No Response After an Interview? Here’s What to Do If You’ve Been Ghosted

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Ghosted after an interview? Check out these tips

Post-interview communication from an employer’s perspective
Be prepared to initiate contact if you get ghosted after an interview
Steps to help prevent getting no response after the interview
Workplace ghosting goes in both directions

You interviewed with the hiring manager two weeks ago and thought the conversation went well. And yet, there’s been no response after the interview. Given the amount of time that’s passed without you hearing back, it’s entirely possible that you’ve just been ghosted after a job interview.

It is becoming more common for job seekers to not receive a response after interviewing. This lack of contact is often referred to as ghosting — the act of the company vanishing, going dark or pulling away without explanation at some point in the hiring process. Not hearing back after an interview leaves job candidates wondering about their status and what to do about it. The term has its origins in the dating world, but it also applies to a similar phenomenon some job seekers are encountering.

Let’s take a look at why employers sometimes ghost candidates after an interview. Common reasons include:

The organization’s hiring process is taking longer than originally expected

Internal changes or budget cuts may have put the position on hold

Interviews are ongoing with other candidates

You didn't make it to the next round of interviews

From an employer’s perspective, informing people that they didn’t get the job is not particularly fun or easy. Instead of breaking the disappointing news of an official rejection, some employers may avoid the situation altogether or provide no response after the interview; this allows them to keep you as a backup option should their top choice fall through.

Keep in mind, however, that the organization doing the hiring also has an interest in completing the process in a timely fashion. In a recent Robert Half survey, 77% of hiring managers said they are concerned about finding talent quickly when it is needed.

Depending on the specifics of what you were told in discussions with the interviewer, it’s entirely possible that the hiring team would see it as a proactive move if you reached out after a reasonable period of no post-interview contact. Sometimes, you’re asked to tell an interviewer about yourself. Reaching out in this situation, albeit after the interview itself, may convey them that you’re not afraid to ask questions and that you follow up on what you want to achieve.

Regardless of what happens in the days and weeks after a job interview, it can be very helpful to jot down highlights and important information within an hour or two after it concludes. Instead of being left wondering what to do if you don't hear back, having these notes to refer to will help you be prepared to initiate any necessary follow-up contact. When recording your notes, be sure to include any timeline-specific information the hiring manager may have provided, such as:

A date or date range for when they hope to have the position filled

A date or date range for when to expect a follow-up contact

Anything about how many other candidates were being interviewed, and when

If they will be contacting every interviewee, or only those who are hired or move to the next round

Reviewing these notes may help you decide how soon a follow-up email or phone call is warranted. If you interviewed on a Friday, for example, and were told that other candidates would be interviewed throughout the following week, it would be obvious from your notes to avoid reaching out right away. But if you were told they expected to have a decision no later than Tuesday, it would be perfectly reasonable to email or call on Thursday if you still haven’t received a response.

While it’s important to be prepared for not receiving a post-interview response, preventive action is also a valuable strategy to help you avoid encountering a ghosting situation in the first place.

From the start, ask for an outline of the hiring process or, more specifically, a tentative time frame as to when you can expect to hear from the hiring manager and how they like to communicate.

To reduce the chances of being ghosted after interviewing, keep yourself fresh in the mind of a potential employer by sending a post-interview thank-you email. If it’s been one week since you sent the initial thank-you email and you’ve still not heard back after the interview, it’s acceptable to follow up. You can make contact at this stage by either sending another brief email or making a short phone call to express your continued interest in the position.

If there’s still no reply after your post-interview follow-up efforts, keep in mind that it’s probably not personal. Most likely, the employer became consumed in other tasks or is focused on hiring another person.

Most importantly, remember to be proactive — never reactive — and always respectful. It’s easy to grow frustrated when you receive no response after the interview, but keep your emotions in check. Avoid sending an angry email or leaving an outraged review on the company’s social media page. Instead, use this as a learning experience, and stay mentally strong as you move forward in your job search.

It’s not just employers who are doing the ghosting today. The U.S. employment rate is relatively low, and there is strong demand for skilled workers. Candidates are increasingly providing no response after the interview, in some cases because they have multiple job offers.

And just as ghosting can affect a company’s reputation, it can also impact a candidate’s career path. As the expression goes, “Your reputation doesn’t follow you where you go; it gets there before you do.” This also applies to your professional reputation — where professional courtesy is king.

If you offer no response after the interview, keep in mind that your actions can have long-term consequences. Your decision could come around to bite you if the hiring manager you ghosted is the face of the company for the next job where you apply.

Simply saying, “Thank you, but I’ve decided to pursue another opportunity,” can ensure you don’t burn a bridge, but leave it open to potentially cross in the future. Subscribe to the Robert Half newsletter for more tips on how to land a job and succeed in your career.

Whether you’re looking for a job or looking to hire, working with a talent solutions firm can help you achieve results.

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