Ghosting: The Client’s Silent Treatment (and How to Break It)

You’ve been there. 

You send through a great candidate, the kind you know will smash it out of the park. 

Then… nothing. 

No reply. No call. No “thanks but no thanks.” Just silence. 

Welcome to the modern plague of recruitment: ghosting. And yes, it happens to recruiters too. 

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## Why Clients Ghost

It’s not (always) because your candidate was rubbish. 
It’s because: 
- They’re overwhelmed with internal noise. 
- They’re juggling ten other priorities. 
- Or they don’t see you as a priority because you haven’t made yourself one. 

Clients ghost recruiters for the same reason candidates ghost clients: because silence feels easier than confrontation. 

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## The Dangerous Story You Tell Yourself

When a client ghosts, the story in your head starts spinning: 
“Maybe they hated my candidate. Maybe they’ve gone with another agency. Maybe I’m useless.” 

That’s dangerous. Why? Because it makes you reactive instead of proactive. Ghosting isn’t about you. It’s about the noise in *their* world. 

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## Breaking the Silence

Top billers don’t just sit there refreshing their inbox. They break the silence with value. 

Instead of: 
“Just following up to see what you thought of the CVs.” 

Try: 
“Wanted to flag something interesting — the candidate I sent has just been approached by two other companies. If you’re keen, we should secure a chat before they’re gone.” 

That’s not nagging. That’s urgency. That’s relevance. 

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## Flip the Power Dynamic

Recruiters who get ghosted stay in the “please pick me” lane. Recruiters who break the cycle flip it: 
- They set expectations upfront. 
- They confirm timelines before sending profiles. 
- They tell clients what *they* need to keep the process moving. 

You’re not a waiter hoping for a tip. You’re a consultant steering a decision. 

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## The Ghostbuster Playbook

1. **Set timelines** before submissions (“I’ll need feedback within 48 hours to keep this candidate engaged”). 
2. **Send reminders with value** (“Here’s a quick market insight while you decide”). 
3. **Escalate politely** (“If I don’t hear back, I’ll assume you’re not moving ahead and release the candidate to other clients”). 

Notice: none of these sound needy. They sound confident. 

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## Why It Works

Because silence thrives in ambiguity. Clear expectations kill ambiguity. Add urgency, and you suddenly stop being ghosted and start being respected. 

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✨ Top Biller Takeaway: Ghosting isn’t rejection. It’s a gap in leadership. Step into that gap with a plan and confidence — and you’ll never sit staring at an inbox again.