Job ghosting is a two-way street. Recruiters get ghosted all the time when candidates just drop off the face of the earth. But candidates experience the same thing when they send their resume into the black hole of the application process and never hear anything back. Even worse is when a recruiter fails to follow up with a candidate and you’re left hanging. Here’s how to avoid getting ghosting during your next job application.
Avoid Ghosting with These Job Application Tips
Over the past year, the hiring process has been a little bit up and down for employers. Hiring timelines may fluctuate and some portions of the recruiting process may be stalled completely. Hiring managers may struggle with an ebb and flow of job requisitions and that may leave you feeling like you have no control over the application process. That simply isn’t true. Here are a few things you can do to help manage the job application process so you aren’t left hanging:
- Try setting expectations in your cover letter that you will follow up to check on the status of your application. This shows a level of follow-up commitment that reflects well on your candidacy. But it also gives you some measure of control over the process.
- Read the entire ad carefully before applying. Do you understand the process? Are you applying for a job you’re actually qualified for? Make certain you know the timeline and communication you can expect from the employer to save yourself some worry later on.
- If you haven’t received an update in a week or two, it’s perfectly okay to reach out to the hiring manager to find out the status of your application. If you don’t know who to reach out to, a quick LinkedIn search may provide you with the right person. Or, just pick up the phone and call the company HR department with a quick inquiry into the status of your application. Do not say the interviewer hasn’t followed up (you may be talking to the interviewer) and do stay positive. If you get voicemail, leave a concise message with the spelling of your last name, the job req, and your phone number.
If you’ve already interviewed, good news; you have contacts you can follow up with. Some of the same rules apply, however. Make sure you find out next steps during the interview process. If the company fails to follow up when they promised, it’s okay to reach out to your contacts there, pointing out that it’s past the time they indicated when they would follow up.
Generally, after one or two weeks, it’s okay to email your contacts to check-in. Reiterate your qualifications and let the employer know you are still very interested in the job.
If you’ve called and emailed your follow-up, it’s also okay for you to walk away. After a month, in particular, if you haven’t heard anything, there’s a good chance they’ve selected someone else. Although it’s a bit rude, they didn’t let you know, make sure you do not send a negative email of any kind to the recruiter. Just walk away and recognize that you may have dodged a bullet.
PrideStaff is proud to work closely with candidates to match them with the best employers. We can help you, and we work hard to build a relationship that is rewarding for everyone involved. Talk with our team today to find out more.
