Companies are conducting full interview processes then disappearing into thin air, leaving candidates in limbo for weeks.
Reddit's r/UKJobs has exploded with horror stories of companies conducting multiple interview rounds, meeting candidates with teams, and declaring them 'perfect fits' before vanishing completely. The most upvoted post of the day, with over 800 comments, described a candidate who completed three interviews, met the entire team, and was told they were the top choice, only to receive total silence for two weeks despite follow-up attempts. Similar stories flooded the thread, with users reporting final-stage ghosting from major UK employers including tech startups in Shoreditch, financial services firms in Canary Wharf, and even NHS trusts. The pattern has become so widespread that users have created a dedicated 'Ghosting Wall of Shame' thread naming companies that engage in the practice.
The collective sentiment emerging from multiple forum discussions reveals that employer ghosting has evolved from occasional rudeness to systematic behavior, with companies seemingly using extended interview processes to keep options open while continuing to search for candidates. Users report that the ghosting often occurs precisely when candidates are most invested, after salary negotiations have begun or start dates have been discussed. The psychological impact is severe, with multiple posts describing anxiety, depression, and financial stress caused by the uncertainty of whether offers are still valid.
The most viral advice thread, which received over 200 upvotes, advocated for candidates to implement their own deadlines and continue interviewing elsewhere even after receiving positive signals. Forum users shared strategies including sending formal 'decision deadline' emails and treating all verbal offers as meaningless until contracts are signed. One highly upvoted comment suggested that the ghosting epidemic reflects companies' inability to make decisions in an uncertain economic climate, with hiring managers afraid to commit to new employees.
The forum consensus points to a fundamental shift in hiring power dynamics, where companies feel comfortable treating candidates poorly because they know desperate job seekers will tolerate the behavior. The most practical advice from experienced users focuses on protecting mental health by setting emotional boundaries and never stopping other applications until a contract is physically signed. Users recommend treating all interview processes as practice until proven otherwise.
The scale of discussion suggests that ghosting has become the norm rather than the exception, fundamentally breaking trust between employers and candidates. As one comment summarized, 'The job market has become a psychological warfare zone where companies hold all the cards.'