The Spooky Trend of G-G-G-Ghosting
As October draws to a close, we're preparing for one of America's spookiest holidays, complete with eerie messages, creepy costumes, peculiar pumpkins, and of course, ghosts. We all have our favorite ghost stories, from the spine-tingling personal encounters to those whispered around a campfire or shared as urban legends.
The word "ghost" has taken on a whole new twist in pop culture. It's not just a spectral noun anymore; it's a verb too! The new definition of the term “Ghosting” came about originally because of poor dating behavior, and refers to mysteriously vanishing from someone's life without explanation. And, let's face it, there's nothing scarier than a case of professional ghosting.
Now, I may not be a paranormal investigator, but as an executive recruiter, I have found that the scariest “ghosting” behavior is when someone applies for and/or interviews for a position and then poof, they disappear into the mist of the job market. The candidate doesn’t respond to any outreach at all – text, email, or phone calls. Nothing. Gone. It’s chilling!
Ghosting a recruiter (or potential employer) is like playing a game of trick or treat, but be careful because the trick is on you; it’s a surefire way to never be considered seriously for a position with that recruiter again. Recruiters put in a lot of effort to learn about you, to gauge your potential, and to ensure that you're a good match for the role. We're not monsters; we're just trying to help you find your dream job.
We know things happen. Life happens. You…
Applied for hundreds of jobs and lost track
Received another job offer
Get spooked about interviews
Had a family emergency
or something else entirely…
We get it, you're busy. We're all running around like headless horsemen. But respond, even if you don’t want to tell us the reason for your disappearance, take two minutes to send a text or an email, let us know if you're not interested or need to step back, but still want to be in the running for future opportunities. We are human (and not robots, honestly), so for the love of all things pumpkin-spiced, tell us!
Why? Well, in this ever-changing job market, you want to be remembered in a positive light by recruiters and other people or organizations that could change your career. A simple "Thanks for the opportunity, but I've decided to pursue other roles" is like leaving a piece of candy in our recruiter pumpkin bucket. It's quick and polite and shows you have a good work ethic.
The nonprofit sector is the 3rd largest workforce in the United States behind retail and manufacturing. But it is still a small world. And here in Northern California, it is even smaller, so please be mindful about the impression you leave.
We are not out to haunt you with job offers; we genuinely want to work with you to find your next role. We are in your corner. We truly care!
Scared? Trust us, we know how it feels! Boo!
Have a fang-tastic Halloween!