Interview Ghosting
How common is being ghosted after 2nd or 3rd round interviews?
I just spent a considerable about of time interviewing with a team at Newmark/Cushman/JLL/CBRE type firm.
Small team so really had been developing rapport and a line of communication directly with the vice chairman on the team about the opportunity.
Pretty sure they ghosted me after making it through the final round upon having been told a decision would be made that week but never heard anything. NBD if I didn’t get the job. You win some and you lose some. That’s part of the process.
However, in an industry that is almost entirely built on long term relationships....and the integrity of those relationships...does no one find this short sighted and just plainly unprofessional?
I get that they’re busy with business but how hard is it to send a few sentences in an email saying we chose someone else?
This is the second time this has happened. At some point you’re going to cross paths with someone you’ve ghosted I’d imagine. Seems like a bad practice IMO.
How many times have you followed up over the course of how many weeks? If 3x over the course of 4-5 weeks, I agree, that’s ghosting and not super professional but what are you gonna do?
Also I’ve been on the other end of hiring and sometimes things just come to a halt. One time we went through a full interview process and decided not to hire anyone. Maybe they’re just in Limbo like that
I just finished a similar process at those firms, got through Excel test and meeting the team. Was waiting on a final round/decision for two weeks and emailed someone on their team who gave me a well thought out response.
I agree though, it makes no sense especially in real estate. You'd think the one's who got through two, three, four rounds you'd want to keep in touch with in general but doesn't seem like it.
I wouldn't dare guess what is going on in your particular situation, but I've heard stories of brokerages that literally wait and see if someone will like call, email, mail, even show up to the office w/o appointment to follow up. Then then finally say "yes, you're hired" when then count like 7 attempts. This was literally their way of making sure someone understood what it takes to be successful in the business.
Not sure it's a tactic I would ever endorse or use, but I know its real. So, maybe you should just hound the shit out of them. I mean, what do you have to lose??
Hey I appreciate the feedback. I suspect not in this case, very institutional and polished capital markets team.
Wouldn’t be for a pure-play brokerage role (cold calling and hunting down business) per se but more of an associate role supporting the senior brokers. The team is set up very much like an investment bank in terms of comp structure and pay.
I have pressed them fairly hard however - tactfully of course. Decided to cool off.
Yeah, I would agree it's not likely. Still worth some random follow-ups. To note, the two examples I am aware of firms using this practice are in the "very institutional and polished" variety in major markets; the so-called "lower tier" don't have quite the luxury to pull this off with qualified candidates.
I just had this happen to me but with a PGIM/AEW/Invesco type firm. Went through three rounds of interviews and during the last round they said they were down to the last group of candidates and that they'd get back to me by the end of the week. No response at the end of that week. I followed up once every 7 business days after that and they kept saying that they were working through final details. It's been 4 weeks. A few days ago a source I had inside the company said that they already selected their candidates and I wasn't one of them. I still haven't heard back officially yet.
It's frustrating and in really bad form IMO. I'm trying to tell myself that I wouldn't want to work for a company that has such shitty communication...but I'm at the stage where I cannot be picky with my employers unfortunately.
In vel tempora quis. Repudiandae tempora velit eligendi blanditiis facere.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...