Ghosted...By a Recruiter?!

If you are still left wondering, here are a few reasons why you might have been ghosted:

1. It’s Just Incompatible – One of the most common and difficult explanations for being ghosted, may just be the most beneficial for your future: Culture. Your resume and the job description seem to be made for each other, but that is only part of the equation. Odds are, you weren't the right 'culture fit' (Yes- even in IT). You might brush this off as something you can bypass, but in today's world, culture really can make or break the success of an organization. Happy teams are more productive, fulfilled employees stay longer, and hiring the 'culture fit' is important to maintaining this. Keep in mind this looks different for every company, which helps explain the lack of feedback as you cannot simply take a class to no longer be an extrovert/introvert- nor should you want to!
2. Timing Really is Everything - Depending on when a recruiter reaches out, how long the role has been open, if any internal changes have affected the stage or even direction of the hiring process, all can result in you being ghosted. Just like dating, timing really is everything. I was even working on a position recently where the hiring manager went on paid leave halfway through the interview process, so the client decided to shelf hiring any candidates for over a month with a day's notice.
3. Money Matters – Another “no factor” that can come in many forms. You may have been lacking skills in one area that the client was willing to provide training for, but now they can no longer commit to such an arrangement. The other side of the coin is that you are too qualified for the position, and your asking price may be out of reach for the budget.
4. The Human Element - Recruiters are humans at the end of the day, and in my experience, humans drop the ball. Especially when you consider that recruiters are working with multiple candidates, trying to fill several different positions, all at the same time! I am not trying to make excuses but sometimes candidates do just fall through the cracks in the transition from one opportunity to another. But just like you, we want to do our jobs well! To do my job well for you, I want to be reminded when I haven’t followed up or given clarity. Recruiters are human, which is why you shouldn't be afraid to follow up if you haven’t heard anything back after a week’s time.

Now that you know this little trade secret, here are some ways to give yourself the advantage with a good "matchmaker":

1. Clarify, Clarify, Clarify – This trick is one that we as recruiters even use at the start of a new relationship. Questions like “how many interviews has (the client) had so far?”, “Is there any chance this gets put on hold?”, “What’s the culture of the company?” all will give you a better idea of the process and what to expect.
2. Follow Up – Believe it or not, the easiest way to stay on top of mind with a recruiter is by staying in their inbox. Now I wouldn't go overkill by calling every day as that can have the opposite effect, but at least try and reach out once a week. The worst they can say is that you weren’t selected for the next round, and that feedback is more productive for you in the job search than accepting the silence and moving on.
3. Circle Back – Once you have come to the tough conclusion that a recruiter has moved on with other candidates, your new goal should be trying to get added to that little black book. “It doesn’t sound like X was the right fit. Do you know of any other open positions that would align better with my skillset?” Even if they don’t have a position available at the time, there’s no telling what the future may hold!