Sometimes being ghosted by a recruiter hurts more than being ghosted by a match on tinder. How dare you not respond after I have put in time and effort in crafting the perfect resume and cover letter, taking a vacation day, and commuting across town for an in-person interview. The least you can do is to reply and tell me the results. A yes or no email will suffice.
But NOPE! Just a simple search on Google will tell you that being ghosted by a recruiter after a job interview is a common phenomenon nowadays. Hence why I’m writing this blog post. Besides curling up into a ball and ranting to your friends and family, there are tangible actions you can take if you are ghosted after an interview. Here are 6 things to do when a recruiter ghosts you.
1. Wait At Least 48 Hours
After going to an interview, it’s natural to want to know the results right away. But most likely, you are not the only candidate in the same position. I recommend waiting at least 48 hours (two business days) after an interview before following up with the recruiter. Give the hiring manager and the recruiter some time to process the interview results, rank the candidates, and determine the next steps.
One of my must-ask questions following a job interview is “When can I expected to hear back from you?”. This question is the perfect way to end off the interview because it shows your interest in proceeding with the next steps AND it gives you a realistic timeline on when you should follow-up. For example, if the hiring manager said one week, then you can begin the follow-up actions if you don’t hear back after that one week.
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2. Do Some Digging on Google
Before reaching out to the recruiter, I recommend doing some research on the company’s hiring process on Google. If the company you interviewed for is a well-known international company, you can use career websites such as Glassdoor or forums like Reddit and Quora to learn more about their hiring process from other candidates. This can give you an idea of the expected turn around time.
Source: Pexels
3. Send a Follow-Up Email
If you sense the recruiter is potentially ghosting you, the first course of action is to send a follow-up email. The email should be brief and to the point, because no one likes to read a bloated email. Make your intentions known in the subject line by letting the recruiter know you would like to follow up on the results of the interview. It’s important to note the Position Name and the applicable Job Posting ID, so the recruiter can quickly search and access the status of the job competition in their Applicant Tracking System.
Example:
Subject: Follow Up Regarding Interview for (Position Name + Job Posting ID)
Hi (Name of Recruiter),
I am (Your Name) and I interviewed for the (Position Name + Job Posting ID) on (Date of Interview).
I would like to follow up on the results of the interview.
Please let me know when I can expect to hear back from you.
Thank you,
(Your Name)
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4. Call The Recruiter Directly
If the recruiter is not responding to your emails, then it’s time to escalate this by calling them over the phone. You can reuse the template above to help guide your conversation. Try to call them between 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM or 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM because these are the times they will most likely be at their desks. Avoid calling too early in the morning, during the lunch hour, or too late during the day can help increase your chance to reach the recruiter. If the recruiter does not pick up your phone call, I would leave a voice message but still call again at another time slot. Most recruiters do not check their voice mails.
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5. Keep Applying to Other Positions
If the hiring manager or recruiter is ghosting you, you should continue with your job hunt and keep applying to other job positions. This can serve as a distraction while you wait for them to reply. No, it’s not a waste of time and effort if the recruiter does end up getting back to you with an offer because you never know what would happen. It’s better to end up with multiple job offers than none.
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6. Move On
If the recruiter and hiring manager does not get back to you within two weeks of an interview, the chances of them ever responding is very low. You have done everything in your power to obtain a follow-up response. Yes, it sucks, but it’s important to know that this is not your fault and the situation is beyond your realm of control.
Source: Pexels
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