Interviewing for a job can be a daunting process. Not only do you have to be sharply dressed and well-prepared, but you also have to face the pressure of making a good first impression, as well as nailing the interview itself!
When you put so much effort into demonstrating professionalism, it can be discouraging and frustrating to watch your prospective employer do the opposite. But it does happen: an astounding 4 in 10 jobseekers report never hearing back after their second- or third-round interviews.
Even when interviews go badly, being ghosted by hiring managers can have a devastating effect on professionals’ self-esteem. So, why does it happen and, should you find yourself in that situation, how can you best deal with it? Let’s talk about it!
What does ghosting after an interview mean?
Though these days we associate ghosting with instant messages, the term has existed for a good while longer. Essentially, it refers to the act of “leaving someone hanging”, deserting them with neither explanation nor goodbye.
Though you might think that such behavior is encountered primarily in people’s personal lives, data shows that our professional lives are just as vulnerable to this phenomenon. In other words, prospective employers have the tendency to disappear on job candidates without a word, even after meeting them in person.
Why would a recruiter ghost you?
If you’re currently experiencing ghosting from a prospective employer, your mind has likely come up with all sorts of plausible explanations as to why this is happening. Indeed, hiring managers may ghost you because:
- They are proceeding with another candidate
- You didn’t meet their expectations in person, despite putting together a great application form
- They are no longer hiring for that position due to internal changes
- They (the hiring manager or a more senior decision-maker) are undecisive or disorganized
- They don’t consider contacting unsuccessful candidates a good use of their time (plus, it’s easier to ghost someone than outright reject them)
How to deal with being ghosted after an interview
Being ghosted can make people feel powerless. There are, however, steps you can take (at the end of your job interview and afterwards) that will allow you to navigate the situation gracefully.
1. Ask about the hiring process
Once the hiring manager runs out of interview questions, and as the interview is coming to a close, make a note of asking them about the next steps of the hiring process.
Questions to ask include:
- Do you intend to hold a second round of interviews?
- Do you have a deadline for making a hiring decision?
- How firm is that deadline?
- When should I follow up?
- What is the best way to reach you?
These questions are for your own wellbeing so that you can know what to expect (and when). This will also help you to be well-prepared when it comes to following up.
2. Send a “thank you” note
This simple yet important part of the interview process should never be overlooked. Even if you feel you did exceedingly well in the interview, don’t be fooled by the impact sending a “thank you” note can have.
Meanwhile, Jessica Liebman, the executive managing editor at Business Insider, rather controversially admitted that she refuses to hire applicants who don’t send a “thank you” note. While this didn’t go down too well with many, it just goes to how impactful this simple act can be.
Keep it brief, thank the person for the opportunity to interview, and highlight an area of the interview that particularly resonated with you.
3. Focus on thoughtful follow-up
Without question, the best thing you can do after an interview is follow up.
Write your first interview follow-up email within 24 hours of interviewing, thanking the hiring manager once again for their time. Make sure to reiterate how interested you are in the role and the company, and why you believe you are a great fit for the position.
If you don’t hear back from them, send another email one week later, but don’t inundate the hiring manager with endless daily emails. Stick to a maximum of one email per week for the next three weeks.
Within your emails, demonstrate how confident you are in your abilities to succeed within the role and that you can walk in and begin contributing immediately.
Most recruiters don’t ignore this type of follow-up. Even if they tell you you’re not the right fit, at least you’ve received definitive confirmation, and you can then move on.
4. Don’t expect to hear back immediately
While waiting for feedback is inevitably frustrating, it’s critical to remember that there are several steps in a company’s hiring plan, and the entire process almost always takes longer than most people expect.
Once you’ve sent a “thank you” note and initial follow-up email, sit back and wait. Avoid reaching out again to your interviewers, as this demonstrates that you have unrealistic workplace expectations, and you’ll probably come across as needy!
5. Connect through different channels
If a few weeks have passed and you still haven’t heard from them, try reaching out through different channels to increase your chances of getting a concrete “yes” or “no”.
