Candidate Ghosting: 5 Reasons Why Job Applicants Disappear

Are you tired of being ghosted by job candidates during your hiring process? If so, you're not alone. Ghosting has become a growing trend among job seekers, and it's causing headaches for recruiters and employers alike.

So what is ghosting, exactly? It's when a job seeker disappears or cuts off all communication with a potential employer after an interview, job offer, or during the hiring process. According to Monster, about three-quarters of recruiters report having been ghosted by a candidate, and nearly half of candidates admit to having ghosted potential employers.

What is interview ghosting?

One of the most frustrating forms of ghosting is interview ghosting, which happens when a candidate fails to show up for a scheduled interview or fails to respond to communications after an interview. This can be particularly frustrating for recruiters, who have invested time and resources in screening and scheduling candidates.

Why are candidates ghosting recruiters?

Better Job Offer

One of the top reasons is because they receive a better job offer elsewhere. In today's competitive job market, where there are 10.5 million job openings, or roughly 1.7 vacancies per available worker. So, it's common for candidates to apply for multiple jobs at once. If a candidate receives a more attractive job offer while still interviewing with your company, they may choose to accept the new offer and not respond to your communication. This can leave recruiters and employers in the dark and make it harder to fill positions.

To prevent ghosting from haunting your hiring process, it's important to keep communication open and transparent with candidates throughout the process. Make sure candidates are aware of where they stand in the process, and follow up promptly after interviews and offers. By creating a positive candidate experience, you can increase the chances of securing top talent for your organisation.

Poor candidate experience

This can include lack of communication, unclear job descriptions or long recruitment processes. Candidates may feel disrespected or undervalued, causing them to lose interest in the position or company. A slow or disorganised application process can put candidates off. If the recruitment process takes too long, candidates may become frustrated and lose interest in the position. If the interview process is disorganised and communication is poor, candidates may also feel that the company is not a good fit for them. Employers should strive to keep the application process moving efficiently and communicate regularly with candidates.

Fear of confrontation

Candidates may hesitate to give negative feedback to employers when they're no longer interested in a job, leading to ghosting instead of open communication. Employers should foster a culture of honesty and openness to make candidates feel comfortable sharing feedback, even when it's negative.

Personal circumstances

Personal circumstances like family emergencies, health issues, or personal problems can prevent candidates from continuing with the recruitment process. Similarly, some job seekers may be unwilling to give up the flexibility and work-life balance that remote work offers, and a mandatory return-to-work policy can lead to frustration and confusion.

What are the consequences of candidate ghosting?

Wasted time and resources

Recruitment and hiring are resource-intensive processes that require a lot of time and effort from recruiters and employers. When a candidate ghosts, all that time and effort can be wasted, forcing recruiters and employers to start the recruitment process all over again. This can be frustrating and costly, especially if the position remains unfilled for an extended period of time.

Damage to the employer's reputation

In today's highly competitive job market, employer brand is everything. If a candidate ghosts, it can damage the employer's reputation and make it harder to attract top talent in the future. Candidates who have had negative experiences with a company are more likely to share their experiences with others and may deter other job seekers from applying for positions with that company.

Missed opportunities

When a candidate ghosts, recruiters and employers may miss the opportunity to hire a highly qualified and talented person. This can be particularly damaging if the position is difficult to fill or the company is competing with other organisations for top talent.

Disruption of the work process

If a candidate 'ghosts' after being hired, this can cause significant disruption to workflow and productivity. Employers may have to scramble to find a replacement or reallocate work to other employees, leading to increased stress and lower morale.

Legal issues

In some cases, candidate ghosting can lead to legal issues. For example, if an employer extended a job offer and the candidate accepted, but then ghosts before the start date, the employer may have no choice but to terminate the offer. This can potentially lead to legal action if the candidate believes that their offer was wrongly terminated.

So, how you can prevent candidate ghosting?

1. Improve the candidate experience: Providing a positive candidate experience can help prevent ghosting. This can include clear communication, transparent job descriptions and a streamlined recruitment process.
2. Follow-up: Following up with candidates after an interview or job offer can help keep them engaged in the process. This shows that the employer is interested in the candidate and values their time.
3. Be clear about expectations: Setting clear expectations about the hiring process, job responsibilities and compensation can help avoid miscommunication and misunderstandings.
4. Be respectful: Showing respect to applicants can help prevent ghosting. This includes showing up on time for interviews, providing timely feedback and treating candidates in a friendly and professional manner.

At Cross Path, we understand that recruiting can be a time-consuming and demanding process. That's why our AI-based solution takes care of your recruitment missions and brings new clients to your doorstep, allowing you to focus more on your candidates and their hiring experience.

With our solution, you can ensure that you are always prepared for your next recruitment mission and that you have a steady stream of new clients. This will allow you to build a strong reputation as a reliable and efficient recruiter, and attract even more candidates to your platform.

Contact our team and we would be glad to answer all your questions!