The word ‘Ghosting’ is a prevalent word among lovers since the last two to three decades. Are you wondering what this means? ‘Ghosting’ is simply when your lover unexpectedly calls-off your relationship without prior notice or any explainable reasons. And the worst part is that, they refuse to tell you they have moved-on while you keep reaching out to them and hoping they will come back someday.

Imagine your first meeting with a great guy or lady, and you’ve had great time out together. You would expect a more close and intimate relationship, with plans of when your next date will be. However, instead of your dreamed fantastic dating experience with your new lover, he or she just disappeared without any explanation. I think you can imagine how devastating and traumatic this experience can make you feel especially when you have already fallen in love with this person based on your first date.

Ghosting is no longer between lovers alone but also between employers and job applicants.

Many job applicants have been ghosted in the last 6 months, since the coronavirus pandemic started in mid-march. Very few employers have used the social media platforms like LinkedIn to explain why they have taken to this act while majority have just ignored it and acted as if nothing has happened.

If you have applied for a job and have properly followed the application process, then you could be invited for a virtual or an in-person interview. After the interview, the interviewer or the HR manager might say something like, ‘Thank you for your time with us, you have performed excellently well in this interviewing process. We will get back to you as soon as we can to inform you on your next stage in the hiring process’. With a response like this from a prospective employer, a job applicant will be hopeful, expecting a response from the employer or better yet, an email stating that you have been hired. However, if the prospective employer fails to contact you to let you know your recruitment status even after you have contacted them, then, you have been Ghosted by the employer.

It would have been better if the employer had let you know that you have not met their recruiting requirements.

Nevertheless, if you have been ghosted by a prospective employer, you don’t have to be angry or discouraged about your abilities.

Reasons Why Employers Ghost Job Applicants

Here are some of the reasons why employers ghost job applicants:

1. You missed a critical instruction in the application process

Most employers will demand that job applicants follow every instruction stated in the application process. Any mistake or omission can lead to an automatic disqualification from the recruiting process. With an increase in the number of job applicants since the pandemic, most recruiters will prefer to contact persons who have met 100% of their recruitment requirements.

2. They have hired someone recommended by one of their employees

Some employers don’t mind wasting the time of job applicants to fulfill certain recruitment policy. After applicants have participated in attending interviews, some employers prefer to employ someone recommended by one of their employees. They prefer to hire someone they can trace his/her job history instead of a new job applicant.

3. The number of applicants who have been successfully interviewed are more than the job positions available

When employers notice that they have more applicants than needed, they might contact just a few of the applicants who are successful during the interview with the hope that the others will be contacted when they have other job openings.

What you should do if you have been ghosted by an employer

1. Reach out to the hiring manager

You should ask about your employment status and why you have not been contacted as agreed. However, if the employer has no reason for his action or refuses to reply your emails, then you should just move on.

2. Don't take it personally

Keep the door open for the employer to contact you any time there is a need for an employee in the organization. Don’t act angrily by sending offensive emails demanding to know why you have not been contacted. Let the employer know that you are still available to work with them.

3. Continue with the job-hunting process

Don’t be discouraged to apply for other jobs. Get your resume updated by including the right keywords to show skills that are frequently searched for by employers.

4. Review your role during the recruitment process

Make a review of how you followed the instructions required during the recruitment process. You might have been late to the interview  by a minute or not properly dressed. Whatever you think the flaw could be from your side, try to take note of it and make necessary changes in your next recruitment process.