Even though companies occasionally reject undesirable candidates, candidates in Europe's largest economy have begun to practice ghosting in hiring. According to a survey of 400 recruiters conducted in August by the website Indeed, the majority of respondents say that candidates are giving up on job openings.
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When does ghosting happen?
Every time a candidate withdraws from the selection process after expressing interest in the vacancy, the company considers that there has been “ghosting”. Sometimes, a considerable number of professionals even sign the contract, but simply do not show up for work.
Why does candidate ghosting occur?
The so-called ghosting of candidates occurs during a selection process, at the hiring stage for a vacancy, and can become a serious problem for the company. But why are candidates doing this?
It is possible to list some different reasons, which may vary due to the large number of vacancies in the market (allowing more options to the candidate, who may prefer another offer), even dissatisfaction with benefits and salary, concluding that this is not the ideal vacancy for him.
A case of ghosting with the Germans
In Germany, candidates have practiced ghosting precisely because of the size of market demand. The numbers underscore the severe shortage of skilled labor faced by German companies amid a rapidly aging population and behavioral changes caused by the pandemic.
While candidates are expected to discontinue contact, 53% of recruiters said it has become common not to receive a response after an interview step. Nearly 15% said they were ignored even after getting the job, and 7% didn't show up on their first day of work.
Indeed recruiting expert Tim Verhoeven said that candidates are often accepted among several good job options. companies and do not follow all application processes consistently to the end, and therefore end up giving up on some of them after.
The German Access Card
The German government has announced some plans to launch a so-called “opportunity card”. This card would be based on the American “green card”, with the aim of facilitating the entry of foreigners into the European Union (even if they do not have a job offer).
However, Minister Hubertus Heil said that there will be restrictions and requirements. In interviews with the press, he stated that the number of cards will be restricted according to the requirements established by the country's government.