Ghosts may not be real, but ghosting is
➔ Whether you believe in ghosts or not, if you’ve been job seeking for any length of time, you’ve probably experienced “ghosting.”
If you’re not familiar with term, definitions abound but this one works as well as any other, “Ghosting is abruptly ending communication with someone without explanation.”
If you’ve applied for a job and heard nothing in return… If you’ve been on an interview and never received word back from the employer regarding your status… If you’ve reached out a potential networking contact and never gotten a response… you’ve been ghosted.
Ghosting can be a two-way street
Regardless of any explanations or excuses… no matter how you slice it and dice it, ghosting – above all else – is unprofessional. And let’s not forget, if you have ever ghosted a contact or an employer, you’re just as guilty and just as unprofessional.
If you’ve ever been ghosted, we can only offer this advice: don’t take it personally. It’s been happening to everyone with greater regularity. “The Greenhouse Candidate Experience Report,” (from software developer greenhouse.io) which surveyed 1,500 job candidates, found that 75 percent of job seekers say they’ve been ghosted by a potential employer after having had an interview.”
Ghosting. Sure it’s unprofessional; sure it’s frustrating; sure it can try your patience; sure it’s difficult to understand… all those things are true. But there is one thing most job search experts agree on, ghosting is here; it’s happening everyday; it’s happening to people in all walks of life; and it’s not going away any time soon.
Deal with it.