Qu'est-ce que Recruitment Ghosting ?

Definition

Recruitment ghosting occurs when one party in a recruitment process — traditionally the employer, increasingly also candidates — suddenly stops all communication without explanation. For candidates, employer ghosting means their application or post-interview status goes unanswered indefinitely. For employers, candidate ghosting means an accepted offer is followed by silence, or an interview is missed without notice.

In practice

Employer ghosting has become widely reported as a major driver of poor candidate experience and employer brand damage. Social media amplifies its impact — a ghosted candidate's LinkedIn post describing their experience can reach thousands. The causes are typically process overload (too many applications, insufficient recruitment team capacity) and a culture that doesn't value candidate dignity. Candidate ghosting has increased since the COVID-19 period alongside tighter labour markets — candidates increasingly hold multiple processes simultaneously and withdraw without notice. For employers, the solution is a defined candidate communication protocol at each stage, automated status updates via ATS, and a culture that treats every candidate with the same care as a potential future customer or employee referral.

Key takeaway

Ghosting is never a neutral act — every candidate you ghost is a potential customer, a potential referral, and a potential Glassdoor review. Treat the process end as carefully as the beginning.