For example, try sending them a polite message on LinkedIn or a text message. Focus on your enthusiasm about the position, and avoid using accusatory language (such as “I haven’t heard from you, and it’s been a long time since our interview”).
If they still don’t respond, avoid bombarding them via other channels. Don’t call the office, show up at the office in person or do anything overly performative (sending chocolates or flowers are a huge no-no!). One simple, polite follow-up message on an alternative channel is more than enough. This also presents you in a professional light, giving you the best chance of receiving an update.
6. Reach out to build other relationships
If you notice the job posting has been removed (or that the start date for the position has passed), that’s a fairly clear sign that the role is no longer vacant. If it’s still up, though, then you may wish to consider reaching out to another recruiter at the company in order to show your interest and build another relationship with someone else internally.
If you learn that the recruiter you spoke to remains active in the company, then accept that the interview didn’t go as well as you thought and move on to alternative options.
7. Reflect on your actions
There are plenty of reasons why candidates get ghosted. Sometimes recruiters simply change their mind about an open position, budgets get adjusted at the last minute, or hiring managers fill the role internally. If this is the case, accept the situation and move on.
However, if you’re constantly being ghosted by companies, you need to find out why. Reflect on your own actions to determine if you’re doing wrong somewhere along the line. Are you interviewing for the right role for your skills and experience? Are you the right cultural fit for the companies you’re interviewing at? Do any of your public social media posts paint an unreliable, unprofessional image of you?
8. Get advice and support
Recruitment agencies are a fantastic resource for jobseekers. From providing career advice and market information to interview preparation and pre-interview briefings, many recruitment agencies work closely with candidates to help them prepare for all aspects of the interview process.
Connecting with an agency is a great way to secure your chances of succeeding in an interview and landing your dream job.
Whether you want to prepare your elevator speech or learn how to develop intelligent answers at interviews, they have the skills and knowledge needed to appropriately guide you. They will also connect you to jobs that you are suited for, meaning they’ll be the ones to receive the feedback from the company.
You could also reach out to a trusted friend to assess your follow-ups or hold a mock interview with you.
9. Accept the behavior
Sometimes, this type of behavior simply needs to be accepted and expected from employers as part of the job-hunting process.
While hiring managers and recruiters should apply the same degree of professionalism that jobseekers put into applying for jobs, this isn’t always going to be the case. Accepting the situation, learning from it and moving on is sometimes your best option.
10. Persevere
Yes, being ghosted can be a frustrating and emotional experience, but don’t let that define you. Work out why it’s happened, make necessary changes, ask for help, and put yourself back out there!
Never interview for a job just for the sake of interview practice. Instead, interview for roles that reflect your skills and experience. Be patient and, eventually, your ideal job will come along!
How to ensure you’re never ghosted again
If you’re ever ghosted after an interview, you’ll likely want to do everything within your power as to not find yourself in the same situation again. Although you ultimately can’t control how hiring teams will act, you can minimize the chances of it occurring again by:
- Establishing a point of contact within the company (by connecting with the hiring manager on LinkedIn, for example)
- Relating your interview answers to the requirements on the job description to show that you would make a good fit
- Understanding the company’s values and missions so you can display personal qualities that align with them
- Asking what the next steps of the recruitment process are at the end of the interview and sending a follow-up email within 24 hours
Final thoughts
Even if you get everything right, from the firmness of your handshake down to how you present your skills, interests and work experience, some employers will, unfortunately, still behave unprofessionally.
Knowing you were proactive and did the best you possibly could, however, can help you view these indirect rejections as more of your prospective employer’s loss than your loss. After all, if the reason you were ghosted stems from the fact that your prospective employer lacks respect, organization or formal processes, you’re better off elsewhere!
Have you ever been ghosted after an interview? Do you have any more tips to share on how to get an answer or what to do about the (unspoken) rejection? Share your thoughts with us in a comment!
This article is a partial update of an earlier version originally published on November 25, 2019, and contains contributions by Electra Michaelidou. In the update, we added more information about what ghosting is, why it happens and how to avoid it.
