Applying for a job can be very exciting but also very stressful and, sometimes, frustrating. You spend countless hours sending resumes and trying to find the perfect job. But as many resumes as you have sent, you never get a response -not even to reject you. Recruiter ghosting is a reality in the professional world. And over the latest years, it has become common. It is, undoubtedly, a sign of disrespect towards the candidate and shows that recruiters fail to acknowledge your efforts or provide closure. The statistics speak for themselves: according to HR Dive, 8 in 10 hiring managers say they’ve ghosted job candidates.
Ghosting is considered rude in general, but in professional environments, it can be overwhelming for people who try to make ends meet and get a job in the already lunatic job market.
However, don’t give up and read below some possible reasons why you didn’t get the long-awaited email for an interview.
You are not a good fit for the role
You found the perfect job post: the job description is impressive, the salary exceeds expectations, and they nail the office attendance (fill in your ideal). However, as much as working in this company is your professional dream, maybe you haven’t considered that this position is not aligned with your skills and experience. As experienced as you are and you think that you would be an excellent fit for the role/company, it’s always reasonable to be able to actually do the job. Recruiters receive numerous resumes and must pick the most suitable candidates. So, even if your resume is great and impressive but out of scope, you will probably make their life difficult and, therefore, won’t get an interview.
What to do: If you desperately want to work for a specific company, send your resume independently of a particular job opening and show them your appreciation for the company and willingness to work there. Recruiters could receive this well and keep your resume to find a better fit for your skills and experience. Some companies won’t bother, but it’s worth a try.
Your resume is not professional enough
Whether you didn’t have the time to prepare a good resume or writing is not your forte, you sent a poorly written resume or one that gives too much/too little information. Did you know that 68% of hiring managers say they would reject a candidate because of a poorly formatted resume? This means that even if you are the perfect fit for the job, you may end up not getting even an email. As I mentioned before, recruiters often have to deal with thousands of resumes and need to find the perfect candidates, so they don’t have time. Simple as that. They scan resumes and try to find the combination of skills, expertise, and willingness to work. And if you are wondering how a not-so-well-presented resume could be an obstacle, I would tell you this. How likely would it be for you to hire a graphic designer who sent you a resume in a doc? No offense for the docs; I use them every day but a graphic designer is an artist and needs to showcase their work. A well-designed resume is their portfolio. If they can’t bother designing a resume that is easy to look at, how are they expected to create appealing graphics for the company’s audience? Another example is typos; avoid them at all costs. Typos show sloppiness, which is not the impression you want to give a potential employer.
What to do: Proofread your resume carefully before submitting it. Typos, inconsistent formatting, and grammatical errors should be avoided. If you are not sure about your design/writing skills, ask a friend to review your resume and help you or if you can afford it, delegate it to a professional who knows how things work, and you will get a professional result.
You didn’t follow the application process
Some companies have a specific application process which is probably because it’s convenient and time-efficient for the recruiters in order to be able to handle multiple resumes. So, if the company has specific requirements for sending your resume, just follow them. As tempting as it sounds to send a very professional and appealing email to accompany your resume, if the process involves uploading them on LinkedIn or a specific link or… whatever, do precisely what you are told to do. Help them to help you is what I’m saying. Also, some companies specifically give guidelines and indicate a specific process to ensure that a potential employee knows how to follow instructions -it’s not a given, and it’s highly appreciated. Nobody wants to hire someone who cannot follow simple instructions.
What to do: If you feel like the process is challenging or you don’t have the requirements, you can send an email asking for more clarification. Avoid skipping the process because they will avoid calling you for an interview.
They have already found the perfect candidate
Just like you send resumes and arrange interviews for different job roles until you find the best opportunity, the same way recruiters talk with multiple candidates to ensure that they are making the right choice. Also, sometimes the right candidate is found immediately, but they want to explore other options by keeping the job post online. Unfortunately, this happens, and it is not something you can control. Usually, when recruiters have a tight deadline and a large pool of candidates, they don’t have time to spend on each resume so they pick from the ones that applied faster and don’t have the time to reject the rest.
What to do: You can’t do anything about that because the truth is that you are not the only one assessing your skills for a specific job. Companies find the perfect candidate according to their preferences and requirements, not our perceptions and aspirations. So, keep looking, and you will be the ideal candidate for another role! In any case, it’s always a sign if they don’t reply, even to reject a candidate.
They are just… lazy
Ghosting has apparently become a trend in professional circles as well, and, unfortunately, many recruiters have embraced it. To be fair, sometimes the workload can be huge, and it can be overwhelming having to respond to so many applications. Or they are trying to find a role where you could be a great fit, but the time passes… and the email never reaches your inbox. However, it’s considered unprofessional and rude not to even send a generalized response to someone looking for a job or someone in immediate need. It could reveal a lot about the company’s culture. Even if they keep your resume for future openings, it’s nice to hear from them.
What to do: Well, there are not many things you can do for ghosting, but if you are very interested in this particular role, you can send a follow-up email to ask politely if they need additional information or an update on the interview process. Nevertheless, don’t hang on to this role because if you were the perfect candidate, they would have reached out to you soon. And, if we want to be honest, would you like to work for someone ghosting you? Don’t think so!
