Ghosting is the practice of disappearing with no word or notice to a recruiter or the organization that is interested in hiring you. The candidate may have even built up a relationship with the recruiter, gone through interviews, and even toured the facility, and then—nothing. The recruiter and healthcare organization are left with the concern that something either happened to the candidate or they did something wrong. It is a common problem now in every industry, and it leaves everyone involved with a very bad taste in their mouth. If you’re the candidate, it can also damage your reputation. Given that community health centers are in a tight niche of healthcare, this could be a problem for your career.
Ghosting is frustrating and disheartening to healthcare hiring teams in part because it exacerbates the clinical staffing shortage problems we’re facing.
Here are three reasons to work with your recruiter instead of ghosting them.
Are You Having Second Thoughts?
There is never a valid reason to ghost a healthcare hiring team. In healthcare, it’s a particular problem because there can be a high turnover for some positions and a large number of roles that need to be filled fast. Healthcare Finance says ghosting and turnover can cost organizations anywhere from $58,400 to $200,000 each year.
If you’re having second thoughts about the job you’re interviewing for, we understand the risks involved. We also know, particularly if you are a credentialed clinician, that there are many roles available for you to consider.
Plus, most humans are hard-wired to avoid confrontation. It can be a difficult conversation to let the recruiter know that you’re having second thoughts. It may even be tempting to avoid the ringing phone than to explain yourself. We get it—but that doesn’t make it the right thing to do.
Are You Working with Another Recruiter?
The bottom line is that it’s okay to let the recruiter know that you’re working with someone else. The recruiter/candidate relationship is a two-way street; if you don’t feel comfortable working with one recruiter, there may be a better fit out there. It’s the job of your recruiter to make you feel comfortable enough so that you can have that crucial conversation that you’re moving on. It happens.
No matter your credentials, it is never a good idea to burn bridges in the business world. This is especially true in healthcare and in the narrow niche of community healthcare. The reality is that if you burn a healthcare organization or a recruiter, you may run into them later. Save yourself that awkwardness, pick up the phone, and let the recruiter know you’re moving on.
Did You Receive a Better Offer?
The healthcare field is highly competitive. That makes it more than okay to share with your recruiter that you are in negotiations with another organization. Transparency matters, so sharing this information with your recruiter is an honest approach that speaks well of your character. Your recruiter is an advocate of sorts, representing you to the healthcare organization you’re considering. They do a lot of free work on your behalf, coordinating interviews and pushing the hiring process forward. While the conversation may feel a bit uncomfortable, make it a phone to share that you’re considering all of the options available to you.
Having a short-term lens on your career goal isn’t the best approach to your CV; employers do look at job-hopping negatively. If you haven’t been hired yet but are considering ghosting, don’t do it. Pick up the phone and talk with your recruiter.
UHC Solutions specializes in building positive candidate relationships. Talk to our team about your next career choice and see how we can help.
