In the Spirit of Professionalism, Don’t Ghost Employers

Earlier this year, I wrote a piece that talked about employers ‘ghosting’ candidates instead of letting them know they did not get the job. Now, the tables have turned and employees are the ones who are ghosting. They’ve started skipping out on interviews and even the first day of work, without a word to the employer. Is this karmic revenge or a new trend steering people in the wrong direction?

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this new trend of employees ghosting is outright unprofessional. I know, I know. How can employers be mad that people are ghosting when they’ve been doing this for years? Well, an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind. Trust me, the cons of ghosting far outweigh the pros. Don’t believe me? I listed them below for you.

Pros:

1. Instant gratification – companies ignore people all the time… now you’ve stuck it to them!
2. You avoided an awkward conversation – some recruiters are pushy, you don’t want to deal with that.
3. You saved yourself an hour. Were you productive in that hour, or did you watch more Netflix?

Cons:

1. That recruiter/HR person/hiring manager will never want to work with you again – especially if they’re hiring for your dream job one day.
2. You look unprofessional. This is especially true if you’re a millennial or Gen Zer. Don’t fuel the stereotypical fire.
3. You missed an opportunity. No, I’m not talking about the job you decided wasn’t right for you. You missed an opportunity to have a difficult conversation. You’re going to have them in life, might as well get used to it.
4. You actually could’ve missed out on a great opportunity. The job may not have sounded ideal on paper, but maybe it was once it was explained further. Or, maybe it seemed a bit mundane, but the pay and culture were fantastic.
5. You wasted someone’s time. They prepared for YOU. You may not care, but if you’re a polite person, you care a little. Some people completely rearrange their schedule for interviews, only to have you blow them off. Rude.
6. There’s a 50/50 chance you’ll regret it – especially if you’re unemployed. As the length of unemployment drags on, you’ll wish you had given that interview a shot.

There you have it. The pros and cons of ghosting on your interviewer. With more and more candidates doing this, it is acting as a wake-up call for some companies. So, follow the advice we were all told a thousand times – be the bigger person (meaning don’t ghost). It’ll pay off in the long run.