We’re fast approaching spooky season!

And let’s face it, applying for jobs and getting no response can feel pretty terrifying.

No wonder it’s called ghosting.

I remember being a final-year student in 2008, diligently (and frantically) applying for graduate schemes.

I passed the online tests for a large multinational, and was told that I should wait to be invited to a phone interview.

So, I waited.

And waited.

I checked their online portal pretty obsessively.

I remember coming home from a night out once and checking it at 1am to see if it had been updated after midnight.

But the invitation never came! No rejection, no update – just silence.

Sadly, ghosting in recruitment processes is all too common, leaving many of us in limbo.

As a coach, I always advise my clients to proactively and politely follow up if they’re still waiting for feedback, especially when they’ve been promised a response.

It’s not about being pushy; it’s about showing initiative. A simple message like, “Let me know if you need anything further to process my application,” or “Could you share when I’m likely to hear back?” can make a difference.

You may not always get an answer, but at least you’ll know you’ve done everything you could from your side.

I was excited to contribute to this article in The Telegraph on ghosting in recruitment. I hope you find it useful!