Lurking on LinkedIn | We have to stop the practice of professional ghosting

‘Ghosting’ is the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly, and without warning, withdrawing from all forms of communication. What was once exclusively used to describe relationships that went sour on dating apps such as Tinder and Bumble, has slowly crept into the corporate world. This particularly applies to the recruitment process when either the candidate or the employer abruptly disengages from the interview process without reason. And this can cause huge problems for both businesses and individuals.

The increasing problem with professional ghosting is something that Tom Goodwin, Head of Futures and Insights at Publicis Groupe, wrote about on LinkedIn earlier this month. He said: “We really really have to stop the practice of professional ghosting. I hear of people offered jobs and who sign employment contracts, never to be replied to again.” Goodwin continued to explain that he has also heard from people who have signed verbal contracts, agreed start dates and then been ghosted by the employer. With the email function allowing hiring managers and employers to write short messages to explain that things haven’t worked out, he said that there is no excuse for people to be ghosted in a professional setting in today’s digital era. “Have the dignity and humanity to write a short email and say ‘sorry, things have changed’ or ‘I thought I could sign this off and can’t,” he added. Even if things do fall through – which they sometimes, do due to unforeseen circumstances – being honest with the candidate or employee is crucial to avoid damaging corporate reputations and to ensure that the person leaves having had a good experience. This post garnered a wealth of comments from other LinkedIn users who agreed that communication – even in a negative form – is crucial to save face.