We’ve All Been Job Seekers. Think Twice Before Ghosting

"Trevor, I feel like ghosting is getting worse. Recruiters and hiring managers don’t care. What are you seeing?"

I feel it too. And unfortunately, it is getting worse.

Many factors contribute – a high number of job seekers, fewer vacancies, and recruiters and hiring managers not having the time to properly acknowledge or respond to candidates.

But let’s be clear: when a candidate has been represented by a recruiter, shortlisted, or interviewed and then ghosted – it’s awful, disrespectful and ugly.

We all know it’s wrong.

As professionals, we are all united by one thing – we have been, or will be, job seekers. Recruiters and hiring managers, is this how you’d want to be treated?

I think not!

So, why does this happen?

• Are we afraid of giving bad news or negative feedback?

• Do we prefer to bask in success and ignore failure?

• Are we hiding a more sinister reason – like rejecting candidates for illegal, discriminatory reasons?

• Or are we just a**eholes?

Every time you ghost someone, you disrespect a fellow human.

Someone who is striving for success.

Someone who deserves acknowledgment and feedback during a tough time.

Negative feedback is a thousand times better than no feedback. At least there's closure.

Let me share a ghosting story from Talentology’s Job Seeker Coaching Program.

One of our clients applied for a role with a large Australian services company. He heard nothing for a month. Then they re-advertised the job.

I reached out to a Program Manager contact at the company. Suddenly, the recruiter called my client and asked them to re-send their resume (what the?).

They then promised to organise an interview with the hiring manager the following Monday and said they’d send details later that day.

Wednesday: Recruiter promised details.

By Friday PM: No word. My client tried everything to get in touch.

Monday: Silence.

Tuesday: I suggested he send an ultimatum: "Give me feedback by 4 PM today, or I will contact the hiring manager myself."

The recruiter finally responded – saying they’d been on a break (seriously??), had been in regular contact with the hiring manager (but not the candidate!), and another person had been successful.

WTF?

If my client hadn’t chased and pushed, he would never have known what happened. Needless to say, we won’t be recommending this company to the Talentology IT Talent Community!

So, here's my message to recruiters and hiring managers:

👉 Please be mindful & respectful to job seekers – you never know when the shoe will be on the other foot (and you don’t want it to kick you up your b*m!)

And to all the amazing recruiters and hiring managers who do take job seeker experience seriously – THANK YOU. You are the shining light in this industry, putting your not-so-good colleagues to shame.

Finally – karma is real. Be careful you don’t get run over by the karma bus!