Getting ghosted by anyone can be frustrating and confusing. Getting ghosted by a potential employer can be downright devastating to your ego. But what do we mean by ghosting? It isn’t applying for a job and not hearing back. Ghosting occurs when you have applied for a job, interviewed, and expected to hear back about the next step but the hiring manager goes completely silent.
So, what should you do when you feel ghosted by a potential employer?
Follow-Up Respectfully
You might be madder than a rattlesnake at the lack of communication, but do not act out of anger or frustration. You never know the reason why an employer isn’t reaching out and it could be something personal like an illness or death in the family.
If you haven’t heard anything, send one brief, upbeat and respectful email per week for three weeks. Express your continued interest in the role and even offer some thoughtful insights about trends you are seeing in your industry to show them you are ready to hit the ground running.
Try A Different Channel
If you receive no response to your emails, it’s acceptable to try another channel to make contact. LinkedIn is the most professional channel to turn to. Send a polite and respectful message that indicates you enjoyed meeting with the interviewer and would like to talk about the next step. Send one and done. Don’t use another channel to reach out.
Move On
If you still don’t hear anything, it’s time to move on. After a month of no contact, you can assume that the job has been filled or that the company is moving in another direction. While this can sting, keep in mind that you probably don’t want to work for an organization that doesn’t respond to professional and respectful communication.
Notice Patterns
If you find that you are being ghosted over and over by multiple companies, it’s time for some introspection. Are you practicing your interviewing skills to make sure you come off well or are you just winging it? Are you stretching the truth during interviews? Are you going after jobs for which you are not completely qualified? Determine whether your actions are playing a role and work to correct them.
Are You Looking For Engineering Jobs?
If you are an engineer seeking new opportunities to grow your career, contact the engineering recruiting experts at Selectek today. Not only do we keep in close contact with you throughout the process, we can also provide you with feedback to help you improve your resume and interviewing skills and we can increase the chances that you’ll find your ideal opportunity.
