Unexpectedly, a job offer has come in. You were ecstatic and in a hurry to begin your journey. After a few weeks, the company did not contact you via email or phone to let you know they would no longer be chasing you. A ghost was sent to you. To what shall we proceed?

When a company stops communicating with you after prior positive interaction, this is known as “ghosting.” This might happen after speaking with a candidate via email, having a preliminary phone interview, having a face-to-face meeting, or having multiple follow-up interviews. It is possible to feel this way after receiving a verbal offer of employment.

It may be difficult to determine what steps to take, but you can rely on our assistance. Read on for tips on how to react if you receive a job offer and then get ghosted after accepting it.

Why job seekers are ghosted

The reasons why companies ghost candidates vary widely. Some employers want to move forward without the hassle of interviewing more people. Others may have an internal process that requires them to try to fill their position internally before hiring external agencies.

Whatever the reason, it’s important to understand that when you accept an offer, you’ve agreed to work there. If the employer doesn’t communicate with you within two weeks of making an offer, consider yourself ghosted.

How to handle the situation

If your job search efforts are going nowhere, it may be time to start looking elsewhere. Don’t panic. We’ll help you find another opportunity. However, if you received a job offer and didn’t hear from the company after accepting, here are some things to think about:

• Assess whether the company is worth pursuing further. Did they make a good impression during your initial interactions? Were they clear about their expectations?
• Consider whether you want to continue working at this organization. Do you enjoy the team? Does the job appeal to you? Is there something else you’d rather be doing?
• Try to determine the cause of the communication breakdown. Was there a miscommunication between you and the recruiter? Did you send too many emails? Was the recruiter busy?
• Communicate with the recruiter directly. Ask them to explain what happened. Let them know you want to keep the door open. They should be willing to discuss any concerns you have.
• Make sure you’re ready to work somewhere else. Are you prepared to relocate? Have you saved enough money? Will you need to change careers?
• If you decide to pursue another opportunity, take your time. Start contacting other organizations immediately.
• Keep a positive attitude. Even though you may be disappointed that you didn’t get hired by the company, remember that plenty of other opportunities are available. You may only realize some of the great jobs you could land.

How to know if an employer has ghosted you

There is a big difference between getting rejected and being ghosted. Being left because the hiring manager did not like your personality or found out some negative information about you is one thing. But to hear nothing back after applying for a job is completely different. You might think that you were just unlucky, but chances are something else is happening behind the scenes.

If you apply for a job online through an applicant tracking system (ATS), there are several reasons why you may still need to receive a reply. Here are a few things to consider if you’ve been ghosted:

• Your Resume Format Is Working Against You. Your resume format could be causing problems. If you do not use keywords in your resume, it may not appear in the search engines. Even if you use keywords, if you don’t target those same keywords in the cover letter, you may not get a chance to get a call for an interview.
• You Need To Target Your Resume For a Specific Job. Another reason you may not get called for an interview because you didn’t apply for the position you wanted. When you apply for jobs online, you usually fill out a form where you choose the type of role you want. However, if you have yet to target your resume for a particular job, it may not show in the search engines.
• You May Be Using the Wrong Keywords. When you apply for a job, you select a keyword from a drop-down menu. The ATS uses these keywords as criteria when searching resumes. So, you need to include the right keywords in your resume to get a response. It only matters how qualified you are if you match the position’s requirements.
• You Need to Follow Up With the Recruiter. The recruiter will tell you to follow up within 24 hours. This is so they can track your application. If you don’t respond, they cannot contact you.
• You Don’t Include References. References play a pivotal role in helping employers make their decision. Without references, you may not get considered for positions.
• You Did Not Send a Thank You Letter. A thank you letter shows that you value the opportunity and appreciate them taking the time to review your application.
• You Need to Answer Their Questions. You should answer any questions asked by the recruiter during the phone screening. They may ask anything from what you bring to work to how much experience you have had.
• You Didn’t T Provide Any Additional Information. You should provide additional information that helps the recruiter understand more about who you are. This includes providing links to social media sites, writing a summary of your career history, or describing your hobbies.
• You Are Too Qualified. It’s OK to say no. Many people are overqualified for certain roles. Just remember to be honest.
• You Were Too Early In Your Career. It’s important to keep in mind that most companies only hire new employees every two years. Therefore, if you are too early in your career, you may not be able to move forward.

When should a potential employer contact you following an interview?

Getting hired varies widely depending on where you are in the hiring cycle. In most cases, there is a window of time during which you should expect to hear something about your application.

For example, it takes about three to ten business days to respond to a candidate after an initial in-person interview. But things tend to move much faster once you go over it in person. A hiring manager typically gets around two weeks to make his decision.

So, if you haven’t heard anything after two weeks, it’s safe to assume that you weren’t selected.

If you apply online, however, the clock starts ticking immediately. While many companies say they’ll let you know within 24 hours, others require 48 hours.

And some states prohibit discrimination based on the applicant’s method of applying. So, if you use online, check your email daily after submitting your resume.

What should you do if an employer ghosts you?

If you’ve been ghosted, it might be tempting to give up. However, you should take a different approach. Instead, stay positive and try again later.

Here are some tips to help you get back on track:

• Check Your Phone Number. Make sure your number has stayed the same since you last spoke to someone at the company.
• Update Your Resume. We often need to update our LinkedIn profiles or other online platforms when sending resumes. Make sure you have updated all of your online applications.
• Ask For Help. Sometimes we need to remember to follow up with a potential employer. So, if you have yet to get feedback, reach out to a friend or family member who works at the company. Or find another way to contact them.

• Reapply Again Later. Some companies will tell you they want to wait until they receive enough responses before making final decisions. So, if you didn’t hear anything after sending in your resume, consider reapplying again.
• Use Other Methods. Some recruiters use different methods, such as phone calls or emails, instead of in-person interviews. If you can’t meet face to face, try reaching out via text message or social media.
• Don’t Give Up! Remember, you aren’t alone. It’s normal to feel discouraged after being rejected by several employers. But don’t give up hope just yet. There are plenty of opportunities out there.

Conclusion

OK, so you got the runaround after accepting a job. Remember that even the strongest of us can have setbacks occasionally.

You should use this time to reflect on what went wrong and what you may take away from it. Put what you’ve learned here to use in your job hunt so you can get closer to your ideal position.

You may also reach out to our professional resume writers for assistance crafting a document that will pique the interest of hiring managers. They are well-versed in the recruitment process and can assist you in developing a document that will significantly increase your likelihood of being hired.