In today’s competitive job market, it can be disheartening to land a job interview and then never hear back from the recruiter. You might have been ghosted, which is when a recruiter or hiring manager stops all communication with a candidate without explanation. Here’s what you need to know about ghosting and how to handle it.
What is Ghosting?
recruiter ghosting occurs when someone in the hiring process cuts off all communication with a candidate without warning or explanation. Ghosting can occur at any stage of the hiring process, including after an initial phone call or video conference, during the interview, or after a job offer has been extended. It’s important to note that ghosting isn’t always intentional; sometimes recruiters simply don’t have the time or resources to get in touch with every single applicant they initially contacted, especially if they receive an overwhelming amount of applications for one position.
Why Does Recruiter Ghosting Happen?
There are many reasons why recruiters may ghost applicants during the hiring process. For example, if a recruiter contacts a large number of applicants but only has enough time and resources to move forward with a few of them, they may not contact those who didn’t make the cut. Additionally, recruiters may become overwhelmed by their workload and unintentionally forget to contact some applicants. On occasion, recruiters may even intentionally ghost candidates due to lack of interest or for other reasons unknown.
How Can You Handle Recruiter Ghosting?
If you think you've been ghosted by a recruiter—or if you just haven't heard back from them yet—it's important that you remain professional and courteous in your communications throughout the process. If you don't hear back from them within a reasonable amount of time (typically two weeks), it's perfectly acceptable—and often advisable—to follow up gently via email or phone call asking for an update on your status. This shows initiative and professionalism on your part while giving the recruiter another chance to respond before writing you off as uninterested in the job opportunity altogether.
Conclusion:
Recruiter ghosting can be incredibly disheartening for job seekers looking to land their dream position—but understanding why it happens and knowing how to handle it can help ensure that your experience remains positive regardless of whether or not you get hired for the role you applied for. By staying professional throughout each step of the hiring process, remaining courteous in your interactions with recruiters, and following up politely if needed, you'll increase your chances of making a good impression no matter what happens next!