It’s a surprisingly common phenomena amongst jobseekers to ghost an interview; people don’t turn up for whatever reason or simply forget they had an appointment.
Changes over the past few years with the Covid 19 pandemic have made it easier to ghost an interview as our world becomes more virtual and less ‘in person.’ But simply not showing up can have implications for your career and your prospects. Here are four reasons to rethink ghosting:
1. You’re wasting someone’s valuable time
Think about how you feel when someone lets you down. Perhaps it’s a work meeting that no one comes to, or a social event when the friend you’re meeting doesn’t turn up and hasn’t provided a reason. You’d be annoyed and wonder why they’re a no show. Ghosting a recruiter or hiring manager is the same. It’s not only discourteous but it’s also a huge waste of their time. You could have an emergency, and that happens, but at best send a message to advise the interviewer.
2. You could be damaging your reputation
Ghosting an interview could reflect on you personally. You might be considered unreliable. Not only do employers want to know you are dependable but imagine that you’ve ghosted an interview to discover a year or so later that that person now recruits for a company you’d like to work for. Awkward. It doesn’t matter how much time has passed – people tend to remember people who’ve let them down. And that could affect your chance of securing your dream job.
3. Ghosting could impact your network of people
Your professional network is a valuable tool for career advancement. It may be that a friend or colleague has shared a job opening with you and encouraged you to apply. Or perhaps you’ve used your contacts to secure an interview. When other people stick their neck out for you, your behaviour can also reflect on them. It could mean that next time they won’t be so willing to make a recommendation or support you.
4. Be nice to those you meet on your way up
As the saying goes – be nice to those you meet on your way up because you might meet them on your way down. If you’re contemplating ghosting – take some time out to really think it through. In the future, you may desperately need a job – only to find that you’ve burned some bridges.
At the end of the day, we’re all human. None of us like letting people down and things do happen that get in the way. All that matters is that you let the interviewer know you want to cancel or postpone the interview. Recruiters and hiring managers are very understanding. Just be honest, but most importantly, communicate.
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