Ghosting: A Recruiter’s Perspective

When using a staffing agency one of the most important things is the relationship built between a candidate and recruiter. Through several conversations about previous work experience, travel and work expectations, benefits, pay, and of course, open positions, you learn a lot about one another. It takes time and there is a level of trust that is built between both traveler and recruiter. Now it’s time be considered for assignments and suddenly… communication vanishes.

This is what recruiters commonly call “ghosting,” and it is very common within our industry. When we ask travelers what they are looking for in a recruiter, the majority request “a recruiter who communicates openly and honestly.” While respecting your expectation of this, we look for the same open and honest communication from the candidates we work with.

Let’s shed some light on some reasons we see candidates go dark:

Cold Feet

As a candidate interested and anxious to travel, we understand that suddenly things can change. Maybe something in your personal life has shifted interests. It could be, now that being on the brink of an assignment, there is uncertainty if travel is right for you. Either way, it’s okay! Communicate with your recruiter on what’s going on and if you are hesitant to move forward. It might not be the right time or travel is not the best option. We just want to know in an effort to understand and won’t push you in a direction you don’t wish to go.

Working with another recruiter.

Your profile might be somewhere in the process with another recruiter, maybe there are current interviews happening or perhaps even taken an assignment. As a candidate, reach out to the recruiter if this is the case. You help avoid being double submitted and we can present opportunities they may not have access to. This way you can be considered for all assignments you’re interested in. If a contract has been accepted we can update your availability for the next assignment. We would also like to work with you for positions in the future!

Not a traveler/recruiter match.

Just like all relationships, not every recruiter and traveler are a match for each other. Communication styles between you both could be different, or there could be a feeling of this “doesn’t feel right.” That’s okay too! A candid conversation could fix the issue between you two, or if it is still not a match you can be paired with another recruiter within our agency. This industry comes down to building relationships and trust. We want to help find the right recruiter match for the traveler.

In the end, we all want open and honest communication. If one of the situations above applies to you, don’t be afraid to tell your recruiter! The best way we can serve you and your career goals is to be in the know.

Kevin Bradley is a Social Media Recruiter for the Imaging division of Aureus Medical Group.