You found your dream candidate. They seem to like the company and are excited to learn more about the role… but then suddenly, they stop responding. You send them a follow-up, but you hear nothing— just crickets.
Sometimes finding the perfect candidate can feel like you’re chasing down a feral cat. We know. While it’s totally possible that the person just ghosted out of nowhere, it’s also possible that the signs were there all along, you just didn’t see it. Here are the signs of a ghosting candidate:
1. There are long periods of time between interviews
We talk about this all the time; job candidates will move on if they’re left waiting. If it is going to take longer than a week to schedule a follow-up interview, you should let the candidate know the timeline. Just be aware that about 80% of candidates are going to drop off after the 3-week mark and the remaining likely won’t be the top contenders.
2. Bait & switch
The good ole bait & switch happens when a candidate requests a specific salary, waits for the offer and changes their mind once the offer is extended. At this point, you can assume that if their new conditions aren’t met, they are going to walk away from the offer. This usually isn’t done from a place of deception but is common when a candidate has a competing offer. If the candidate is your top pick, it is worth renegotiating the salary before they are snagged by a competitor.
3. They have no time to interview
You’ve tried scheduling with them multiple times. Sometimes people aren’t in town, they have work obligations and other matters that prevent them from the meeting. The real tell is if you’re flexible and allow them to do a phone/Zoom interview and they still can’t make it. If that is happening, it is time to turn to your 2nd and 3rd picks.
4. Delayed response time when you are keeping the line of communication open
If a candidate is serious about interviewing, they will respond. Perhaps not within the first hour… maybe not even within the next five hours, but typically within 24-48 hours. If they are unresponsive, this can mean that they have found a different opportunity or are passive about the role in general.
5. They are getting interview fatigue
They are interested in the role; they love the company, and the pay is matching their salary expectations. The problem? They must participate in eight interviews. This is how you get a candidate to disappear into the abyss. The interview fatigue hits strong and fast, especially if this is one of several companies they are interviewing for.
6. Their requirements aren’t being met
If the salary isn’t up to par, if they are unhappy with the benefits package and you are unable to renegotiate the offer— they probably aren’t going to take the position. If they are polite, they will respond and decline, but if they leave you on read, this is why.
7. Ineffective communication on your end
If you are hiring a 3rd party recruitment firm, it is extremely important to find a quality recruiter. They are the ones that are going to serve as the liaison between you and the candidate. Frankly, if the recruiter isn’t communicating with the candidate and guiding them through the process, you have yourself a huge problem. The candidate needs to know that their time is respected before onboarding with a new organization. If this isn’t happening, you should expect them to ghost.
8. They are confused about the job description
During the interview, you may ask some probing questions about why the candidate was interested in applying. You may soon realize that the actual job and what the candidate is describing, is very different. Make sure that your job description matches the role, even if it’s not as frilly and enticing as you would like.
9. They didn’t ask any questions at the end of the interview
Candidates may appear enthusiastic even after discovering they are not interested. An excellent way to know is if they have follow-up questions at the end of the interview. Either you are extremely descriptive and leave no room for questions, or they aren’t all that interested.
10. They are reluctant about the commute
Gas prices are soaring. People are looking at hybrid and remote positions like never before. If they are far away from where the office is located, they may be reluctant to pursue the opportunity in favor of telecommuting.