What to Do When a Job Candidate Ghosts You

What to Do When a Job Candidate Ghosts YouWhat to Do When a Job Candidate Ghosts YouThe job seekers profile is perfect. And in your first in-person meeting with the candidate, the two of you seemed to click. But since the interview, you havent heard a peep, even though youve sent several messages and even tried calling. Welcome to the frustrating world of candidate ghosting.The dating world coined the word ghosting to describe when a person abruptly cuts off all contact and seems to vanish from the face of the earth with no explanation. In the professional realm, this scenario is increasingly common as well. district president Josh Howarth said theres been a 10 to 20 percent increase in ghosting over the past year.To avoid being ghosted during the hiring process, you need to first understand this trend.Why job candidates ghostTo some extent, the rise of professional ghosting is due to a general erosion of once-sacrosanct etiquette standards. Many of todays job seekers would rather av oid confrontation and awkwardness than deliver bad news. You could also call it payback or karma, as hiring managers have long been known to ghost people after interviews.But the main explanation is that workers simply have mora choices today. In the current market, managers are struggling to fill vacancies while skilled candidates often field multiple job offers. With so many options, candidates simply may not care whether they burn a few bridges along the way. This is particularly true among entry-level positions with lower wages.Additionally, workers care about corporate culture when seeking employment. If a candidate feels your companys values dont align with their preferences, they may simply stop communicating with you and focus on other potential employers instead.HIRING? FIND TOP TALENT NOWHow to avoid being ghosted by job candidatesShould you just shrug your shoulders and consider that ghosting is the new normal? Not necessarily. Here are some steps you can take to reduce y our chances of being ghosted by job seekers.Streamline your hiring process. Other employers are likely courting your dream applicants as well, so you need to make your move quickly. Interview your top candidates right away rather than waiting for a critical mass before you bring them all in.Play by the Golden Rule. Ghosting works both ways. You dont like it, and neither do job seekers. When you treat them with respect, your company will gain a reputation for being considerate and professional. So, make it a point to communicate promptly with all candidates - not just the ones youre interested in hiring. People talk.Make an offer they cant refuse. With record-low unemployment rates, you dont have the luxury of lowballing the salary, even if youre willing to negotiate it higher. You can avoid turning off your top pick if you extend above-average compensation right away. A sign-on bonus, telecommuting option and other top perks would sweeten the deal.Use alternative forms of communica tion. Some millennials and Gen Zers dont check schmelzglas often. And they are unlikely to take a phone call from an unknown number. If youre having trouble reaching interviewees, send them a text message instead.Craft messages that encourage a response. Win interviewees back to the table with persuasive language. Personalize the communication by mentioning what you admire about their skill set and how theyd be a valuable addition to your team. End the message with specific next steps, such as Id like to schedule a follow-up meeting for later this week to discuss the job offer and a possible start date.As long as skilled candidates have the upper hand, employers run the risk of being ghosted. The key is to treat job seekers fairly and with respect, and then hope they have the courtesy of doing the same.