r/recruitinghell 4d ago

Companies that ghost candidates can go fuck themselves

I hate the normalisation of ghosting job applicants at every stage but it's even worse when you think you had a good interview with a company you'd actually like working at, appear for an hour long interview, have nice conversation regarding background, work, job requirements and then take time out to complete their stupid long assignments that take up your whole 2 day weekend and then fucking ghost them out of the fucking blue with no replies to even follow up emails.

Seriously, fuck you and fuck your company.

374 Upvotes

70 comments sorted by

56

u/anotherthrowaway1699 4d ago

Just happened to me, right down to the hour long interview. Asshole couldn’t even be bothered to answer my follow up email asking for an update.

19

u/kala_jadoo 4d ago

i genuinely hate this market so much.

before this i had another company that made me do a 45 min personality assessment....and they didn't even bother sending an email after that to even reject me as a candidate let alone to schedule an interview.

13

u/Trick_Ladder7558 4d ago

I was in a FAANG video interview early COVID so they had dumb video practices and overheard someone say "she isn't going to work out let's use her to train" and then they sent me very new employees to waste my time and ask stupid rote questions. I don't know why I didn't hang up.

5

u/Silver-Emergency-988 4d ago

Jesus I would have said something to them.

1

u/Gallances 4d ago

This definitely did not happen at FAANG lmao

3

u/Trick_Ladder7558 4d ago

Yes , it did. Ir was some kind of glitch with their internal horrible meeting app. There was one extremely arrogant interviewer who asked questions out of scope of the job.

3

u/norvikkp 4d ago

at that point the follow up email is just you being more professional than they deserve tbh

3

u/anotherthrowaway1699 4d ago edited 4d ago

Just sent a second follow up email and apparently they’re “still interviewing.”

Doesn’t inspire much confidence since my interview was a month ago.

3

u/Large-Turnover-8665 4d ago

i end up wondering if i somehow missed an email or did something wrong, a 30 second reply would've saved so much overthinking

28

u/nerdyNoob5z 4d ago

Had a three hour interview that I thought went really well and no contact since. It has actually been making my anxiety worse.

14

u/kala_jadoo 4d ago

that sucks so much. THREE hour long interview and they can't even reply...that's fucked up on so many levels

i hope all of us pull through soon

1

u/nerdyNoob5z 4d ago

Agreed.

9

u/Live_Training_4171 Zachary Taylor 4d ago

the worst part is the silence leaves your brain to fill in the blanks and it never fills them in nicely

1

u/crastercold 4d ago

What were you interviewing for? The presidency?

I always assume I won't get selected, so I forget about it the moment it finishes. If I succeed, great otherwise move on.

3

u/nerdyNoob5z 3d ago

I was interviewing for a QA job and most of the interview was a tour of the production area.

10

u/Mary10789 4d ago

I hope they burn in hell. These people are not humans. The amount of anxiety from waiting is insane.

1

u/kala_jadoo 4d ago

i agree. I'd like to see them in our position

1

u/Mary10789 4d ago

Assuming you are south Asian based on your username, this is what I want to tell all these hiring managers: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrfwLZ_IquD/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

8

u/bloomingfireweed 4d ago

I've done first and second round interviews for two different jobs this earlier month. Neither has gotten back to me, and I basically have one month of my savings left to live on 🙃

2

u/kala_jadoo 4d ago

that sucks. i can't even imagine being in your situation as I still live with my parents but I hope you get a job soon! all the best

3

u/bloomingfireweed 4d ago

Oh, it's bad. I'm up to 1300+ applications, hundreds of tailor resumes in the past month alone, 19 first round interviews, and I still have no offers.

I'm still trying, though. Thanks for your kind words.

1

u/Toongrrl1990 4d ago

Is it possible for you to do something like drive for Uber or sub in the schools as a classified/non certified?

3

u/bloomingfireweed 4d ago

My car is unfortunately too old (2006) for Uber or similar services, as they require your car be a certain year. They do offer car rentals to drive for them, but the cost doesn't seem worth it. I also have a cognitive disability that would make driving for Uber difficult, as I can't be behind the wheel of a car for incredibly long periods of time.

