Advice Hub

Ghosted Again? What’s Actually Going on Behind the Scenes

Insights

You sent the CV. You nailed the interview. And then… nothing.

No feedback. No update. Just radio silence.

If you’ve ever been ghosted during a job search, you know how frustrating it is. It feels personal. Disrespectful. And completely demoralising.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: in most cases, it’s not about you.

Let’s take a look behind the scenes of hiring processes—and break down what ghosting really means (and how to stay in control when it happens).

Why You’re Not Hearing Back

Ghosting doesn’t always come from bad intentions. More often, it’s a result of messy systems, misaligned priorities, or unclear ownership.

Here’s what could be going on:

The role got pulled

Budgets shift. Priorities change. A role might be paused, cancelled, or absorbed internally—without a formal update.

Feedback is delayed (indefinitely)

Hiring managers go quiet. Interviewers are on holiday. Decisions stall. And instead of telling candidates “no update yet,” some teams say nothing at all.

You’re caught in the volume trap

Some roles get hundreds of applications. If the internal team is under-resourced, they’ll focus only on shortlisted candidates—and skip proper comms for the rest.

They’ve chosen someone else… and won’t say it

No one enjoys delivering bad news. So some companies just don’t do it, assuming silence is less painful than rejection.

Spoiler: it’s not.

What You Can Control When You’re Being Ghosted

You can’t stop companies from going quiet—but you can stop it from derailing your momentum.

Here’s how:

Keep a clean pipeline

Don’t pin all your hopes on one “perfect” role. Keep applying. Keep networking. Keep multiple options alive. That way, silence from one process doesn’t break your stride.

Set your own follow-up loop

If you haven’t heard back within 5–7 working days of your last interaction, follow up once. Keep it professional and short. Then move on.

De-personalise the silence

Ghosting feels personal. It rarely is. Use logic, not emotion: “If this company doesn’t communicate well during hiring, what does that say about working there?”

Build relationships, not just applications

Instead of blasting out CVs, spend time building recruiter and peer relationships. Warm intros lead to better feedback loops—and more transparency.

How Recruiters (The Good Ones) Are Changing This

Recruiters can’t always control client silence—but they can make a difference by:

  • Setting expectations early about timelines and next steps

  • Keeping you updated, even if there’s no big news

  • Giving honest feedback if you’re not progressing

If you’re not getting that from the recruiters you’re working with, you deserve better.

Final Thought: Don’t Let Ghosting Kill Your Confidence

Job searching is already stressful. And silence only makes it harder.

But being ghosted isn’t a reflection of your worth or potential—it’s a reflection of a broken process on the other side.

So keep showing up. Keep building momentum. And remember: the right company won’t leave you wondering.

Want a recruiter who actually keeps you in the loop?

At We Do Group, we believe candidates deserve clarity, honesty, and feedback—whether they get the job or not.

Looking for a new finance role and tired of the black hole?

Let’s chat.

More from our Advice Hub

Video

We Do Group presents: Christmas Podding! 🎄

We’re sprinkling some holiday magic on our ever-growing podcast, The Recruitment Playbook. This...

Read More
Insights

10 Metrics Every CFO Should Track (But Won’t See on a Dashboard)

7 min read
Published 2 months ago
Charts of data

Most CFOs have a dashboard full of KPIs — revenue growth, gross margin, cash flow. The usual suspects. But there’s a problem: the numbers that truly show how finance is performing as a function...

Read More
Video

The Real Reason Your Temps Don’t Last – And How to Fix It

You’ve just hired a temp. They’re brilliant. They’re not only speeding through...

Read More
Insights

Stop Hiring for ‘Experience’ – Here’s What Actually Matters in a Finance Candidate

6 min read
Published 5 months ago
Job interview

Spoiler: 10 Years on a CV Doesn’t Guarantee They’re Any Good

Hiring managers love experience.

“We need at least 10 years in a similar role.”
“Must have Big 4 background.”
“Looking...

Read More
Insights

Your Hiring Process is Costing You Top Talent – Here’s How to Fix It

5 min read
Published 5 months ago
Laptop closing

Your Hiring Process is Costing You Top Talent – Here’s How to Fix It
You’re Not Losing Candidates to Competitors – You’re Losing Them to Your Own Process
Ever had a top-tier finance...

Read More
Video

Christmas Podding: Day 23 – Should You Decorate the Office? 🎄

Welcome back to the We Do Grotto! Today’s festive debate: To decorate or not to decorate the...

Read More