Feeling Ghosted by Employers?

It’s been said that how you are treated as a candidate in the recruiting process can be a good indicator of how you will be treated on the job.

If that’s the case, we are all in for a whole lot of trouble. Because some recruiters are letting us down in a big way.

I’m getting flooded with stories of dropped interviews, no responses after promised follow-up, poor and conflicting communication. And no communication.

It’s ghosting at its worst. Wooing a candidate, making her feel like she’s “the one,” showering her with compliments, and showing only the best side of the business. Dragging her along with periodic messages of encouragement, just enough to keep her hopes up. Then disappearing into thin air. No responses to emails or texts, calls going straight to voicemail.

This is such a poor reflection of the character of these recruiters and their organizations. But you don’t have to just sit there and take it.

• You CAN email the hiring manager. Not all communication has to be with the recruiter no matter what anyone tells you.
• You can reach out to the human resources office and ask about the status of the search. Sometimes you’ll get an answer right there.
• Leave a poor review on Glassdoor. Seriously. Companies pay attention and while it won’t change anything, it will feel good. Think of doing this for society in a “see something, say something” way.

This is also an example of when the best defense is a good offense. When you have connections within an organization, they can often get you status reports and the inside scoop. You can also make sure you’ve collected full names and emails of key people in the search process so you’ve got back-up if the recruiter doesn’t respond.

Most important, don’t take your foot off the gas of your job search, no matter how tempting it is. Keep going until you have an offer in hand, no matter what.

Ever wonder how to land the job of your dreams?
Find out how with 10 Habits of Successful Job Candidates!