Ghosted by a Recruiter: Chasing Shadows While Looking for a Job

It seems that calls with job recruiters is turning into one of America's most demeaning pastimes. The scenario is common:

You send out dozens of resumes. You think you have a good chance at getting most of these jobs. You reached at a few, but who doesn't?

You know the odds are slim. Each job has hundreds of applicants. Some have thousands. You apply anyway. Food doesn't fall out of the sky. (Tell that to Newton).

Then, a light appears. A bolded email subject message in your inbox. A recruiter wants to set up a call with you for one of your applications. She thinks you are an excellent fit for this role and asks you to email her your availability to speak.

You start thinking you are on the journey to climb out of financial ruin. She picked me. This is an excellent sign. I'm 1 of 500. I'm 1 of a million!

Done patting yourself on the back? Settle in for reality.

The recruiter calls you at the top of the hour. They may be punctual. But that's about it.

She asks you the same questions over and over again.

"What are you looking for?"

"Why are you looking to leave?"

"Are you open to going into the office or do you just want fully remote?"

"Do you have any portable business?"

"What are your practice areas?"

"Do you have experience in x,y, and z?"

It's clear you are what you thought. Just 1 in a million. A million of random people the recruiter blindly screens with no planning, no preparation, no focus, and no actual shot at getting you that job.

She hasn't read your resume carefully.

She doesn't even understand your field of work.

She doesn't know how to help you in your situation.

She just wants a commission. Her time is precious. You are just a number to her in so many more ways than you thought.

And to top it off, every recruiter asks some version of the elephant in the room:

"What are your compensation expectations?"

It's never a good idea to make the first move. If an interview progresses that far, let the company make the first offer. They should understand what you're worth. You do. But don't shoot yourself in the foot by aiming too high with the recruiter. She almost certainly has a client not willing to pay anything close to what you want and deserve. If you aim too high, the recruiter will simply screen you out.

But it doesn't matter.

You could say any number. $50,000. $200,000. $1. (Rest in peace, Bob Barker).

You'll never hear from that recruiter again.

The recruiter is the gatekeeper.

But she is also a ghost.

Don't fall for promises of a call-back to follow up with you one way or another. If she submitted your resume to her client and the client says no, she will never communicate that rejection to you. She is back talking the ear off another hapless applicant.

When it comes to recruiters, it's better to never answer the phone.

Not many things feel worse than being ghosted.

Just ask your ex.