Don’t ghost your recruiter: why silence helps no one 

By Jenna Gallagher, Professional Services & Global Mobility, Meraki Talent 

In recruitment, few things are as frustrating or even as common, as being ghosted. 

A candidate is engaged. Conversations are positive. Interviews go well. Then communication stops. No response to calls, messages, or emails. No explanation. Just silence. 

Ghosting isn’t unique to recruitment, but in Professional Services, particularly in global and senior hiring, it creates unnecessary friction for everyone involved. And often, it’s entirely avoidable. 

Why ghosting happens 

Most candidates don’t ghost out of bad intent. 

In our experience, it usually happens for one of three reasons: 

• The candidate feels uncomfortable delivering bad news 

• Circumstances have changed and they don’t know how to explain this 

• They assume silence is easier than a difficult conversation 

In a fast-moving market, candidates may also be juggling multiple processes, internal pressure from their current employer, or complex personal considerations such as relocation, family, or notice periods, as I wrote about in my last blog post. 

But while the reasons are understandable, the consequences are real. 

The ripple effect of silence 

When a candidate ghosts, the impact extends far beyond the recruiter. Hiring managers are left waiting without clarity and internal stakeholders delay decisions or approvals. This has a ripple effect outside the organisations involved as other candidates are paused unnecessarily which stretches recruitment timelines even further. 

The greatest damage caused is where trust erodes across the process 

In Global Professional Services hiring where timelines are already longer and planning is critical; silence introduces uncertainty into a process that depends on alignment and transparency. 

Recruiters aren’t the decision-makers, they’re the bridge 

One misconception we still encounter is the belief that avoiding the recruiter avoids the problem. 

Recruiters exist to absorb complexity, manage communication, and protect all parties involved. A short, honest update, even if the answer is “no”, allows the process to move forward cleanly. 

From a candidate’s perspective, clear communication preserves relationships. From a client’s perspective, it enables realistic planning. From a recruiter’s perspective, it allows us to do our job properly. 

Silence helps no one. 

Why honesty matters more than certainty 

Candidates often delay communication because they’re unsure about the role, the timing, or their own readiness to move. 

That uncertainty is not a problem. It’s part of the process. 

What is problematic is withholding that information. A simple message saying: 

“I need more time to think,” 
“My circumstances have changed,” or 
“I’m pursuing another opportunity” 

This is infinitely more helpful than disappearing altogether. 

Professional Services careers are long. Reputations and relationships last. 

Ghosting damages long-term credibility 

The Global Professional Services market is smaller than it appears, particularly at senior levels and in global roles. Recruiters, clients, and candidates’ cross paths repeatedly over the course of a career. 

Ghosting doesn’t go unnoticed and it doesn’t get forgotten. 

By contrast, candidates who communicate openly, even when withdrawing, are remembered positively. They remain credible. They remain trusted. And they are far more likely to be supported in future opportunities. 

What good communication looks like 

Clear communication doesn’t require justification or over-explanation. It simply requires courtesy. 

Good practice looks like: 

• Responding, even briefly 

• Setting expectations if timelines change 

• Being honest about concerns or competing priorities 

• Closing the loop when a decision is made 

These behaviours reduce pressure on everyone and keep processes moving with integrity. 

My final thought 

Recruitment is not just a transaction, it’s a relationship built on trust, timing, and communication. 

In a market where hiring already takes time, ghosting adds unnecessary complexity to an already delicate process. Open dialogue, even when uncomfortable, creates better outcomes for candidates, clients, and recruiters alike. 

At Meraki Talent, we value transparency above perfection. Because progress happens through conversation not silence. 

If you want to our team about your next Professional Services role, please get in touch. Jenna.Gallagher@merakitalent.com