In the 20 years that I’ve been recruiting for accounting and finance positions in Chicago, it’s true that the market has never been as strong as it is today. With the unemployment rate at less than 3 percent, job seekers tend to have the upper hand in the hiring process – weighing several opportunities at a time. This shift of power, however, has recently raised a new topic of discussion in the staffing industry – ghosting.
Hiring managers define ghosting as the act of job seekers failing to return phone calls and emails, ditching scheduled interviews, or even worse, failing to show up for their first day after accepting a position.
While a trendy name gives the impression that this is something new, the fact of the matter is, candidates AND hiring companies have been engaging in this type of behavior for as long as I can remember.
In order to tackle this unwanted phenomena, it’s important to understand it thoroughly. Take a look at The Truth About Ghosting (in the Staffing Industry) below!
1) Ghosting Works Both Ways
While it has been deemed a candidate-behavior, ghosting is not exclusive to job seekers. Unfortunately, many recruiters, human resources professionals and hiring managers have also been known to ghost during the interview process. This unprofessional habit can leave job seekers feeling discouraged while lacking the significant feedback or closure they deserve. Unfortunately, there aren’t many candidates who I’ve worked with who haven’t experienced this at some point, which may be why many believe it’s acceptable to reciprocate.
2) It Can Destroy Your Reputation & Relationships
The wider my professional network expands, the more fascinated I become by how small the professional world can be. Whether I’m building a relationship around a company, a recruiter, a hiring manager or a job seeker, I find myself sharing mutual connections with almost everyone I meet. Needless to say, brand management and network-nurturing are imperative to enhancing your professional reputation. You never know who is going to be connected to whom. Therefore, when ghosting a professional connection, you essentially risk your entire network and image.
3) Stay Top of Mind
There’s no doubt that a job search can be overwhelming – especially if the candidate is currently working or has multiple job offers. When a job seeker accepts a new offer, it’s easy to cease communication with recruiters and hiring companies that have presented other opportunities. However, pulling an act of ghosting, by ignoring phone calls or ditching other interviews, can still negatively affect you. In other words, it’s important to be fully transparent with recruiting professionals and hiring managers when you accept another job offer as well as keep them updated with any type of update regarding your job search. This will allow you to maintain a relationship with these hiring professionals and help you stay top-of-mind for them when other opportunities arise.
Do you have any other truths about ghosting? Comment below!