Dive Brief:
- A vast majority of employers — 83% — have been "ghosted," according to an Indeed survey. The study found that job seekers ghost by skipping job interviews (50%), not responding to recruiters' or hiring managers inquiries (46%) or accepting a job offer but not showing up for the first day of work (22%).
- Sixty-nine percent of the 4,000 workers and 900 employers polled said ghosting started only in the last two years. And although just 18% of workers admitted to ghosting, Indeed said the relatively new phenomena is a growing recruiting problem for employers, without any apparent consequences for the culprits. For employers' part, 84% have had candidates not show up for interviews, 60% had candidates accept a job offer and then disappear, and 65% reported new hires not showing up their first day of work.
- Workers in the study identified areas where recruiters could help: 26% of "ghosters" said they weren't comfortable telling an employer they changed their mind, 13% had general communication problems with the recruiter and 11% disappeared because they didn't know what to do. A lack of transparency and trust on the employer's part caused some candidates to ghost, while some said they felt recruiters misled or lied to them, or were rude or had a bad attitude.
Dive Insight:
The twist is that employers are now experiencing from candidates what job seekers have complained about in the past. Job seekers have historically complained about being ghosted by employers, who they said did not acknowledge applications, failed to call back to arrange an interview or did not inform candidates about a hiring decision.
Experts point to an absence of etiquette — on both sides — as a possible cause of applicant ghosting. One popular LinkedIn post noted that inexperience might be driving ghosting, especially among young job seekers, but Indeed's analysis notes that transparency and trust play a big role in whether candidates ghost their employers at any moment. Strong communication throughout the hiring process, a structured onboarding program and clear lines of feedback for employees can all help an organization avoid massive breaks in communication that lead to ghosting, experts have said.
Modern HR tech allows talent pros to check in often with candidates and keep them engaged throughout the recruiting process, including once they are hired. Solid relationships and clear career paths, remain key components of retention and a way to avoid candidate ghosting altogether. Employees that feel they have no path — or no place among their peers — may be more likely to walk off the job, no matter how long they have been there.
