Ghosting By Job Seekers (Page 1 of 2)	
Ghosting By Job Seekers	
A growing trend has employers worried.  Job seekers are "ghosting" or dis
appearing:  1) before an 
interview; 2) during the onboarding (new worker paperwork) process; 3
) after accepting a job; or 4) after 
being employed for a few days.  To ghost, job seekers or new worker may:  a) go away without warning 
or reason; and b) stop all communication, or talk, with the employer.  About 88% of employers have been 
ghosted by job seekers.  About 20% of job seekers admit to ghosting an employer.  Most job seekers who 
admit to ghosting are 18-34 years olds.  Ghosting includes these actions
:
•  Failed to attend a job interview (50%)
•  Stopped talking or replying to employer or hiring manager (46%)
•	 Accepted	job	offer;	did	not	show	up	first	day	(22%)
Job seekers gave these REASONS for ghosting:
•  Decided job was not right for them
•  Received a better job offer
•	 Did	not	like	salary	or	benefits
•  Felt the employer had a poor attitude
•  Hiring process was taking too long
Job seekers gave these EXCUSES for ghosting:
•  Not comfortable telling the employer they had a change of mind (26%)
•  Did not know how to communicate or talk to hiring manager (13%)
•  Did not know what to do so they disappeared (11%)
CONSEQUENCES OF GHOSTING
Employers who are ghosted by job seekers may be worried thinking that so
mething happened.  Was the job 
seeker	in	an	accident?		In	the	hospital?		 Then	the	employer	finds	out	that	the	job	seeker	is	well	—	and	the	
job seeker simply ghosted (silently disappeared).  Then, the employer's worry turns to anger.  Angry 
employers	do	not	forget	who	you	are.		Here	is	how	you	harm	your	reputation	if	you	ghost	an	employer	—	
a)   You just burned a bridge so that you can never go back to that employer w
hen you need a job  
b)   You may meet that manager in future interview if he/she becomes hiring ma
nager for another company  
c)   In company records, your name will have a comment about ghosting f
or future hiring managers to read
d)   Manager you just ghosted may talk to other hiring managers in the 
city  
e)   You just proved that you are a person that does not respect others
KEEP YOUR GOOD WORK WORLD REPUTATION
Saying	difficult	things	in	a	nice,	polite	way	shows	that	you	have	skills	to	someday	be	manager	
(high	paying	job).		Managers	must	learn	to	talk	to	workers	about	difficult	things	—	tardiness,	not	getting	
along	with	others,	reducing	hours.		Start	to	practice	NOW 	how	to	say	difficult	things	in	a	nice,	polite	way.	
Don't	be	afraid	to	turn	down	a	job	offer	if	the	job	is	not	right	for	you.		 Turning	down	a	job	offer	is	difficult,	
but when you do it politely, it will help you  move on to a better job for you while keeping your good 
work world reputation.

Ghosting By Job Seekers (page 2 of 2)	Permission to use with usworkworld.com subscription.  
QUICK CHECK:
1. List 4 times when job seekers are ghosting.
2.  To ghost, what 2 things may job seekers do?
3.  a) What percent of employers have been 
  ghosted?  b) What percent of job seekers admit 
to ghosting?  c) What ages are most of the job 
seekers who admit to ghosting?
4.  What percent of job seekers:  a) failed to attend 
a job interview?  b) Stopped talking to the 
manager?		c)	Did	not	show	up	on	the	first	day?			
5.  List 3 reasons job seekers gave for ghosting.
6.  List 3 excuses job seekers gave for ghosting.
7,  What does the employer's worry turn to?
8.  What do angry employers not forget?
9.  List your choice of 3 consequences of ghosting.
10.  a) What shows you have skills to someday be  manager?  b) When is best time to practice how 
to	say	difficult	things	in	nice,	polite	way?
11.  a) Of what should you not be afraid?  b) When 
you turn down a job offer politely, what 2 things 
will it help you do? 
12.  To turn down a job offer:  a) When do you do 
it?  b) What 3 forms of communication may you 
use?  c) Why do you not send a text?  
  d) Describe the "sandwich" method.
13.  On your answer sheet, write a letter to Mrs. 
Lewis turning down her job offer to you for a 
job as cashier at Costco.
14.  You have spent 3 days training to be a fork lift 
driver for Home Depot.  Write an email to Mr. 
Frank, to quit this job.
15.  a) Do you think you will ever ghost an 
  employer?  b) Give a reason for your answer.
HOW TO TURN DOWN A JOB OFFER
1)  Once you decide you do not want the job, let employer know right away.  Do not delay.
2)  Keep your communication (phone call, letter, or email) simple, brief, and to the point.
3)  Do not send a text because a text is too casual, looks unprofessional, a
nd shows that you lack courage.
4)	 Use	the	"sandwich"	method.		Put	your	bad	news	between	two	good	comments	—	say	something	good,	 give your reason for tuning down the job, say something good again.  
EXAMPLE — LETTER TO SEND
233 Apple  Street
Careerville, MN 20022
Mr. Jones, Manager
Target Stores
3344 Main Street
Careerville, MN 20032
Dear Mr. Jones:
Thank you very much for offering me the job of sales 
associate with Target.  
It	was	a	difficult	decision,	but	I	have	accepted	another	job	
offer.
I enjoyed talking to you, and thank you for taking time to 
interview me.  Again, thank you for your time. 
Sincerely,
Mary McCall 445 Orange Street
Careerville, MN 20024
Ms. Smith, Manager
Target Stores
3344 Main Street
Careerville, MN 20032
Dear Ms. Smith:
Thanks you very much for taking the time to train me in the 
job of stock clerk at Target.
After a lot of thinking, I have decided that this job is not the 
right	fit	for	my	career	goals	at	this	time.
I sincerely enjoyed meeting you and the coworkers at Target.  
Best wishes for Target's success.
Sincerely,
Jason Riley 	Your address Your address
Sign your name below Sincerely	
EXAMPLE — E-MAIL TO SEND 	
Mary McCall