Candidate Ghosting

Candidate ghosting is when a job applicant stops communicating with the employer during the hiring process. This usually occurs after the initial interview(s).

Some examples of candidate ghosting include:

À      Not appearing for scheduled job interviews without notice

À      Not responding to the recruiter’s phone calls or emails

À      Accepting a job offer but then not confirming start dates or paperwork

À      Completely dropping communication suddenly during salary negotiations

À      Essentially, the candidate disengages from the hiring process without explanation.

This can happen at any stage, from after applying to accepting a job offer. It wastes time the recruiter has invested and leaves positions vacant longer than required.

Why do candidates ghost employers?

They found a better opportunity

They didn’t want to deliver bad news

They are frustrated with the hiring process

They accepted too many interviews

They lost interest in the role or company

How to avoid candidate ghosting

Optimise your hiring process

Build rapport with candidates

Set clear expectations

Get insights from candidates

Include necessary hiring steps

Use an applicant tracking system

Maintain regular communication

Give rejection feedback

Maintain your talent pool

Offer competitive salaries and benefits

Highlight your employer’s brand

Initiate pre-boarding early

Learn from past instances

Examples of candidate and new employee ghosting

Not appearing for an interview

Not appearing on the first day of work

Quitting without warning

Not responding to follow-ups after an interview

Delivering poor-quality work before walking

The Impact

Cost implications

Reputation management 

Talent acquisition challenges

Insights for process improvement

Ethical considerations

Source: elmsoftware