Author name: Troy Saddler

Earlier this year, I created a post on LinkedIn about a trend in hiring/recruitment known formally as “ghosting”. I appreciate all those who responded to the post with their comments and views on the subject. The post succeeded in what it was meant to do, and that was to generate conversation. I appreciate the views from my fellow recruiters as well as from a candidate who had been personally ghosted by a recruiter. The sad truth is that ghosting will continue to be a point of contention between candidates and recruiters/hiring managers. Sacrifices are normally taken for granted & knowing is half the battle. Being informed is the first step towards bridging the ghosting gap and holding everyone accountable. If you are a Recruiter, it is important to understand that candidates are carving time out of their busy schedules to speak with us & our clients, and that time should be respected and reciprocated. If you are a candidate who has interviewed with a company and you were fortunate enough to receive an offer letter, please be conscious that this process does not happen over night. Schedules are moved around, and team members are pulled away from their regular tasks to contribute to interviews and provide input to offers of employment. Throughout my career as a Recruiter, I’ve been ghosted by many candidates. Does that mean that I’m going to stop recruiting? Does the fact that there is counterfeit currency mean that I am going to stop transacting? Of course not. Thankfully, I’ve had more positive experiences with candidates than I’ve had negative. The glass is half full for a reason – your perspective is everything. Ghosting is a certainly not one-sided, and it hurts everyone involved. Let’s endeavour to be respectful of everyone’s time.

Candidate counter-offers can be quite attractive, especially when an exorbitant amount of money is tabled (one person referred to it as stupid money!), and insincere promises come from every angle. While tempting, I warn my candidates about considering this calculated tactic used by desperate employers to prevent the departure of one of their best employee’s. EMPLOYEE – Once that trust has been compromised, it is next to impossible to rebuild, and you will always be thought of as that employee that tried to leave once.