Ghosting in the Professional World

“Ghosting”, once confined primarily to the world of personal relationships, has found its way into the professional world. This phenomenon, characterized by the sudden and unexplained ending of communication, can leave candidates and hiring companies frustrated. In the professional world, ghosting shows up in various ways, from job applicants disappearing after interviews, to new hires failing to show up on their first day of work, to companies wanting to do business with you and then fading away.

Job Applicants and Ghosting

One of the most common scenarios involving ghosting occurs during the recruitment process. Job applicants who have gone through several rounds of interviews and received job offers sometimes inexplicably vanish. They do not respond to emails or calls from the prospective employer or recruiter, leaving both in a state of confusion.

Ghosting can have significant consequences, particularly for smaller businesses or those with tight hiring timelines. It disrupts the hiring process, often forcing companies to restart their search for qualified candidates, suffering additional time and expenses.

The Disappearing Act

Ghosting is not limited to job applicants. In some cases, individuals who have accepted job offers fail to show up on their scheduled start date, leaving their would-be employers scrambling to fill the void. This type of ghosting can lead to lost productivity and increased workloads on existing staff.

Why Does Ghosting Occur?

Several reasons contribute to the rise of ghosting, but the basic premise is that people do not want confrontation. Many candidates dread the prospect of declining a job offer or admitting they've had a change of heart after accepting one. Ghosting can be seen as an avoidance tactic.

Some people feel that “no communication” is communication. It is not. In the world of professional recruiting and staffing, a candidate that is a “no-call, no-show” will not be considered in the future assignments. That is a pretty high price to pay instead of just saying “No”.

Addressing the Issue

I have thought long and hard about candidate ghosting. I have thought about companies who call and want your services and then ghost you. I have thought about the lack of professionalism that ghosting represents.

Here are my thoughts: “You’ve dodged a bullet…move on.”

Have a good week.

Ken