not very polite!

36. AnonymousMay 25,2024 at 8:18PM UTC

    Is it the world really or just America and the American Job System! I think that the general disrespect that’s in the population would easily spill into the world of jobs no matter if it’s corporate America or something lesser.

37. ValerieMay 25,2024 at 12:11PM UTC

    Unfortunately this is how it is. I have been a Career Strategy Coach for 25 years and have found that most companies are very poor at the recruiting process and the majority of the time they have no consideration for the candidates experience. And it does not matter the level. I have C-Suite clients treated the same way.

38. Asia RobinsonMay 25,2024 at 12:53PM UTC

    These are how most of my interviews go. Months go by. And trust, if this is the company that you choose to work for, you will be just as disappointed and frustrated once you are onboarded. All that glitters ain’t gold.

39. AidaMay 25,2024 at 2:45PM UTC

    Well said!

40. AidaMay 25,2024 at 2:44PM UTC

    Apparently so, I had TWO interviews with the SAME company for two separate job postings and the same HR person never replied back whether I got the job or not, same thing, wasted about 3 hours of my time on both jobs and never got an answer! I would like to say they're busy, but I can't since this is their JOB!

41. AnonymousMay 25,2024 at 3:16PM UTC

    Unfortunately, yes. I have been through this several times. It's all ASAP and then silence. I take it as a preview of their true culture-no respect for workers.

42. ValerieMay 25,2024 at 6:24PM UTC

    I have tried, even writing articles, over the years but I always get all kinds of excuses when pointing out to companies their unprofessional treatment of candidates; short staffed, vacations, budget cuts, leadership/mangers not supportive, leadership/managers unengaged, hiring group is busy, hiring group is not in alignment. Honestly I always wonder how these companies stay in business when they do a process as poorly as hiring.

43. Jennifer ZiolkowskiMay 25,2024 at 7:15PM UTC

    It certainly seems to be the new norm.....I've officially reached double digits where I've gone on (at least) 2 interviews only to either be told that they decided not to fill the position or just never got any reply. And I'm talking about actually met with people in person, not phone or virtual interviews.

    I once heard back 7 MONTHS after my third interview (and several unanswered follow-ups) that they "got ahead of themselves" with the interview process

44. AnonymousMay 27,2024 at 6:43PM UTC

    Well, they certainly did! Idiots. I once received a rejection email a year and a half later from my interview. Lol! Sure, I was waiting on you all that time…. I had forgotten that I even spoke to them.

45. Karen P. StoreyMay 25,2024 at 7:56PM UTC

    Disrespectful, rude, and ill-mannered. There is a message there. I would cross them off as a potential employer.

    Grrrrrrr

46. AnonymousMay 25,2024 at 8:19PM UTC

    Yes it’s the norm. It’s not you. It’s them. Don’t take it personally and try to invest less emotion in the outcome. Easier said than done.

47. Meg ValentineMay 25,2024 at 9:24PM UTC

    Unfortunately, yeah. It's common right now. Very. And it's heart-breaking to many of us.

48. Julie Jordan-WadeMay 26,2024 at 12:15PM UTC

    This has been my experience since I was laid off last August. Employers have lost pretty much all courtesy toward candidates, especially once they find their chosen one. I've t r uly learned not to get excited about any interviews. I give it my best effort, but I continue applying. I read on LinkedIn recently that the average wait time from first interview to job offer is 5-6 weeks. Keep your chin up and keep looking. Remember, all you need is one job.

49. Damie WilsonMay 26,2024 at 12:42PM UTC

    Yes. Especially the mid west.

50. AnonymousMay 26,2024 at 7:51PM UTC

    It's the status quo now and has been, especially since the pandemic. Been trying to find long-term employment for a year and a half since I graduated and I'm stuck working at a job where I'm underemployed that I've had for eight months. Before that I couldn't get a job.

    The one positive (and sad) thing I've learned is that employers/companies often do not see you as any more than an expendable resource. I've switched from looking from full-time positions to part-time ones, because I have realized that I could waste away 40 hours a week to a company who will get rid of me as soon as they no longer need me, and I'm not going to do that. I work part-time and supplement my income elsewhere in ways I find enjoyable.

51. AnonymousMay 27,2024 at 6:22PM UTC

    Good for you. Right now this is something that I would definitely like to do. It took me 6 months to find a basic underpaying job that offers me no benefits but just straight up work. Granted it is work from home but it’s a horrible schedule and 2 days out of the 5 that I work, I’m unable to take any breaks because it’s that busy! I hate the job, hate the hours, hate the no benefits, and hate the pay-so basically everything is bad except 1 co-worker and the work from home. The other co-worker is leaving in two weeks and I dread working with everyone else! I’d love to drop a day or step down the hours to be able to try to do something that at least makes me happy. It’s exhausting to work a bad job that underpays and have to be there 40+ hours.

52. AnonymousMay 27,2024 at 8:49AM UTC

    It used to be that hiring managers were true professionals. They not only knew how to conduct an interview, but they exercised good manners and wanted to be sure they reflected the values of the company during the process. For at least ten years now, I see improperly trained or simply inexperienced people being put in these positions, and they conduct themselves unprofessionally.

    I hate to say it, but assume that after even the most promising interview, you should continue to vigorously pursue other interviews and positions. Also assume that if they are unresponsive, that you are no longer a viable candidate.

    For example, after I was laid off (after 15 years and the company closed its doors) After several interviews via phone and video, the hiring manager and I discussed in detail my expected salary, benefits, and long term contract. I was even flown to their city for a series of meetings and interviews that lasted a full week. I even met with a realtor and rental agent, and looked at schools for my kids. Then they put an offer on the table that was only 2/3 what I discussed with the hiring manager. Very unprofessional and expensive for the company, and a huge waste of time and effort for me.

    Hiring managers have been hugely disappointing. Your best bet — and you know this — is reaching out to people in your network. Bypass the generic hiring person until you have already made headway with your future colleagues.

53. AnonymousMay 27,2024 at 6:39PM UTC

    OMG! I’m so sorry you went through that. What was their excuse for the lowball salary?

54. AnonymousMay 28,2024 at 1:22AM UTC

    No excuse- just a significant lowball. “I thought you would accept this “ was about the only explanation. I waited until all my miscellaneous receipts were reimbursed and then declined the offer. There was no way I was going to uproot my family after being strung along like that !!!

55. Chere EstrinMay 27,2024 at 12:32PM UTC

    Unfortunately, more and more employers ghost candidates these days. It is not unusual. It’s also disrespectful of your time, effort and even expense it took for you. A bad candidate experience is indicative of how management behaves and most likely is not a place where you want to work.

56. AnonymousMay 28,2024 at 7:49PM UTC

    Was your interview on a Friday? I'm not trying to be a wiseass, but mentioning interviewers underdressing is a bit out of context. Do you need a job or not? Don't take it personally, and yes, as long as there are inconsiderate people in the world, ghosting will happen. Remember, the job search process is not (just) about you.

57. AnonymousMay 28,2024 at 8:45PM UTC

    jeans and tshirt are the norm now, but they sound like they are holding you back to see if someone else shows up for their first day. Keep looking and if you hear back, it's a nice surprise.