Why you should never ‘ghost’ a candidate ??

No one likes to be ignored.

When someone applies for a job, it takes effort on their part.

Whether they just attached a CV and hoped for the best, or indeed if they sat down to create a dedicated and personalised cover letter, it still took time and effort.???

You can’t be expected to know everyone’s personal situation, but if someone is applying for a job, it means they’re prospecting at the very least, or living in hope for a new beginning at the most.?

And this is why it can be painful and annoying to be “left on read” by a potential employer.

Nearly every job seeker has a story about that time they sent out dozens of CVs, only to be ignored by most employers without even the simple courtesy of a “thanks, but no thanks”.?

Ghosting candidates like this has always been unprofessional, but it is especially inexcusable now, when it takes just a few seconds to respond electronically. ??

It’s not just rude - here are a few more reasons why ghosting your applicants is a no-no ??

It reflects badly on your company ?

Your hiring process is a reflection on your company culture, and perceived discourtesy can be downright dangerous for your brand. If you treat prospective employees poorly, you will essentially kick them out of the candidate pipeline. If you contact them again, they will remember they have previously been ghosted. Who wants to put themselves through that again?

Keeping in touch ??

Your candidate might not work out for this job, but treated well they are more likely to come back to you in the future; with more experience and looking for a higher level role. You certainly don’t hire everyone you interview, but that doesn’t mean all of those people are bad fits for your company forever. Many of them would be great fits for a different position or even the same position in a couple of years.

Improve your rate of good hires ??

Embracing a culture of clear communication at every stage of the hiring process can improve your rate of accepted offers and minimise the possibility of applicants complaining about being ignored to their peers. People talk - and if someone has a good impression of your company, they’re likely to say so. Ergo: people are more likely to want to work for you.

Communication is key ??

Make the call or send the email, but make sure you give the candidate the feedback they will be expecting. It’s not nice to do - but I promise they will appreciate it more than being ghosted.

Treating candidates politely and getting back to those who have interviewed is the right thing to do, and it will save you time in the long run. You’ll increase your positive reputation, build your prospective employee pipeline, and receive referrals from current employees.

If you don’t have your own time to respond to everyone who applies to your job roles, let someone who can dedicate theirs to the cause. Happy to chat.

See you next week.

Howard.