Ghosting
When an employer stops communicating with a candidate without explanation — no rejection email, no follow-up, just silence. Unfortunately common at all stages of the hiring process. Sending a brief follow-up once or twice is appropriate; extended silence is a soft rejection.
Ghosting in the job search context means an employer stops responding to a candidate without explanation. It can happen at any stage: after an application, after a recruiter screen, after interviews, or even after an offer discussion has begun. **How common is it:** Very. Research by Indeed found that 77% of job seekers have been ghosted by an employer. It's most common at the application stage (no response after submitting) but also happens post-interview and, most frustratingly, after offers are verbally discussed. **Why employers ghost:** - Role was put on hold or cancelled - A better candidate was found and the team moved quickly - The recruiter left the company and the role fell through the cracks - Poor process management — no one is following up on open candidate communications - Avoiding the discomfort of delivering a rejection **What to do when ghosted:** - Wait for the stated callback window before following up - Send one follow-up after the window passes; another 1-2 weeks later if no response - After two ignored follow-ups, treat the process as closed - Keep the application in your tracker as 'inactive' not 'rejected' — occasionally roles reopen **Ghosting in reverse:** Candidates ghost employers too — declining to show up for interviews or accepting offers and not starting. It's unprofessional regardless of which party does it.
Why it matters
Recognizing ghosting early prevents you from psychologically holding onto an application that has effectively ended, which wastes emotional energy and delays redirecting effort to active opportunities.
Candidate tip
After a recruiter gives you a timeline ('we'll be in touch in 2 weeks'), calendar a reminder for day 15 — if no contact by then, a brief, professional follow-up is entirely appropriate and expected.
Put this into practice with the candidate.so Application Tracker.
Learn more →Related terms
Rejection Email
ApplicationsAn official notification from an employer that your application will not advance further. Most companies send generic rejection emails; some don't send them at all ('ghosting'). What to do after rejection: keep notes, stay professional, and sometimes request feedback.
Application Status
ApplicationsWhere your job application stands in the hiring process — typically categories like Applied, Under Review, Phone Screen, Interviewing, Offer, Rejected. Tracking status across all active applications keeps your job search pipeline visible and manageable.
Follow-Up Email
ApplicationsA message sent to a recruiter or hiring team after submitting an application or completing an interview to express continued interest, provide additional information, or check on application status. Timing and tone matter: too aggressive is off-putting; too passive means missed opportunities.
Hiring Process
ApplicationsThe full sequence of steps an employer uses to evaluate and hire candidates — from job posting to background check to offer. Processes vary by company size and role, but typically include: application, screen, interview rounds, assessment, reference check, and offer.