How Applicants And Employers Can Avoid Being Ghosted

As a job applicant, it can be discouraging to not hear back from the company after an interview.

 For employers, it is a similar feeling when you have found the perfect candidate only to discover that you can no longer contact the candidate.

In both scenarios, it’s a missed opportunity for a great partnership. These days, we have come to know these situations as “ghosting”. Here are some simple yet effective tips on how to avoid being a “ghost” and being “ghosted”.

 FOR APPLICANTS

 Most of the ghosting happens from the employer’s end, leaving the applicant “ghosted”. There are quite a few reasons why this happens. Usually, recruiters are so busy screening hundreds of candidates that they don’t find time to get back to each applicant.. Here are 3 things you can do: 

Tip #1: Time your follow-ups without sounding desperate

Following up on your application is completely normal. The key here is sounding confident and casual. A line like “Hi Mori, thanks for the interview. Looking forward to hearing back from you about the results of my application” would do. Timing is also key. Try following up with messages like “Just checking if you received my message” or “Hope you’re doing well. Looking forward to your feedback” once a week for three weeks. If there is still no response after three weeks, it might be time to consider other job openings.

Tip #2: Try connecting through other means and other channels

 Doing follow-ups through social media is now widely accepted; If you are not getting any response through SMS or emails, social media can be a better route. Just make sure to be polite yet confident as mentioned above.

Tip #3: Don’t take it personally

The most common reason for employers ghosting candidates is that recruiters don’t like giving bad news to candidates that didn’t qualify. Take a deep breath and regroup for your next interview. Think of what you could have done better and practice to improve your next interview.

FOR EMPLOYERS

On a few occasions, it is the employer that gets ghosted. The good news is that many of the causes of ghosting by candidates can be fixed:

Tip #1: Share your timelines

 Setting expectations is the most important thing employers can do to avoid being ghosted by candidates. Being transparent about your timeline gives candidates a better idea of when and how they should expect to hear from you. Also find out about the candidate’s own timeline. This will allow you to rearrange your schedule to accommodate candidates that have pending job applications with other companies.

 Tip #2: Be in touch

Keep the candidates warm by checking in on them from time to time. Follow through on your commitment to providing updates. This keeps the candidates engaged and shows them they are still in consideration. This will reduce unpleasant surprises of them ghosting you later in the recruitment process.

Tip #3: Customize the job offer for in-demand candidates

Know the value of candidates prior to the interview and never give low-ball offers. If a candidate feels disrespected with an unrealistic offer, they would likely ignore any future communications from your company.

Don’t let ghosting be the norm. It’s all about keeping it real and establishing clear communications from start to finish. Always encourage feedback, and be as transparent as possible to inspire employers or employees to give you the same courtesy. Do you have other tips to minimize ghosting? Share them in the comments section below.