4 things to do if you’ve been ghosted at work

Ghosting doesn’t just happen in the dating world. You can get ghosted by a hiring manager, or even by a coworker. Here’s what to do.
It is common for companies to ghost job applicants, or for coworkers and acquaintances to ghost each other.
It’s not surprising that ghosting is becoming more common, given the fact that face-to-face communication is sadly on the decline.
Here’s what to do when you’re ghosted in these four situations.
1. IF A COMPANY GHOSTS YOU
This happens far too often. A recent study by Indeed reported that 77% of job seekers have been ghosted by a prospective employer in the past year–10% even after a verbal job offer was made.
I know a talented millennial who was seeking employment and was contacted by a recruiter and given a time slot for an interview. He was thrilled, and at the scheduled time, he dialed the recruiter up. Not only did she not answer, she never called him back.
If this happens to you, you may justly feel anger, rejection, and disappointment.
2. IF A NEW ACQUAINTANCE GHOSTS YOU 
Suppose a new acquaintance ghosts you. You’ve had a nice chat with them at a networking event, and your new acquaintance even ended the conversation by suggesting you stay in touch. So, you do just that, and hear nothing in return.
You think, “What did I do wrong? If you really want this relationship to work, try contacting this acquaintance again via a different mode of communication. If you sent an email, now try a text, or reach out to a mutual friend. If it’s in your interest to persist, do so!
3. IF A COLLEAGUE GHOSTS YOU
Did your email end up in a spam folder? Or is the person not returning your message on purpose?
Dhawan advises that you begin by recognizing that instant messaging has created “the expectation for immediate responses.†So, “don’t jump to conclusions. Unless it’s critical that you get a reply ASAP, remember that people may have a lot on their plates. If you follow up twice with no response, switch to a different medium.â€
Or did you leave the response time vague? If you don’t indicate any urgency, your colleague may be justified in letting other things take priority. Close your email with a clear request: “I would appreciate the answer by Friday, since I need to let our client know what we can do.â€
4. IF A FRIEND GHOSTS YOU
I was ghosted by a friend 10 years ago. She was promoted to a CEO role, and I called to congratulate her and take her to lunch. She wasn’t available, and eventually the assistant called to say she was not interested in having lunch with me. I still to this day don’t have the foggiest notion of why she ghosted me.
If a friend ghosts you, do your best to sit down with them and talk through whatever the issue was. If they are unwilling to accept your call or meet with you, don’t beat up on yourself. Move on. You deserve better.
#stewartlifecoaching #ghostingiswrong