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#JobSearch : 5 Ways To Respond To Hiring Managers Who Ghost Job Candidates. Question: How Do you Handle Recruiters Who ‘Ghosts You’??

Much has been written about the many points to keep in mind when applying for your dream job: Minimize the use of ChatGPT to craft a resume. Be honest on your resumeCurb your anxiety so you can put your best foot forward. And look the part because companies often judge applicants based on their appearance. These are a few tips to abide by, but what if you do everything perfectly and still don’t hear back from the company? You could be among the job applicants ghosted by hiring managers.

Eight in ten hiring managers confess to ghosting job candidates according to a new study. After polling 625 hiring managers, Resume Genius’s Ghosting Trends in Hiring Report asserts that it’s clear widespread ghosting is more prevalent than most people realize, leaving candidates in limbo and unsure of their application status. Of the 80% of ghosting managers, 11% admit they always ghost job applicants, 22% say they ghost frequently, 47% occasionally and 20% say they never ghost candidates. Resume Genius sought to understand why candidates may be purposely misled or ghosted during the hiring process and offer strategies for candidates to minimize their risk of being ghosted.

“2024 has been a tough year so far, with more layoffs making the job market even trickier,” acknowledges Ed Huang, co-founder and executive director of Resume Genius. “As companies trim their budgets and reduce staff, a lot of people find themselves looking for work again and are facing more competition than ever.”

When you add to the mix a surge in AI-generated resumes leading to a flood of applications, hiring managers are increasingly overwhelmed, that makes it tough for them to respond to everyone personally, he continues. “As a result, ghosting has become more common, often leaving job seekers stuck in an unfortunate waiting period that leads nowhere.”

 

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Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Five Reasons Hiring Managers Ghost Job Applicants

“Understanding why ghosting occurs is necessary for both hiring managers and job seekers to improve communication and transparency in the hiring process,” Huang points out. “Our findings aim to shed light on what job ghosting means for candidates and help them get a better handle on their job search.” Here are the primary reasons hiring managers gave Resume Genius for not responding to candidates:

  1. 34% cite ongoing decision-making about the right candidate.
  2. 33% mention the high volume of applications.
  3. 32% say the candidate doesn’t fit the role or company culture.
  4. 31% indicate that the candidate’s salary expectations exceed the budget.
  5. 31% say the company has already filled the position.

The report revealed that smaller companies with less than 100 employees and medium-sized companies with between 101 to 1,000 employees most often ghost due to still deciding on the right candidate. Larger companies with over 1,000 employees typically ghost candidates who don’t fit the role or company culture.

“From my experience, employees at small companies need to wear many hats, and it’s a struggle to find someone who can wear them all,” observes Geoffrey Scott, senior hiring manager at Resume Genius. “Larger companies tend to have more specific needs, so they can quickly determine whether someone is a good fit or not based on their strict criteria.”

If you’re applying to a smaller organization, mention your flexibility and willingness to face challenges in your resume, cover letter and during the interview,” Scott adds, explaining, “At a larger company, you should tailor your resume to precisely match the skills and experience requirements in the job description. These strategies can greatly enhance your visibility in the current competitive job market.”

Five Ways to Respond to Potential Ghosters

Nothing is more agonizing than putting your time and energy into the process of applying for a job. Your resume is in tip-top shape. You spent hours preparing for the interview to present yourself in the best possible way. Then you wait and wait, and all you hear are crickets. But all is not lost. Take the towel you want to throw in, wipe the sweat off your brow and do these five things.

1- Politely follow up on your application. In the event that job seekers experience ghosting during their job search, Resume Genius recommends that they respectfully follow up if they haven’t heard back within one to two weeks. “A concise, polite email to the hiring manager expressing continued interest in the position can help keep their application active.”

Aaron Case, career expert at CV Genius suggests, reaching out via LinkedIn or email if you’re unsure about your application’s status. He says this is a positive step toward clarifying where you stand as an applicant, while also demonstrating your interest and proactive attitude. “If the job is real, they’ll appreciate the contact. If it’s not, you save time to focus on real opportunities,” he explains.

2- Keep the connection alive (on your end). Maintaining a professional connection with a company—even if you don’t initially secure a position—is beneficial, according to the report. “Polite follow-ups and staying in touch can demonstrate your serious interest and might prompt a response or leave a favorable impression,” the report emphasizes. “By keeping contact, you enhance your visibility for future openings, as companies often prefer to hire familiar, previously considered candidates. Simple actions like sending a thank-you note or asking to connect on LinkedIn can keep potential opportunities open without dwelling on any past ghosting incidents.”

