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Have I been ghosted?

58 replies

PinkTonic · 04/11/2025 15:07

A external recruiter came to me re a senior role. I liked the look of it so made myself available for 1st and 2nd stage interviews in the same week. Both went very well and I was told they wanted to hold 3rd stage and wrap up the process by end of following week. I’ve heard nothing since 2nd interview which is now 11 days ago. I rang the recruiter last Friday and left a message but he hasn’t responded. I assume it’s dead in the water and am not inclined to chase him again, but wtf! I am tempted to message the hiring VP on LinkedIn and let him know that the recruiter they’ve used hasn’t had the courtesy to let me know the outcome, which reflects poorly on the organisation. Would you assume you’d been ghosted at this stage?

OP posts:
Beattheblock · 05/11/2025 14:08

You really want the job

It is £150k role

and you weren’t prepared to do anything aside from leaving one voice message before escalating to the VP?

I think the VP would have chuckled

whittingtonmum · 05/11/2025 14:39

Clearly you're their back up candidate and you will hear from them when the preferred candidate has completed their negotiations, reference checks etc. That can take a bit as referees might be on holiday etc.

I'd just do nothing as you might compromise your position in case the preferred candidate drops out or the recruiter might contact you again with another opportunity. Surprised you're going for £150k salary and haven't learned yet it's best not to burn bridges unless it's truly outrageous behaviour. What you're experiencing is just normal practice when you're second in line in my experience.

HungerGamess · 05/11/2025 15:13

Yes, I agree that it’s good to maintain relationships with recruiters.

I had a mediocre CV (good experience/qualifications but the CV itself whipped up in 5 mins and basic) and got multiple interviews and job offers from recruiters speaking highly of me. It was good cause I was aware of the weak points of my CV and at interview stage was able to nail down my experience and get immediate job offers. I wouldn’t have got those interviews to begin with had it not been for the recruiter, to be able to correct my errors (although I had the experience for the jobs.)

Theslummymummy · 05/11/2025 18:49

Its beyond rude for 2 interviews. I wouldn't be letting it go. At least get someone you know to leave a snotty comment or review

Chillithai · 07/11/2025 05:58

Any response to email @PinkTonic ?

Daffidale · 07/11/2025 21:15

Honestly I’m 100% with the you’re over reacting brigade. 11 days is really not very long.

I know the job hunting market is shit right now and there is lots of bad practice and ghosting going on, but the expectations shown here are ridiculous. I guess it’s cos most people have never been on the other end of the recruitment process. Honestly it’s nightmare for hiring managers too. It’s frustrating that they indicated one timetable and haven’t stuck to that, but that’s not unusual. Like people said it could be all sorts of reasons: another candidate has had to postpone their second interview, they are having trouble getting diaries aligned for the 3rd round interviewers, people are off sick, on holiday. Even Something has changed in the business and they aren’t sure if they are even still recruiting for the role!

it’s poor of the recruiter not to keep you updated, but in some of those scenarios they may not know what they can tell you. They may not know themselves. And they are undoubtedly swamped dealing with the flood of AI slop applications you have to deal with for any job posting these days.

send a calm, professional follow up email, reiterating how keen you are in the role, and any key points about how great a fit you are, and ask for an update. If you don’t hear anything in another couple of weeks send a last, polite follow up. Then drop it.

and yes, it might be that you aren’t in their first round of 3rd round interviews, but you did well enough that you are not a firm “no”. In which case the last thing you want to do is blow your chances here by coming over as unprofessional!

Byekavita · 11/11/2025 14:45

I think at this point @PinkTonic if the recruiter still hasn’t got back in to contact with you following your email, safe to say you haven’t got the job and he’s a short-sighted crap recruiter

Thstfirstone · 27/11/2025 07:17

Guessing no contact @PinkTonic and the job isn’t yours?

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