You interviewed with the hiring manager two weeks ago and thought the conversation went well. Yet, there’s still been no response after the interview. This might be due to the rise of workplace ghosting.
Job seekers across the United States are experiencing an increase in career-related ghosting — the act of the company vanishing, going dark or pulling away at some point in the hiring process without explanation and the candidate not hearing back after the interview. The term arose in the dating world but perfectly applies to a phenomenon job seekers are encountering.
From an employer’s perspective, informing people that they didn’t get the job is not particularly fun or easy. Instead of breaking the disappointing news of an official rejection, some employers may avoid the situation altogether or provide no response after the interview to keep you as a backup option should their top choice fall through.
How can you prevent getting no response after the interview?
From the start, ask for an outline of the hiring process or, more specifically, a tentative time frame as to when you can expect to hear from the hiring manager and how they like to communicate.
To reduce the chances of being ghosted after interviewing, keep yourself fresh in the mind of a potential employer by sending a thank-you email after the interview. After that, follow up regularly and continue to express interest in the role. This can be done by reminding the manager of your qualifications with a short phone call or brief email several days after you send the thank-you email.
If there’s still no reply after your post-interview follow-ups, keep in mind that it’s probably not personal. Most likely, the employer became consumed in other tasks or is focused on hiring another person.
Yes, you can send a follow-up interview email after getting no response. Ask for constructive feedback to help keep the conversation flowing. That way, if you don’t get the job, you may learn more about why.
Most importantly, remember to be proactive — never reactive — and always respectful. It’s easy to grow frustrated when you receive no response after the interview, but keep your emotions in check. Avoid sending an angry email or leaving an outraged review on the company’s social media page. Instead, use this as a learning experience as you move forward in your job search.
Workplace ghosting goes in both directions
It’s not just employers who are doing the ghosting today. The U.S. employment rate is low, and there is strong demand for skilled workers. Candidates are increasingly providing no response after the interview, in some cases because they have multiple job offers.
And just as ghosting can affect a company’s reputation, it can also impact a candidate’s career path. As the expression goes, “Your reputation doesn’t follow you where you go; it gets there before you do.” This also applies to your professional reputation — where professional courtesy is king.
If you offer no response after the interview, keep in mind that your actions can have long-term consequences. Your decision could come around to bite you if the hiring manager you ghosted is the face of the company for the next job where you apply.
Simply saying, “Thank you, but I’ve decided to pursue another opportunity,” can ensure you don’t burn a bridge, but leave it open to potentially cross in the future.