3- Maintain your online professionalism. The report cautions that even when you’re tempted to vent about job-search frustrations (like being ghosted), staying professional online is essential. The report cites a 2023 survey by the Harris Poll in which 75% of U.S. companies review applicants’ social media profiles, and negative posts have led nearly half of hiring managers to reject candidates. “To protect your professional image and future opportunities, avoid naming specific companies in complaints,” the report cautions. “You can consider using platforms like Reddit if you’re looking to get advice while maintaining anonymity.”

4- Evaluate and adjust your job-search strategy. If you find yourself frequently ghosted during your job search or applying for ghost jobs where you don’t hear back, the experts at Resume Genius suggest that you consider revising your approach. “Assess whether the roles and companies you’re targeting truly align with your skills and experience. Consulting with a trusted family member or mentor can provide valuable insights and help you refine your job search strategy.

5- Resume Genius concludes by reminding job seekers to have someone review their resumes and cover letters to ensure they’re effectively tailored and polished. Then take into account how stable your target industry is, as sectors like tech have experienced fluctuations that could influence your job search outcomes.

Forbes.com | May 17, 2024 |

#JobSearch : What To Do If You’re Ghosted By A Recruiter. Questions: Has this Happened to You? And What Did you Do?

As thousands of companies cut costs by laying off workers, many people find themselves back on the job market. The good news is that experts have a brighter outlook for the economy. Still, candidates must adapt to a dynamic employment landscape that requires continuous learning and a proactive approach. Unfortunately, that also includes having to deal with potentially being ghosted by a recruiter.

Recruiter ghosting refers to the point at which you no longer hear from a recruiter who expressed interest in your application. It can happen at any point during the hiring process and is more widespread than you might think. In fact, 75% of job applicants say a prospective employer has ghosted them following an interview. That’s based on a recent survey conducted by software company Greenhouse. One woman even shared how she completed nine rounds of interviews for a marketing role before eventually being ghosted.

This behavior happens for a variety of reasons. Let’s look at potential causes and what you can do if you think you are being ghosted by a recruiter.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlogAug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

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Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type (Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Reasons for being ghosted by a recruiter

Many people assume that an unresponsive recruiter doesn’t care. Often, it’s unintentional and due to a variety of other reasons.

The recruiter found a more qualified candidate

Ideally, companies have a mechanism to alert job seekers that they were not selected for the role. Yet, many do not. In that case, a recruiter might ghost you because they decided to hire someone else who was a better fit. This situation often happens when there are many applicants or if the position needs to be filled quickly.

There are internal issues you aren’t aware of

Sometimes, job seekers are ghosted by a recruiter because the company is still trying to make a decision. Many organizations have a complex hiring process and require feedback from multiple stakeholders. They might also be negotiating with their top candidates or checking references before feeling comfortable sharing updates.

The recruiter experienced a setback

Recruiters sometimes fail to respond because they are inundated with work and have poor time management skills. If they lack the resources, it’s easy to get bogged down and drop the ball. Recruiter ghosting could also be due to a setback like a death in the family, illness or some other personal issue. It’s also not uncommon for recruiters to be laid off, in which case you may need to contact another individual at the company.`

How to handle being ghosted by a recruiter

With a volatile economy causing recruiting teams to shrink, you may be ghosted at one time or another. If it happens, don’t blame yourself. Instead, take steps so you don’t lose job search momentum.

Follow up within a reasonable timeframe

If the recruiter gave you a timeframe and it’s been longer than a week, follow up with them. You can email them to thank them for their time and express interest in the role. Without being pushy, mention that you have another job offer on the table (if you do) but that this position is your first choice. By being professional and persistent, you will stay top of mind while being seen as genuinely enthusiastic about the opportunity.

Try other avenues of communication

If you already tried following up with the recruiter via email, consider another method. For example, you should contact them via LinkedIn or another professional networking site. If that fails, seek out another point of contact, like the hiring manager or someone you interviewed with. You might even consider finding an internal connection through your network to gain additional information about the hiring process.

Continue searching for other roles

If you are ghosted by a recruiter, don’t let it negatively impact your self-esteem. Try not to take it personally and continue looking for other opportunities. Maintain a positive attitude by researching, networking and applying for positions that are a good fit. Keeping your job search on track will motivate you and make you more likely to find the ideal role.

Dealing with an unresponsive recruiter can be frustrating, but it’s ultimately out of your control. Remember that being ghosted by a recruiter has more to do with the company than your qualifications. By approaching your job search with confidence and determination, you’ll eventually land a position with an organization that deserves your unique talents.

 

Forbes.com | May 3, 2024 | Caroline Castrillon