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Ghosting: Job candidates turn tables on employers

asktheheadhunter.com

21–30 of 63 posts

Re: Ghosting: Job candidates turn tables on employers

#21
DON'T DO THIS.

- I don't care if the labor market is tight.

- I don't care if you're an employer with 300 qualified applicants for a single opening.

Being respectful and maintaining relationships matters.

A well-respected venture CEO screamed at me in rage when I gave my 2-weeks notice at the company he ran. Former colleagues tell me that they've been having a lot of issues hiring engineers.

iHeartRadio was recruiting engineers up until the day they announced bankruptcy and continued to do so, but would rescind offers and just waste candidates' time. This left such a bad taste from seeing it happen to TWO friends of mine, that I have no qualms naming them publicly.

Re: Ghosting: Job candidates turn tables on employers

#22
Startup founders in India are feeling the pinch of this hit back. It's routine to hear employees just leaving without notice, or not even joining after they have signed up on an offer. So there is this natural bias that employees are not reliable. What they don't understand is that they have done little or nothing to assuage the hidden 'fuck you' attitude that is emanating from employees. At least, you know you can be ghosted, what is the best you can do to stop that from happening. I haven't heard any discussion on that front, most of the discussions are 'oh yeah, this candidate turned out to be a scumbag, he just ghosted us, perhaps we should make a list of such candidates and circulate amongst ourselves'

Re: Ghosting: Job candidates turn tables on employers

#23

DON'T DO THIS. - I don't care if the labor market is tight. - I don't care if you're an employer with 300 qualified applicants for a single opening. Being respectful and maintaining relationships matters. A well-respected venture CEO screamed at me in rage when I gave my 2-weeks notice at the company he ran. Former colleagues tell me that they've been having a lot of issues hiring engineers. iHeartRadio was recruitin…

Being respectful and maintaining relationships matters.

Unfortunately it looks like you are disproving your own point here.

Re: Ghosting: Job candidates turn tables on employers

#24
I've seen both things happen.

A well respected co-worker, just stopped coming in after a vacation, and played World of Warcraft instead. He had savings, so he just played. (He did it for years)

Another co-worker, got a great offer at an exciting new place, semi-large startup. Quit his job, trained a replacement, first day at the new job "Sorry.. it seems like we cant afford you, as our strategy has changed."

Re: Ghosting: Job candidates turn tables on employers

#25
It's extremely important that you learn as early as possible in your career that your employer is not your friend. You are only a cog in the wheel to them. All the way up to the top you are replaceable.

Once you make this shift in thinking, it opens the doors to you increasing your status in the company, doing more interesting work and making way more money.

Stop doing any favours to your employer and start putting yourself first. The result is mutually beneficial in the long run.

Re: Ghosting: Job candidates turn tables on employers

#26
You have a major choices in life - conduct yourself the way you'd want people to conduct themselves, or not. This choice dictates the type of person you are, and the type of person you want to be.

Whilst I may despise many a situation - I'll constantly attempt to treat others the way I'd like to be treated. I'll also fail, because I'm human. It's part of being the change, part of doing more than just complaining about the problem.

If people want to conduct themselves thusly, it's their issue - but don't let it negatively define who you are.

Re: Ghosting: Job candidates turn tables on employers

#27

DON'T DO THIS. - I don't care if the labor market is tight. - I don't care if you're an employer with 300 qualified applicants for a single opening. Being respectful and maintaining relationships matters. A well-respected venture CEO screamed at me in rage when I gave my 2-weeks notice at the company he ran. Former colleagues tell me that they've been having a lot of issues hiring engineers. iHeartRadio was recruitin…

Being respectful and maintaining relationships matters. Unfortunately it looks like you are disproving your own point here.

Yes, pointing out how vividly one ruined professional relationship sticks out in my mind really emphasizes that they don't matter.

Re: Ghosting: Job candidates turn tables on employers

#28
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are companies not paying severance to laid off employees? The old norm, which seemed pretty reasonable to me, was that employees gave notice and companies paid severance. The walking out the door part is unpleasant, but it's the pay that's more important IMO.

Severance is a rarity. It’s also probably not enough. I’ve seen people get 1 or 2 weeks pay as severance.

What size companies? Most large companies pay out severance based on tenure.

Re: Ghosting: Job candidates turn tables on employers

#29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Attorney’s fees will be awarded as part of the judgment.

If you happen to have a large amount of savings to pay the retainer (in case you lose), or hit the jackpot with a lawyer that will work on contingency for a case worth probably $10-20k if you win. Maybe small claims court, but that still takes your time away from other things, takes energy, and causes stress. The legal system is not easily accessible for the average person and companies know that perfectly well. Even…

Your cynical view of the legal system is based in urban legend more than fact. Attorneys are businesses: yes, they'll gladly take a client's money in order to prosecute a losing case, but a good lawyer will show extreme skepticism towards someone who doesn't have a case or the money to pay for it.

It's never a bad idea to consult with 2-3 attorneys with significant practice in the relevant area. When a case has merit - and fees could be awarded out of relatively deep corporate pockets - interest from attorneys will be readily apparent.

Re: Ghosting: Job candidates turn tables on employers

#30
What a stupid neologism.

I know language doesn't have to make sense, but to me 'ghosting' seems to mean the exact opposite of what it's supposed to mean.

Think of it, a ghost is a dead person that hangs around and bothers you in this world when it should have gone to some other realm, presumably.

Aren't there enough existing words and expressions that mean the same thing: ignoring, stonewalling, etc...?

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