Why Employers Ghost Applicants, How to Respond

The job market is competitive, and going into a job interview is scary and nerve-wracking. You must be confident, enthusiastic, know the company, and convey exactly why you’d be an excellent hire for the position. 

After completing the interview, you wait to hear back from the hiring manager regarding whether or not you landed the job. But sometimes, an employer might ghost you.

Ghosting is a relatively new term that refers to abruptly cutting off contact with someone without giving that person any warning or explanation. And even if the person ghosted reaches out to re-initiate contact, they’re met with silence. More often than not, we hear this term associated with dating. 

But people can get ghosted by a potential employer as well, as unprofessional and rude as that is. Therefore, you may not get a clear response regarding the outcome of your interview.

Why Companies Ghost After the Interview Stage

Employers tend to follow up with phone interview applicants anywhere from three to 10 business days. But after an in-person interview, a response can take as long as two weeks. After the 14-day mark passes, you may be getting ghosted. 

The most common reason employers ghost applicants in the second or third stage of the job process is that the company realizes that the job description wasn’t drawing in suitable applicants. They need to revisit the job post altogether. 

Other reasons a company may ghost you include: 

• They’re still interviewing other candidates 
• They’re planning to promote someone already at the company to the job
• The key decision-maker who has to approve the hire is out of the office or busy
• They have an unexpected urgent matter that pushed hiring to the bottom of the to-do list
• They have a sudden budget cut, downturn, or a merger with another company
• There's no procedure in place to send rejection emails 

Occasionally, employers may ghost a candidate because rejecting the person outright might open the company to litigation. But while litigation can be a concern, a recruiter should be able to send a rejection letter or make a phone call to a candidate without saying anything that opens up the company to a discrimination lawsuit.

The crux of the ghosting problem is the failure to communicate. People want to avoid tough conversations at all costs. "It's a total breakdown; people don't know how to talk to each other anymore," Kimberly Reeves, a consultant specializing in payroll, HR, and finance with A Better Way Consulting, said in a press release.

These days, candidates are demanding faster responses from recruiters. A 2022 Greenhouse Candidate Experience report found that nearly 58% of candidates expect to hear back from companies in one week or less regarding their initial application. But despite these expectations, many companies are failing to keep up.

Unsurprisingly, companies frequently leave job seekers in the dark. Researchers also uncovered that over 75% of all job candidates have been ghosted after an interview by at least one company during their job search.

And more than 60% said that receiving feedback during the interview process, even if they did not receive a job offer, would make them more inclined to apply to future jobs at that company.

What to Do When an Employer Ghosts You

Being ghosted in the interview process can be incredibly stressful and frustrating. But there are a few steps you can take after the ghosting happens. 

First, following up with your interviewer or hiring manager is essential to remain in contact with the company and make a good impression of your communication skills, even if they are lacking in that department. 

You could send an email to thank the interviewer for their time and consider referring to a detail that you may have connected over or that makes you a particularly appealing candidate.

Second, you could go to the company’s website and see if there is another job opening. If there is an opportunity you see fit, you can apply on the site with a resume and cover letter and mention that you have already had an interview with their company for another position. Doing so shows that you may be a qualified applicant.

Just remember, don’t be too pushy. After the initial period passes after an interview, only a simple follow-up thank you email is appropriate.

The last step you could take after being ghosted in the job process is to focus on your next role. Do you really want to work for a company that leaves people hanging or isn’t organized enough to follow up with candidates?

Pursue other roles with confidence and determination. Although one company ghosted you, you may find that your next experience is positive and even land the position. So, shift your focus, efforts, and energy to new opportunities, and continue making career processes and developing interviewing skills.