A Small Gesture

(WSJ illustration)

Determined to follow the rules of business etiquette, I responded to every telephone message and letter request at the beginning of my working career.

But the 1970's were a lifetime ago, before email and telemarketing, before real and electronic in-boxes overflowed with messages from people and bots who don't know me personally. So now I don't answer every communication, but I do always call back people I know--even if the conversation may be unpleasant.

That's why it's disappointing that businesses--who supposedly adhere to higher standards than individuals--now "ghost" job applicants:

Sounds like you’ve been ghosted. Most people have heard this term in connection with social situations and online dating. Unfortunately, it is an ever-growing trend in the business world as well.

According to research, 73% of employers admit to having willfully ignored job candidates. This behavior has negative consequences not only for candidates but also for employers: A job seeker suffering from feelings of social rejection—and who likely missed opportunities to interview for other positions while waiting to hear back from a particularly desired employer—may turn to social media to complain publicly. The result is reputational damage to the company that can have a real negative impact on its ability to recruit down the line.

Ghosting is hurtful and unprofessional, but you may be able to put your negative experience to use. What if this is one way for the company to show you its real face? The company may have done you a favor, as you likely won’t be happy in a place that signals arrogance and little desire for long-term affiliation.

To the people in charge of hiring decisions: please treat job applicants the way you wish to be treated yourselves. If you're not going to hire them, let them know so they won't waste time waiting by the phone or mailbox. They did go through the trouble of filling out your job application, which in many cases is time-consuming.

And don't decry the meanness and cruelty in the world if you're not going to make this small gesture yourself.