Ghosting simply doesn't cut it

by David Peck, Lovell Chronicle

Pet peeve time here. Are you familiar with the communications concept known as ghosting? For the uninitiated, the word refers to an electronic communication during which one of the parties simply stops responding to a conversation or disappears from contact in the first place.

I guess it could also refer to any communication, such as refusing to return a call or something like that.

But for the young people out there, I have one thing to say: Don’t do it. At least if you want to get or keep a job.

Let me tell you, there are few things in business more frustrating than being ghosted – essentially ignored – when attempting to communicate.

As an employer, I’ve seen employees disappear for hours, even days, at a time from communication. They simply don’t reply, leaving the boss, colleague or supervisor hanging. It’s annoying, frustrating and rude.

The hiring process is difficult because of the way many young people communicate in this day and age. (I know, I sound like an old “Get off my lawn!” curmudgeon.)

I can cite five cases in recent weeks where young people I’ve been working with (and some not so young) in the hiring process have simply cut off communication or didn’t respond to an email, even when they’re a prospect for a job.

For instance, I engaged via email with a young man from Ohio, a Bowling Green graduate, who ostensibly was interested in the job, and I responded to his application by returning a friendly message saying, essentially, “Hey, Zane, I just wanted to let you know I received your application. Interestingly, my daughter and son-in-law live in Ohio, and my son-in-law is from Avon Lake and went to school at Ohio U. He has family members who went to Bowling Green.”

His response? Crickets. Nothing. No response whatsoever. Even something like, “Ohio U stinks” would be preferable to silence.

And thus, I won’t even consider his application. In another case, I was working with a young man from Bozeman last week, and after some back and forth, he simply stopped responding.

Another young woman with area ties I was working with didn’t respond to a very nice message about the opportunity she could have here, and though she remains a strong candidate, her lack of response is frustrating.

Folks, you don’t want to frustrate your boss, or your potential boss. It is not in your best interest by any stretch of the imagination.

Now, of course, sometimes people are busy, messages are missed, you’re away from your device or circumstances change. But is it too much to ask for a courtesy reply like, “Sorry, I’m swamped. Can I get back to you?” or “Sorry, I’ve found another opportunity.” Something.

A word for the wise: Many has been the time that I ended up hiring the person who simply showed the most interest in the job, who responded to my queries, who called or emailed to check the status of the opening or to express continued interest.

Ghosting doesn’t cut it. It’s unprofessional. And it drives me stark, raving mad.

There. I feel better now.