The Cost of Ghosting

What Winning Companies Do Differently to Attract Top Talent!

Despite growing awareness, ghosting remains a serious issue in recruitment. In 2024, Criteria Corp found that 48% of candidates were ghosted, and that trend is only getting worse. They project a 26% rise in ghosting in 2025 if organizations don’t take deliberate action to improve communication.

Ghosting is costly! Candidates who feel ignored often share their negative experiences on social media and review sites like Glassdoor. This can lead to:

• Damage to employer brand reputation

• Difficulty attracting top talent in the future

• Increased recruitment costs due to longer time-to-hire

What Candidates Expect Today

Candidates seek:

• Clear communication about each step of the process, including timelines and feedback

• Regular updates—even if the news is a rejection

• A personalized and respectful experience that treats them as people, not just applications

The Shift Toward Guiding, Not Ghosting

Forward-thinking companies are changing the game by:

• Providing detailed timelines and expectations upfront

• Keeping candidates informed at every stage

• Offering constructive feedback to support candidate growth, regardless of outcome

This human-centered approach is helping organizations build trust, strengthen their employer brand, and win the loyalty of top talent.

It is clear companies that move from ghosting to guiding improve hiring outcomes and build lasting relationships. As recruitment professionals, it’s our responsibility to create candidate journeys that reflect respect, transparency, and human touch through the process.