Ghosting in the hiring process is still a trend but it’s not a one-way street! Poor recruiter communication is the main cause.
Nicolas BEHBAHANI
Global People Analytics & HR Data Leader - People & Culture | Strategical People Analytics Design
💡 For both job seekers and employees, Ghosting is a growing problem that’s here to stay
☝️ Historically, it has been common practice for employers to cease all communications after interviewing a candidate they don’t plan to hire, and the data supports that this practice continues today.
🔥 Majority of job seekers said they were ghosted after a second- or third-round interview.
Job seekers often feel regretful, guilty or anxious after the fact. In fact, an increasing number say they regret their decision to ghost.
🚨 While employers feel they’re primarily ghosted due to competing job offers, in reality, it seems job seekers are more concerned with finding a role that’s exactly right for them, as well as adequate or competitive compensation, according to a new interesting research published by Indeed in partnership with Censuswide using data from 4,516 job seekers who admit to ghosting employers, as well as 4,517 employers who have been ghosted, across the US, UK and Canada.
✅Ghosting is still trending upward
Researchers noticed that job seekers are also now more prepared to admit they’ve ghosted before: 78% say they ghosted an employer prior to 2022 and employers believed also that the sense that ghosting has increased: 77% say it became more common among job seekers during 2022 in comparison to previous years.
✅Job seekers regret ghosting, but even more plan to ghost again
Researchers found that 23% of job seekers felt empowered when they ghosted an employer. But majority of job seekers often feel regretful, guilty or anxious after the fact. In fact, an increasing number say they regret their decision to ghost.
✅It’s important to remember that Ghosting isn’t a one-way street.
Researchers found that more than one in three (35%) US job seekers claim an employer did not acknowledge their application.
🔥 Majority of job seekers said they were ghosted after a second- or third-round interview.
☝️ This could be a key factor behind why 70% of 2023 US job seekers say they feel it’s “fair” to ghost employers, up from 66% in 2022
✔️ This could also be why, more than three in five (62%) plan to ghost again in the future.
✅Top reasons for ghosting employers and employees
Researchers found the Top five reasons why employers are ghosted:
1️⃣ Received another job offer
2️⃣ Not the right job for them
3️⃣ They were uncomfortable communicating decision
4️⃣ Unsure how to pull out of the process
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5️⃣ Pay offer was too low
Top five stated job seeker motivations for ghosting:
❌ Not the right job for me
❌ Not the right company for me
❌ Pay offer wasn’t/wouldn’t have been enough
❌ Benefits were not good enough
❌ Received another job offer
So researchers noticed that job seekers aren’t always ghosting for the reasons you think they are.
Interestingly, researchers found that another main motivation for ghosting is poor communication, which has gradually grown into a serious issue. In 2023, 25% of US job seekers cited poor communications by the recruiter as a reason for ghosting,
Finally researchers provide six ways to improve the hiring experience and engage job seekers:
✔️ Show candidates you have their back
✔️ Don’t talk at candidates — talk to them
✔️ Make work wellbeing a priority
✔️ Take control of your employer brand
✔️ Use data to drive ghosting prevention strategies
✔️ Do your part to break the ghosting cycle
Thank you 🙏 Indeed and Censuswide researchers team for these insightful findings: Raj Mukherjee Jason Kudrikow Priscilla Koranteng, Maggie Hulce Chris Hyams
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Co-founder at Clous @ Talent Tech with AI systems
1yGhosting has been here for a long time. It doesn't make up for a great face-to-face smile. That's one of the things that is most probably not going away.
Industry Veteran | Exploring Future of Work | Great Manager’s Coach & Mentor
1yGreat share Nicolas BEHBAHANI. 👌Excellent research & suggestions. ❓🎯To build an Employer brand need to support recruiter with automation OR 🧞♀️AI solution. Transactions kills creativity & the human touch required. 📲 Once AI is in place, candidate can be given personalised preferences based on his/her purpose - can reduce ghosting from both sides.
Corporate Wellness Specialist| I help companies with 50+ employees recognize and combat workplace burnout, stress, and anxiety, increasing productivity and profit. Healthy Employees = Healthy Profits!
1yWell conveyed!
Executive Team Effectiveness Coach & Advisor | Leadership Coach | Master Facilitator | Talent Enablement Expert | Speaker
1yIn conversations with my network, it's clear that recruiters ghosting candidates has become a common practice, even in fairly senior-level jobs. Perhaps it's inexperience on the part of the recruiter, overwhelm, or an attitude that in what is (in white-collar roles) a buyers' market, they don't need to communicate well with candidates, even those they like. Whatever the reason, ghosting on either side of the process is a poor practice. The world is surprisingly small and memories are incredibly long. Side note: I'd be interested in the age/generational breakdown of the prevalence of ghosting, especially job seekers ghosting employers. (I didn't register to download the full report--perhaps it's in there.)
Lead consultant in HR Strategy & Value Management. Enhancing Value through Human Performance. Delivery of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Training. Lecturer and International Speaker on HRM and Value Management.
1ySome years ago I applied for a Job in a College in London. Having travelled from Lincoln for the interview, it was obvious when I arrived that I was the only external candidate. The reception staff were surprised to see me and I was left in a corridor, seated between the Ladies and Gents Toilets. It was equally obvious that I was not going to be considered for the job. I telephoned my wife afterwards - I was absolutely fuming. My wife just said: 'I'm pleased that there is a train journey between you and me - hopefully you will have calmed down a bit by the time you get home'. In my view ghosting by the prospective employer or the employee is totally unprofessional and is detrimental to organisational and personal brands - it is such a shame that it still happens. Thank you for sharing Nicolas BEHBAHANI