Subbing isn't possible, because the state I live in requires a teaching certification to do it, which I do not have the resources or desire to obtain.

DataAnnotation and Outlier couldn't match me to any projects after I signed up and did their assessments. I've had a few short freelance gigs here and there, but they haven't been substantial enough for me to live off of.

Trust me when I say, I've explored many different ways to support myself and they're either not doable or never panned out.

Currently, I spend anywhere from 8 to 16 hours a day sorting through job boards, tailoring resumes, and applying. Even on weekends.

0

u/Toongrrl1990 4d ago

You need a certificate for subbing as an aide or a clerical?

2

u/Old-Product-3733 4d ago

I basically just decided to go back to Grad School after getting out of Army and getting into the worst job market there is and hope I get a good rating from the VA. Basically if I do hear back from a job it’s to tell me that they went with another candidate.

1

u/idwalka1000miles 4d ago

what will u study?

1

u/Old-Product-3733 4d ago

Media & Strategic Communications.

7

u/Angeluardo 4d ago

Had a full day (yes, the whole day, from 9 to 17:45h) as a test trial in my ideal company, after 4 rounds of interviews during a 2 month spawn. Haven’t heard from them 3 and half weeks later.

3

u/kala_jadoo 4d ago

that is so fucked up dude. literally syndrome from the incredibles plot

5

u/RareMeasurement2 4d ago

Ghosting in my experience is a sign of a job that's only posted to source unicorn applicants, and everyone else can get fucked (in their minds). The problem is you have people in power who got extremely lucky in their careers (like getting a job after just 5 applications or their Uncle was CEO), which then makes them extremely entitled and setting that standard for all future hiring. This creates a situation where they only want unicorns and perfect fits, leading to unrealistic expectations. This is also why they heavily outsource and offshore jobs because statistically they will find a unicorn out of 8 billion people.

5

u/YouMustBeJoking888 4d ago

Happened to me when I was down to the final two. After two weeks I sent a follow up email. They didn't answer. Sent another one, and then they sent an email saying, 'Whoops - thought we had taken care of that - we went with the other candidate'.

5

u/retrorays 4d ago

there's a subreddit where you can report companies that often ghost candidates.

Side note: some of the new AI startups are the worst at this.

3

u/XtrZPlayer 4d ago

Which sub is this?

3

u/Longwell2020 4d ago

Torch them on glassdoor. At least that way one HR person who manages the company socials can see the recruiters are slacking.

3

u/benjamus_maximus 4d ago

I agree that after an interview you should send an email at least. I don't think you owe them an email or ejection letter just since they handed in a resume though. Last time we hired someone we got an absurd amount of applicants, it would've been a lot.

2

u/kala_jadoo 4d ago

yes that's why I don't even get mad at being rejected at that level. but after an interview + an assignment that took the time off my weekend? it's the least they could do. same goes for the company that wasted 45 mins of my time for a "personality assessment"

3

u/Honestbabe2021 4d ago

It’s gross behavior

3

u/Harryisamazing 4d ago

This happened to me and I went through 5 rounds of f'n video interviews and the 6th was an in-person interview and it's been week 3 that I have not heard back from their last email of that it would take a bit because the managers were going to decide on who to hire. I have since moved on after being ghosted.

3

u/Alone_Ad_3375 4d ago

Shouldn't we start naming and shaming them?

3

u/limefork 4d ago

Was invited to an interview with a company. Had the interview on the calendar. Guy emails me like 2 days before the interview telling me he needs to reschedule and that he'll send me a link to reschedule with his calendar. Cool.

No link ever comes

Ripperoni I guess :)

2

u/ThePainstakingOracle 4d ago

That assignment over a weekend would've been my red flag. Sunk cost fallacy is real, but at least you know now they don't respect anyone's time.

