Ghosted by Employers? Here’s What to Do
Being ghosted by employers during your job search is frustrating. You might feel confused or rejected if your resume reflects your ability to excel in the role, you thought the interview went well, and you are eager to join the team.
Know that being ghosted does not reflect on you as a job seeker. Understanding what to do when you don’t hear back from employers helps you continue your job search.
What Does Ghosting Mean?
Being ghosted by an employer means they stop communicating with you after receiving your resume or interviewing you. Rather than inform you of the next step or send a rejection email, the employer goes silent, and you don’t know where you stand in the hiring process.
Reasons for Employer Ghosting
Employers might ghost job seekers for many reasons:
- Internal hiring delays
- Ongoing interview process
- Lengthy decision-making process
- Changes in priorities
- Hiring freeze
- Elimination of the role
- Poor communication practices
Examples of Employer Ghosting
Employer ghosting commonly takes the following forms:
- No response after submitting your cover letter and resume. A lack of a response to your cover letter and resume often has more to do with the employer’s processes than your qualifications.
- Silence after a screening call. Not hearing back after an initial screening call doesn’t clarify whether you are closer to securing an interview.
- No feedback after an interview. A lack of communication after one or more interviews typically happens for reasons beyond your control.
- Failure to let you know the role was filled. Learning through other channels, such as the job posting being removed, that another candidate was hired, can be disappointing.
- No response after a job offer. An employer who goes silent after extending a job offer, especially if you negotiated terms, can leave you wondering if the offer remains valid.
What to Do When Ghosted by Employers
Consider taking the following steps when employers ghost you:
- Stay calm. Maintain professionalism as you wait to hear back from an employer.
- Wait a reasonable amount of time. A week or two shows you understand employers are busy and you respect their time.
- Send a follow-up email. Professionally express interest in the role. Ask for an update on your application.
- Reach out through LinkedIn. Wait a week to follow up through a LinkedIn message. Restate your interest in the role and request an update on the hiring process.
- Contact another hiring team member. Reaching out to another member of the hiring team might provide insight into where you are in the process.
- Continue your job search. Keep applying for other roles. You should hear back from other employers.
- Learn from experience. Reflect on any red flags during your interactions with the employer. Consider the lessons you learned, and apply them to future opportunities.
Work with a Staffing Agency
PrideStaff works hard to keep job seekers informed, engaged, and happy throughout every step of the job search process. Contact your local PrideStaff office to talk with a recruiter today!
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