The job applicant’s resume impressed you. And you were equally wowed by the candidate during the video interview. They had solid answers to your questions and appeared to show sincere interest in the company and enthusiasm for the role. You ended that first interview thinking, “This person may be the one for the job!”

You decide to set up a second interview — waiting just a few days to follow up — so your potential recruit can meet with other hiring decision makers at your firm. But then, the candidate doesn’t get back to you. You send a few more messages by email and phone — even a text. Nothing. What happened?

You’ve been ghosted.

What is ghosting?

The dating world coined the word “ghosting” to describe when a person abruptly cuts off all contact and seems to vanish from the face of the earth with no explanation. And now it seems this trend is surging in the professional world.

In a survey of more than 800 senior managers in Canada, more than four in 10 respondents (43%) said it’s more common for job candidates to cut off communication now than two years ago. It’s happening across industries, but our survey findings suggest that those hiring for technology and administrative and customer support roles are most likely to report it’s a growing problem.

Why is ghosting on the rise?

The main explanation for the uptick in ghosting is that workers simply have more choices today. In the current hiring market, managers are struggling to fill vacancies while skilled candidates are often fielding multiple job offers. Some job seekers aren’t worried about burning a few bridges along the way toward finding a position they really want.

Another recent Robert Half survey sheds light on some of the specific reasons that professionals have recently ghosted a prospective employer:

  • The job was not what they expected (43%)
  • The interview process was poor (31%)
  • They received another job offer (18%)
  • A mandatory return-to-office policy was implemented (8%)

The rise of ghosting in the professional world in recent years is also due, to some extent, to a general erosion of once-sacrosanct etiquette standards. Many of today’s job seekers would rather avoid confrontation and awkwardness than deliver bad news. (You could also think of the ghosting trend as payback or karma, as hiring managers have long been known to ghost people after interviews.)

Hiring remote workers? See these tips for creating an effective hiring process for these candidates.

How can you avoid ghosting?

So, does all this mean you should simply expect to be ghosted at some point by job seekers? Not necessarily. Here are some steps you can take to reduce your chances of experiencing ghosting:

Streamline your hiring process.

Other employers are likely courting your dream applicants, so you need to be prepared to move fast. More than one-third (35%) of employers surveyed by Robert Half who said they’d missed out on a potential hire in the last year pointed to taking too long to make an offer as the reason for the failure.

So, make a point to interview top candidates right away.

Play by the Golden Rule.

Ghosting works both ways. You don’t like it, and neither do job seekers. Communicate promptly with all job candidates — not just those you’d like to hire. When you treat job seekers with respect, your company will gain a reputation for being considerate and professional.

Make an offer they can’t refuse.

In this fiercely competitive hiring market, you can’t take a risk on lowballing compensation. About one-third (30%) of employers we surveyed who said they lost out on a potential hire in the last year noted that it was because the salary they offered didn’t meet the candidate’s expectations.

Avoid turning off your top picks by extending above-average compensation right away. A sign-on bonus and in-demand perks, like flexible or remote work options, can help sweeten the pot. About 33% of employers who recently missed the opportunity to hire a new employee said the candidate’s desire for more schedule flexibility was the hang-up in sealing the deal.

Consult the latest Robert Half Salary Guide to confirm that your organization is offering competitive salaries.

Craft messages that encourage a response.

Keep candidates engaged after the interview with follow-up correspondence that is friendly, persuasive and specific. For example, personalize messages by mentioning to the candidate what you admire about their skill set and how they’d be a valuable addition to your team. End messages with details about next steps, such as “I’d like to schedule a follow-up meeting for later this week to discuss the job offer and a possible start date.”

Ghosting is a risk for employers in a hiring market where skilled candidates have many avenues and options to consider. The secret to minimizing the chances of being ghosted is to treat all job seekers fairly and with respect — and to move as swiftly as possible to meet with and present compelling offers to standout potential hires.

“Hiring is harder than ever, and employers need to exceed candidates’ expectations to land top talent,” says Paul McDonald, senior executive director at Robert Half. “Offering flexible work arrangements and competitive pay and perks can pique job seekers’ interest — and moving quickly to set up interviews and extend offers can help clinch the deal.”