Ever Been “Ghosted” After An Interview?

Source: rocket50

Date:   February 17, 2023

Ever been “Ghosted” After An Interview?

The digital world has definitely changed social norms and created a lot of new words. One of them is the term or act of “ghosting”.  Unfortunately, ghosting is becoming commonplace in both personal and business interactions which is to simply move on without following traditional social etiquette–which in this case is communicating to someone that they are no longer in the hiring process or being considered as a candidate.

If you are over 50, don’t take it personally. Today at least 77% of job-seekers report being ghosted by a potential employer. Your chances of being ghosted, even after a good interview, is growing, no matter what your age is. In fact, 10% of the respondents in the same survey indicated that they were ghosted after receiving a verbal job offer.

What is Ghosting?

Ghosting is a term that first emerged in the online dating world to describe romantic relationships that would suddenly end with no communication. As the occurrence became more common, the term began popping up in other contexts. 

Soon, job candidates began ghosting employers during the recruitment process–and now, employers are doing the same. It’s a candidate-driven market and that usually means that job seekers have an advantage. But it doesn’t guarantee placement.

Why Do Companies Ghost Good Candidates?

To understand what’s really happening, let’s look at the factors that affect the recruitment and hiring process. The candidate only has a limited view of the whole process, and often, lacks important context for the hiring decisions within the company.

It’s important to remember that getting ghosted doesn’t necessarily translate to your value as a job candidate. Here’s why companies might not be in touch:

●      Found a strong internal candidate

●      Hiring priorities changed

●      Internal roles and responsibilities shift

●      Recruiter or hiring manager left the company

Found A Strong Internal Candidate

Regardless of how well you interviewed or how nicely you fit the ideal candidate profile, there might be a better fit with someone who already works at the company. Internal candidates tend to be a safer choice for employers because they already know the company culture, processes, and procedures. When there is a strong internal candidate, some or all of the key decision makers might be hesitant to take a chance on a new employee that might not work out.

The Employer’s Hiring Priorities Changed

A good round of interviews doesn’t always translate to filled positions. There are many conversations occurring behind the scenes. Businesses are becoming more adaptable and more willing to change as market conditions influence business strategies. This can mean a push to hire sales staff one week and a shift towards hiring technical staff the next. 

Keep in mind that not all positions are a top priority–some will be hired quickly and others will remain open until the employer finds an ideal candidate. And in this scenario, ‘ideal’ is subjective based on the dynamics within the company. A strong candidate may not always be the best fit for the social dynamics that already exist within the company.

The Interviewer May No Longer Be in the Equation

Another reason a good candidate gets ghosted is because the interviewer he or she connected with is no longer involved in the hiring process. Whether this change is temporary–like a sabbatical or vacation, or it’s permanent–like a role change; the point is that they’re no longer pushing for your placement.

The Position is Still Open

There’s still one more possibility–the position might still be open. Sometimes the hiring process moves slower than a job candidate might expect. When you think you’ve been ghosted, you might just be sitting in a lull between communications. Again, things change and what might have been a priority when you initially interviewed might have been backburnered after you left

What to Do if You’re Ghosted During Interviews

It seems that being ghosted during the hiring process is becoming more inevitable than not. It’s a situation you’ll likely face. When it does happen, keep in mind that there are usually factors beyond your control.

You cannot control who else might be considered, so focus your energy on strengthening your presentation instead. You cannot control what priorities the company is focusing on, so keep your options open instead. And you cannot control how quick–or slow, the hiring process goes. If you think you’ve been ghosted, make a good attempt to follow up using an alternate point of contact and then gracefully move on.

Final Thoughts on Ghosting During Interviews

Getting through the hiring process can feel a little more elusive as both job seekers and employers are now routinely ghosting each other–even after good interviews and verbal offers. It can be frustrating, but it’s important to keep in mind that it’s usually beyond your control.