3 minute read
Professional ghosting
Vanishing act
ONE MINUTE THEY CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF YOU, THE NEXT THEY HAVE GONE TO GROUND. HERE’S HOW TO DEAL WITH BEING PROFESSIONALLY GHOSTED
WORDS TANIA GOMEZ
It’s an all too common scenario when it comes to dating, but it seems ghosting is becoming a fixture in the professional space, too. From radio silence after a job interview, to promising chats with a prospective client and not hearing back at all, having someone just disappear in a work scenario can be frustrating and confusing.
So, how can you go about dealing with it and, more importantly, how can you avoid it happening in the first place?
Look for the signs
Pay close attention to a person’s behaviour — it may just reveal what’s to come.
“Look for the warning signs as the professional ghoster may drop some hints that you can pick up early in the piece,” Sydney Career Coaching’s Tina Monk.
“They may seem disconnected or distracted during early meetings or calls. You may get the sense that they are non-committal, so be sure to clarify expectations and agree to next steps before working with them.”
Avoid ambiguity
One of the most frustrating things about being ghosted is that you’re left in the dark. “(This is why it’s important) to get a clear idea about whether a client is actually buying or whether they’re just doing some market testing,” Career Money Life chief executive officer Sandy Hutchison says.
“Also, sometimes recruiters go on fishing expeditions. So, they’re just looking for candidates who they can try and pitch to corporates that might have a need.
“If you’re talking to a recruiter, make sure they actually have a real job, and they’ve got details of that job and it’s not just a general discussion.”
Sandy says to be sure to ask questions regarding time frame, what their process is and what their plans are with engaging someone, whether it’s applying for a job or sending a proposal to a potential client.
Be assertive
The HR Dept Lower North Shore director Brad Adams says to be sure to set a date and time in which you will follow up with a contact — this gives you some control over the situation.
“(You could say) ‘I’ll give you a call on Friday afternoon to see how things are progressing if I haven’t heard from you’,” Brad explains.
“At that point, that’s when you might say, ‘What is the best way to contact you?’ Is it a phone call? Is it text? So, set up an agreed mode of communication.”
If you are left in a situation where you are just not hearing anything back despite your best attempts, Brad says it is worth sending a follow-up that addresses the situation directly.
“You could say, for example, ‘I feel I have the experience and skills to perform the role. However, I have other opportunities that I’m pursuing. And I’d just like to understand if I’m still in the mix or otherwise, so I can move on to those opportunities or continue to engage with regard to this’.
“I think that’s a polite way to say, ‘Hey, I deserve to get a response, so please do so’.”
If all else fails, and you have most definitely been ghosted it is important to avoid lashing out.
“While it may be tempting to complain or call the person out, it’s best to keep things professional. You never know who you’re going to work with in the future, so avoid burning any bridges,” Tina says.
“It happens three to four times a year.”
The Audacious Agency co-founder Annette Densham says ghosting is a “regular occurrence” in running her business.
“Over the past nine years, (I’ve experienced) clients not paying invoices and disappearing to sending quotes to people who have chased you for work and then never hearing from them again.
“The most upsetting ones are the clients who do not pay their invoices and then unfriend you on social media and ignore your calls. This is why I now ask for payment upfront before commencing work for anyone. (This behaviour) has cost me thousands of dollars over the years.
“In my early days of business, I used to get really upset, wondering what I had done wrong. Now, I realise it says more about the ghoster than the ghostee.
