When a candidate drops out of the hiring process without giving a reason or warning, this is called "ghosting." The term "ghosting" is often used in the dating world, but it is also becoming a well-known and expensive problem in the recruiting world. In a LinkedIn poll, 95% of recruiters said they had been ghosted.
In many cases, the candidate may never talk to the hiring team again. According to an Indeed survey, ghosting is becoming increasingly common among job seekers in the past year. In 2018, 18% of job seekers said an employer had ghosted them. In 2019, 28% of job seekers said an employer had ghosted them. 76% of employers had been ghosted themselves, and 57% thought it was happening more often than it did before.
Even though you can't completely avoid this, there are steps that companies can take to make it less likely that a candidate will drop out in the middle of the hiring process. Here are five main reasons why candidates might decline your job offer:
1. A long interview process
Candidates can only gain interest in the process if it moves slowly. They must get feedback quickly, know what to expect in terms of timing, and be "kept warm" between interviews. In the same way, a candidate may lose interest if the employer keeps adding "one more interview" to make sure of their choice.
2. You need to give more
No one wants to go through the trouble of an interview only to find out that their current salary is higher than what the new job can offer. Equally, no candidate wants to feel like they are being "low-balled," which means they are being offered a salary that is too low when you can pay more.
3. They got a better offer
When a candidate's current employer gets a resignation letter, it is widespread for them to offer the candidate more money or a different role to keep them. This is the biggest risk of ghosting, and it's hard to avoid if a candidate only wants a job offer from you to use as leverage with their current employer to get a promotion or pay raise.
4. Company Culture
Your business must have a brand and culture if you want to hire the best people. Most job seekers are looking for a place to work where they can enjoy themselves while they are there.
If you don't highlight the benefits of working with you, your competitors will. This is especially true in today's candidate-driven market, where it's crucial to stand out. In addition, the candidate may feel more at home with another company because its culture or mission is more aligned with its own.
5. Your package of benefits needs to be better
Candidates expect companies to give them more than just money; the extras go a long way with the best candidates, especially if you can't offer the best salary. So an easy way to get the best people interested is to provide them with a package that has everything they need but is also flexible.
How to reduce the chances of getting ghosted
Your recruiting process needs to be creative and strategic in today's job market. It is possible to keep the number of rejected offers to a minimum, but it takes planning, open communication, and good judgment. Once you know where the problems are, you can make changes to make the candidates' experience better.
Between the offer and the start date, talk to the candidate more. This is a significant time when they should feel interested and excited. It helps if the hiring manager is interested in them and talks to them often.
Show them a ladder: Top candidates will often look elsewhere if they can't see themselves growing at their jobs by working with you. So during the interview process, discuss any chances for advancement, training, and growth.
Always sell your organization: If you are honest and positive about your company and office culture, the candidate will be more interested in working for you.
Why not bring them to the office so they can meet the team? Why is it great to work for you? What sets you apart? What makes your culture different? What makes someone want to join an organization isn't just the pay and benefits and the things that can't be bought.
Talk about money: Please talk about your salary range and ask the candidate what they are looking for in a salary. Comparing salaries is essential if you want to hire the best people. Make sure that your pay is competitive for the job you are trying to fill.
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