Ghosted by successful job applicant

[WWLD]

Inspired by the poster who is having difficulties with a house sale, this happened about a year ago, but it still baffles me.

I work in quite a niche, but growing field, and it can be difficult to recruit to. We advertised for a couple of posts, and got a small pool of applicants. One of the people we appointed had experience in an adjacent field, and said he was keen to transfer. He went through all the necessary checks, filled in forms with banking details etc, was sent all the details (start time, etc), and seemed really keen in all correspondence, but just didn't show up. We tried contacting him, and then his NOK, but had no response.

We obviously moved on, and readvertised, filling the post with a great person. I'm a believer in "what's meant to happen, does", but I'm baffled over why someone would do that. If there was an emergency or something, there's been plenty of time since, to explain.

Anyone got any ideas??

Yes, I've worked a couple of places where people just didn't show up on the first day and were never heard from again.

Sounds like you had a lucky escape. He probably would’ve been a nightmare to work with.

That’s a low bar for job hunting - feeling fortunate to be informed of a rejection.

Tit for tat. It's so common for employers to ghost candidates he probably didn't think it was a big deal.

Whatever field is this, that puts “charming” ahead of flakey. I assume her flakiness would have been noted in references.

Over the years, I've had a 25% drop out rate in various roles I've interviewed people for. In conversation with colleagues, that seems about right.

In my last role, when I was in the office I could see candidates being escorted to HR for interviews. Because I was IT manager I would start the process to assign kit, create accounts etc. And the person that did that would wager with me whether it would be a waste of time.

It's why I always like to have a spare when I made the initial offer.

I know someone whose hobby was attending interviews.

Maybe died?

Thanks for the responses - I'm amazed at how common it seems to be. It doesn't really happen in education, so I'd never come across it before.

My boss was livid when it happened, so did all the Facebook/Linkedin/Google stalking. He's not dead (or abducted by aliens, although the thought made me laugh). I think it was the fact that no-one answered phone calls that annoyed my boss the most.

But, as I said, I believe things usually work out for the best, and we've got a fab replacement for him.

He must have been hungover or something and later regretted it 😆

I mean, she may never have thought her employer would have given in. I'm at a cross roads where my much-loved job is becoming intolerable due to various factors. No one is listening to me and they probably think I wouldn't dream of leaving. Who is to say that if I handed my notice in, they then believe me and make my job lovable again? I'd stay.

It's not shitty on the potential new employer if the only reason they were looking to leave in the first place is suddenly fixable.

They obviously got a better offer elsewhere!? Maybe even a huge life change like moving abroad and not needing the job anymore

I think there’s a massive rise in people doing this kind of shit in the workplace. I hear it all the time and have been ghosted myself in various ways.

I do wonder if the combination of being online a lot and all the wfh in the pandemic have resulted in a kind of collective loss of manners. People think ‘well I don’t HAVE to explain/reply/show up if I don’t want to’, and then just don’t.

It’s pretty awful and I sense people are more cynical and distrusting of others in my industry certainly.

I once hired someone for a “rare opportunity” kind of role that people are desperate to get. She made it very clear at interview she was a single parent. Offered job. She was a no-show. Turned out she was a serial discrimination claimant and we screwed up her plans by actually offering the job and not discriminating on the basis of her being a woman / single parent 😵‍💫

Should have offered them what they are clearly worth, their current job new to do so. Sounds like you were playing them with not good enough wages, we are all losing tears for you.

Could be anything from he got sick to his old job made a better offer, he decided to be a sahd,he decided to become a teacher/ nurse/ carer …

I had to withdraw from a job offer after all of the tests and checks. I felt REALLY bad about it, but i did at least let them know. I wasn't completely truthful about the reason though.

Basically i had a massive panic attack and finally realised that the last thing i needed was to take on another full time job sorting out an IT systems change and departmental reorganisation - with 3 young kids at home, my Dad just being diagnosed with terminal cancer, and my MIL going into a care home. After reflecting on it i have no idea why i was pushing myself like that, it took a strong talking to by my GP for me to realise i needed to step back, not push forwards.

I ended up talking to an old boss and taking a part-time role in with a more routine brief for a couple of years. I still feel bad about dropping that employer, it was a great role for me under different circumstanses and i would have fitted it really well, it just wasn't the right time sadly. I suppose it's better to turn it down at that stage then get balls-deep in job and have a messy break down.

I've known someone who does something similar to this - he enjoys interviews and goes to them all the time and loves to prove that he can 'get any job he wants' and if he is successful he ghosts them. Awful man.

Why did you feel the need to check? She'd told you her reason.

This happened in a previous workplace. Turned out the woman’s house had caught fire, everything was destroyed and her brother died. After a month or two she got in touch to apologise, she was told it wasn’t too late and started about six months later. She was great.

Internal Recruiter here 🙋🏽‍♀️

I’ve had this happen quite a few times over the years.

I think more often than not, people change their minds or accept another job offer and just don’t have the guts to tell you. Although I have had a couple who genuinely did have something happen and they were extremely apologetic. And if we were able to reconsider them we did.

Usually I’ll contact them to ask if everything is ok and if they could update me. And then I leave it at that and re-advertise the role (and yes I’ve had the same person re-apply for the role, which I always find quite strange).

It’s super frustrating after all the time put in with the recruitment process. Nothing you can do about it though.

You did let them know though, so that’s all they needed from you.

Your reasons are your own and you don’t have to divulge them.

If someone doesn’t want to join our business I don’t need detailed reasons. Just some contact to let me know. And I wouldn’t even expect a call as I know some people may feel uncomfortable calling if they think they’ll get quizzed. Just an email or a text is good enough, so that I know and can communicate that to the hiring manager and payroll/HR team.

So which is it, was this person at the other job actually in a position to know so just breaking the law sharing that information at all to anyone? Or was it a random person who worked there, who wouldn't have any idea one way or another for certain, regardless of what they heard or even what the person told them (they could have handed in their notice, and told people they didn't).

Either way worthless information, one from a source that can't be trusted by definition due to that behaviour. And taking that as fact is poor from your company as well.

Also doesn't add up. You don't sign a contract in the day you start, to be able to not turn up at that point.