Save “Ghosting” for Halloween, Not for Candidates/Employers!

Here’s the thing. Candidates are hard to find and employment is hard to find.  It’s a two way street.  Whether you are looking for someone to fill your open req or you are looking for job opportunities, it’s important to keep communicating.

Here are some ways ghosting occurs on both sides of the coin:

1. Email responses have been super fast and, all of a sudden, they stop. Whether you’re an employer or job seeker, you came out of the gate strong and then you suddenly disappeared! You’re not David Blaine, so stop with the act!  It’s obvious that something changed, the courteous thing to do is simply notify someone.  Don’t keep people strung along.

2. Interview No Shows. I generally give benefit of doubt, but when it happens more than once… Well, we’ve all heard the excuses:

Employer: I’m in a meeting/ We had an emergency situation/Technical difficulties.

Candidate: My child is sick/My car broke down/My grandmother died…(again).

Don’t delay the inevitable.  If it’s not going to work out, take the 30 seconds to just say it.

3. Incomplete Offer Letters/Paperwork.

Employers, if you have a great interview and make an offer on the spot, don’t sit on your hands with sending the official offer letter.  LOCK THAT CANDIDATE IN.  If they are that awesome, who knows how many offers they have and will consider your delayed official offer as “ghosting” and take another one?

Candidates, fill out paperwork ASAP.  You may lose the offer if you don’t.  Also, some things are time sensitive.   Bottom line, you can’t expect an employer to hold a position open for so long.  Submit your paperwork in a timely manner or you may receive an offer withdrawal.

4. Training miscommunication/No response.

Employers, if training is required, it is important that you don’t leave a candidate hanging once you receive their paperwork.  Make sure they are transitioned into the next step comfortably.  If you are in charge of providing training schedules and instructions, do it within a proper timeline and, again, comfortably. Get people interested and don’t sound like a robot or a like you’re reading from a manual.

Candidates, this is a crucial time to let an employer know whether or not you are really committed to the job.  If there’s no binding contract, you can still leave, and you know it.  That training spot has your name on it, and employers are waiting under the impression that you have accepted the offer.  If you found something else or changed your mind, tell the employer.  You are only delaying the process for someone else who actually wants the job. Help a fellow human out!

Ghosting is not okay, whether you are an employer or a candidate.  Let’s just try to make each other’s lives slightly easier.  It only takes about 30 seconds to send a simple email update, but it can save someone loads of time and stress!

Priya Jindal is the RPO Manager at NSS RPO, a consulting firm that provides on-site and virtual recruiting professionals. Contact NSS RPO to learn about how we can help your organization meet and exceed it’s hiring goals.