“Why didn’t you call me back? Why haven’t I heard from you in _ days?” “I’m assuming they hired another person since I haven’t heard from you?” These are all questions recruiters receive on a daily basis from candidates going through an interview process. This topic can be quite triggering for many people. Growth comes from getting uncomfortable, so let’s get uncomfortable.
Getting ghosted by a recruiter is incredibly frustrating and I myself have been on the candidate side getting ghosted. I was interviewing for about 5 different Executive Recruiter roles and had been searching on my own and also engaged with a few search firms. I noticed I was receiving a lot of initial interest in various openings from these recruiters , but the majority of the time I wouldn’t hear back from them UNLESS an interview with the company was requested. At first, this made me incredibly annoyed and I felt like no one valued my time. I used this as a learning opportunity and took a step back and reminded myself that these recruiters are running a business and trying to find the right fit for their specific job. I do not need to respond to every LinkedIn InMail or phone call I receive about a job posting. Recruiters are reaching out to 50-200+ people and I have the power to be selective and research the company, recruiter and position on my own to determine my interest level.
My biggest piece of advice is to take control of the situation and follow up with them, or their manager, to gain additional information. (This can be over email or the phone. My suggestion is 4-5 business days after your last communication.) Knowledge is power and collecting as many data points as you can along the way will help ease your mind and set realistic expectations.
Going into an interview process, I’d make sure you know:
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How many interviews will take place?
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How long has the position been open?
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How many candidates do the Hiring Managers plan on interviewing?
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How much of a match am I to this particular job?
While you’re waiting for feedback, take a deep dive into how the interview or conversation really went. “Is this really the job for me?” “What’s the career path for me at this company?” “Can I see myself working with this hiring manager every day?” “Does this recruiter have my best interest at heart?” “Are we on the same page in terms of salary?”
If you’re still not hearing back and it’s been weeks, move on. You’ve decided to take the high road and are valuing your time. You are in total control of your job search and the outcome. Everyone else is there as a support system or resource should you choose to engage.
At the end of the day, we’re all in search of finding the right people for us. Everyone’s different and everyone wants different things. Compare it to dating! If you didn’t vibe well with your recruiter or you’re finding yourself frustrated often, you have the ability to not pursue a relationship with that person.
In summary: You are in control. Follow up, then follow up again. Ghosting happens to everyone – how did you choose to react?