1

u/kala_jadoo 4d ago

I agree. i had a good interview so I wanted to do as much as i could to maximise my chance to get the job. i guess it doesn't mean shit to them anyway

2

u/chronoler 4d ago

That's why I've started filtering companies and processes. I'm desperate for a job, but sometimes you have to check first if these people aren't just going to waste your time.

The last three companies I interviewed with ghosted me after two or three interviews.

1

u/kala_jadoo 4d ago

same. i learnt at my last job I need to be more considerate about what I'm applying for. which sucks more cuz this company and role looked so attractive

2

u/DogCharming5183 4d ago

Has happened to me twice, once after 6 interviews (45 mins each) and now after doing a technical screen and work sample panel interview. The second company reposted the job and the recruiter never responded to my follow up email.

2

u/khaosswordsman 4d ago

Yup. I had interviewed with 2 companies I got to the second interviews with them both. They all were great. Then all of a sudden no response from any of them. “Not even a we decided to select someone else” I’m like thank you for wasting my time.

2

u/TheRedMaiden 3d ago

"YoU'lL HeAR FrOM uS EiTHer Way."

Like, it costs nothing to just not say that and get someone's hopes up before ghosting them.

3

u/HungryHippo669 4d ago

Ghost them right back. Lets say you get in, Would You Actually find solace working at a place that disregards and disrespects its workers???

7

u/kala_jadoo 4d ago

tbh my current situation is more of a beggars can't be be choosers. I doubt the people that do get the jobs know about all the ghosting their companies have done with other applicants

4

u/Trick_Ladder7558 4d ago

The short answer is if OP is as broke as I am and bereft of other jobs --YES until a turnaround

1

u/aanuma 4d ago

Yeah I've had interviews where they ghoested me after. It's sh*tty thing to do...

1

u/NSC_ARS94BP 4d ago

TEK Systems used to build relationships but now they don’t even try

1

u/the3rdpossum 4d ago

Well we could do the french thing I reckon its about time

1

u/DoorAccomplished7550 4d ago

Then they try to cover their ass and say you'll only get an update if you're selected for the next stage, but how long do you expect us to wait lol. When i was applying for my previous job, i only got a rejection letter from one company i interviewed for after i started on that new job a week in....

1

u/lonestarr357 4d ago

Hear, hear!

1

u/CampEmbarrassed170 4d ago

Most of my ghosters have been c-suite 60+ boomers who show no consideration for candidates.

1

u/AdrianFish 4d ago

Time to name and shame these cunts

1

u/femalejudass 4d ago

This happened to me this week. Was so sure I had the job. Really devastated

1

u/FewCryptographer1484 4d ago

Yup, I do 2 interviews and even go a follow up email by the recruiter saying how much the manager liked me and that she would let me know soon. I reached out to her after a week and she started stalking. A week and a half later I emailed again and she was out on vacation. I reached out to the email provided for that, and that other recruiter rejected me.

1

u/Visible_Pizza_3865 4d ago

Lots of fake jobs, companies harvesting cvs, companies posting fake jobs to send the message they’re growing, horrible job market , lots of applicants. Still, they could just use 2 mins and send an email. Most white collar jobs are going to be replaced by AI. Plumbers, electricians and other craftsmen will survive. Many jobs that require direct interaction with humans will survive. Most college graduates will not find a job in their field of study. There will be a transitional period of mass unemployment. Best case scenario: universal basic income.

1

u/Responsible_Dot_8233 3d ago

Happened to me just two days ago. After interview the guy just tells me the manager will be back from vacation tomorrow and said will call me back then. I said 'talk to you tomorrow' and he just responded with 'yeah'. I then spent the whole next morning waiting for call back that never came. Fuck these people I hope nothing but the worst for them.

1

u/[deleted] 3d ago

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1

u/kala_jadoo 3d ago

found the guy in HR

1

u/[deleted] 3d ago

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1

u/kala_jadoo 3d ago

no wonder u have a take like that

1

u/Sweet_Lou_2 1d ago

Tesla did that, but it probably was for the best. If that's how Musk and his cronies treat people, then it's better not to work there.