Why “Ghosting” a Recruiter, Candidate or Company is a REALLY Bad Idea

Almost daily, someone will tell me how “tight” their market is. Meaning, everyone in the local industry knows everyone. I hear it most frequently from people in St Louis and New Orleans as these are two very well-connected cities. The truth is, it’s the same no matter where you live. We all share a common connection and bond – the security and/or fire industry. It’s what we do, know and love. So let me clarify; it’s not JUST your city. Wherever you live, Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles or Sioux City, IA, everyone knows everyone in the industry and ghosting will only damage your reputation.

As you continue to read, do not forget the aforementioned paragraph as the information ties ghosting together.   

You might be asking, what is ghosting? It’s simple. You disappear and cease all communication somewhere in the interview/hiring process. Candidate, hiring manager or recruiter can each ghost one another.

 Hiring Manager and Candidates ghost for many reasons and none of the reasons are excusable.

Candidates most frequently ghost because they are employed and the economy is strong and have no fear of losing their job. News flash folks in case you weren’t paying attention in Economics class! The economy is cyclical and goes up and down AND things change. Candidates might also have a change of heart regarding a new job. Initially a candidate might have been searching for better compensation but usually it’s because something is wrong within their company. The company is experiencing growing pains, not seeing eye-to-eye with a new manager or was passed for a promotion. The reasons are endless but likely there is some sort of anxiety regarding possible change and they fall back on the cliché, the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know.   

Hiring Managers – As a recruiter I believe one reason why hiring managers ghost a candidate is driven by the thought that there is an endless supply of candidates to fill their position. The truth, when unemployment rate is anywhere near 4% +/- there is not an endless supply of candidates. I have read that 1.5% of the population is unemployable (homeless, severe physical or mental issues, students, left the job market completely). In fact, passive candidates are for the most part the only way to retain new talent when unemployment is low and the economy is strong. Hiring managers are sometimes forced to change gears in hiring because there has been a twist within their company such as a hiring freeze, a change of heart about the candidate or maybe the hiring manager has been demoted. In the case of demotion, no one wants to admit they have been demoted so they go dark on all involved. 

Recruiters might go quiet because no one likes to deliver bad news or they simply fail to close the loop. Here is a giant tip; don’t be afraid to reach out to the other party. On a rare occasion I might get a call from a candidate asking why I haven’t called them. Frankly, 9 out of 10 times it’s because I am overwhelmed with to-do’s but mentally, I’m thinking; are your fingers broken? As a recruiter, I make an effort to close out every candidate and deliver the news that’s good, bad or otherwise. There are certainly days when I get overwhelmed and run out of time to make the call or send an email. My situation is not any different from a candidate or hiring managers situation but make the call or send the email. Personally, I don’t like to send an email as I believe it shows weak character, so I call.

We have all seen the acquisition and consolidation of companies in the security and fire industry and most have heard or been told, be careful of what you say and do because you never know who you could end up working with or for. Wow is there a lot of truth in this statement. As I stated in the beginning of this article that everyone knows everyone in the industry!   

Be professional and pick up the phone and make the call. The norm is that the candidate or manager appreciates the news which allows everyone to move on. You will be remembered for your professionalism. Ghosting, you will be remembered for your lack of professionalism. In either case, the candidate or hiring manager will remember the outcome. You might be surprised at how easy the call can be that you have had a change of heart and need to stay with your current employer. Everyone engaged in the process will be thankful and the most important fact, you have preserved your reputation for the future.

Just remember, reputation is everything. Companies are not companies, they are people. It all comes down to human nature and how you manage you and/or your company’s reputation as reputation can be the key or demise to your future. Do yourself, your career, your company a professional favor, don’t ghost one another as nothing good can come from ghosting.