Minimalism: Live A Meaningful Life
Ghosted After Your Job Interview... Now What?
Author: Victoria Cohen
You’re amid the job interview process and things seem to be really going well… until you got ghosted. Whether you’ve just had your first interview, or you’re further along in the process, if you haven’t heard from the hiring manager for over two weeks, there’s a good chance you’ve been ghosted. These situations can be tough to navigate, and it can leave you feeling confused when a hiring manager suddenly cuts off contact, or “ghosts” you, without any warning or explanation as to why. Follow our guide below to learn what steps you should take if you find yourself in this situation.
1. Don’t assume you’ve been disqualified
From HR and C-level decision makers, to drafting offer letters, to managing large pools of applicants, there are many moving pieces when it comes to hiring a new employee into the company. It’s only human to take the lack of communication personally, but it is possible that there are other factors involved. Here are some reasons the company may have ghosted you.
They are still interviewing other candidates and haven’t made a decision yet
The company is dealing with an urgent matter that has put hiring on the back-burner
Budget cuts or internal changes within the company
The hiring manager is sick or on PTO
- The company does not have procedure in place for rejections
2. Send a thank you note
It’s good practice to send a thank-you note to your interviewer within the same week as your interview. Not only does this reaffirm your interest in the role, but it also demonstrates that you are a great communicator, and you appreciate the time they took to consider you for the role.
3. Follow up
Remember that you are your own best advocate during your job search. It’s important to take initiative and follow-up with the hiring manager if you have not heard from them within a week or two. Here are some helpful pieces to include in your follow-up to get clarity on where you stand and help you navigate your next steps in the process:
- Reaffirm your interest in the role
- Ask if there is any additional information that you could provide to help them make a decision
- Request a response or update on the status of the position so that you will know whether to pursue other opportunities
4. Ask for feedback
If the hiring manager notifies you that you’ve been rejected from the role, take the opportunity to request feedback on your interview or resume. While rejection is tough, feedback can serve as a great learning opportunity for you to improve and make you that much more competitive in future interviews.
5. Move forward
If you haven’t heard back after following up one or even two times, it’s in your best interest to move forward with your job search process. You bring a lot to the table, and there are companies out there who will see your value and won’t leave you in the dark during your next job interview process. Continue your search and pursue other job opportunities that might better align with your experience, skills, and career goals.