What To Do If a Company Ghosts You 👻

Job searching is already stressful enough—when a company stops responding mid-process, it can feel personal. But here’s the truth: employer ghosting is common, and it says far more about the organization’s process than it does about your worth as a candidate. Still, you need to know how to recognize it, how to respond, and when it’s time to stop waiting and move on.

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What Employer Ghosting Looks Like

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Not every delay is ghosting. Hiring processes can be messy: decision-makers are out, budgets shift, roles get redefined. Ghosting is when the silence becomes complete—no replies to emails, no updates after promised timelines, and no clarity despite multiple attempts to reconnect. In other words, there was momentum, and then the lights went out.

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How Common Is It?

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Unfortunately, it’s not rare.

• 40% of job seekers report being ghosted after at least one round of interviews (Indeed, 2023).
• Nearly one in five job postings are “ghost jobs”—roles posted without an intent to fill (Wall Street Journal, 2023).
• Hiring timelines are longer than ever: according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average time to fill a position hovers around 5–6 weeks, and it can stretch much longer for senior or specialized roles.

Translation: you’re not alone, and in many cases, the silence reflects internal disorganization, not your candidacy.

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How to Handle the Silence

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1. Follow up once—promptly and professionally.
   Within a week of your interview (or after a missed promised date), send a short email thanking them for their time and asking if there’s an updated timeline.
2. Give them breathing room.
   If you don’t hear back, wait another week before sending a second note.
3. Stay active elsewhere.
   Even while you wait, keep applying and interviewing. The fastest way to lose momentum in a job search is to pin all your hopes on one company’s calendar.
4. Set your own limit.
   By the two-week mark without a response, it’s reasonable to assume the process has stalled. If you want, send one final check-in around three weeks—but keep your focus on other opportunities.
5. Know when to let go.
   After 21 days of silence, close the book. A company that cannot manage basic communication during hiring is giving you a preview of how they operate internally. Consider that a gift—you’ve dodged a culture that undervalues respect and transparency.

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How to Protect Yourself From Ghosting Next Time

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You can’t control every company’s process, but you can stack the deck:

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• Ask about timelines up front. “What’s the typical timeline for next steps?” sets expectations.
• Clarify your point of contact. Make sure you know exactly who to follow up with.
• Be transparent about your own timing. If you’re in other processes, say so—politely. It can nudge employers to move faster.
• Never stop your search for one company. Momentum and options are your best leverage.

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For more advice, SHRM has a useful overview of why hiring processes stall.

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Ghosting stings, but it’s also information. A company that can’t respond to a candidate isn’t showing strong communication, organization, or respect. Use that silence as a signal: keep moving toward an employer that values your time, your energy, and your talent.

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