Definition
Ghosting in hiring — Employer-side ghosting is an application or interview that simply goes silent, with no rejection email and no update, leaving a candidate to guess whether they're still in consideration. Candidate-side ghosting is a candidate who stops responding after scheduling an interview, receiving an offer, or even after starting a job, without formally declining or resigning.
Employer-side ghosting is common enough that many candidates now expect it after a certain stage, particularly following an initial application with no interview granted. It's more disruptive later in a process, when a candidate has invested real time across multiple rounds.
Candidate-side ghosting has become more visible as a topic in its own right, often tied to slow or unresponsive employer processes: a candidate who's been left waiting without an update is more likely to quietly disengage rather than send a formal withdrawal.
Frequently asked questions
Is ghosting only something employers do to candidates?
No. It runs both directions. Candidates increasingly disengage silently too, sometimes after accepting another offer, sometimes in response to a slow or unresponsive hiring process on the employer's side.
Why has candidate-side ghosting become more common?
It's often tied to how candidates are treated during the process. A candidate left without updates for weeks is more likely to quietly disengage than to send a formal message declining.
What should a candidate do if an employer stops responding?
One follow-up email checking on status is reasonable. Beyond that, most candidates are better served treating the silence as an answer and continuing to look elsewhere rather than waiting indefinitely.
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