You have probably heard about people ‘ghosting’ in the dating world, but what about when it happens during the recruitment process? Ghosting means the same in both instances; it is a word used to describe stopping contact without any explanation. Throughout the recruitment process, you will deal with a recruiter, whether that is via a recruitment agency or an internal team. It can be highly frustrating when they initially seem keen but suddenly stop responding to emails or phone calls. So why does recruiter ghosting occur, and how do you handle it without taking it personally?
When Does Recruiter Ghosting Occur?
Recruiters may ghost you at any stage of the recruitment process. Most commonly, a recruitment agency will discuss a role with you and fail to get back to you, or you may attend an interview and hear nothing back. It is difficult not to take this personally. In an ideal world, the recruiter will keep you updated. However, there are many reasons why you might not hear back from the recruiter.
Unsuitable for the Role
A typical scenario is the recruiter desperately trying to get hold of you to discuss a role, only to disappear after you send your CV to them. The reasons for this are usually a result of a high number of applications and your CV being unsuitable. The recruiter may be too busy to contact unsuccessful candidates, or they may not want to give you any negative feedback. Feedback is important as you may need professional CV writing services or interview assistance.
Internal Issues
It is often the case that internal issues are the reason recruiters suddenly ghost their candidates. For instance, the company may have found someone internal to do the job or may have decided they no longer had a requirement. In addition, sometimes, a lack of funding can cause a role to be pulled.
Lack of Professionalism
A good recruiter will get keep their candidates updated – good or bad. It can be challenging to do this at the screening stage, but not responding to a candidate after an interview is unprofessional. In this case, you might be better off not working for this company.
Dealing with Recruiter Ghosting
Although recruiter ghosting might be out of your hands, there are some steps you can take to try and ensure this doesn’t happen.
Build Good Relationships
Recruiters are less likely to ghost you if you have formed a good relationship with them. It is important to stay in touch with your recruiter and build positive relations with them.
Understand the Timeline
Ask your recruiter about the expected timeline of the recruitment process and whether unsuccessful candidates will receive feedback. That way, you will go into the process with your eyes open.
Reach Out
If you haven’t heard back from the recruiter after your interview, for instance, reach out and request feedback. Tell the recruiter why you want the feedback and how it will help your career. Some recruiters don’t understand the significance of providing feedback.
Active Job Search
Don’t just give up on your job search because you have applied for a role you like or even if you have attended the interview. Don’t put your eggs in one basket; keep your job search active until you receive a job offer that you’re happy with.
At Inspired CVs, we can provide you with our professional CV services to help support your job search. You can contact us or order online to give yourself the best chance of securing your dream job. If you need some interview coaching, our experienced career coaches can also help. If you are looking for the best CV writing services UK, we can help!
