It's called "job ghosting," and more and more job seekers are reporting this across the country, according to career coaches.
Leslie Ingles, a new Wesley Chapel resident, was looking for a customer service job. When she got called in for an interview at a local hair salon, she thought everything went really well. She said she even shadowed the front desk and got great feedback from the owner.
"He told me it was going to be a seamless transition for me to move right into the company and he said he would be contacting me on Monday," Ingles said.
But then, Monday came and went. She never heard another word from the owner again.
"I was just left in the dark," Ingles said.
Career coaches now say many companies are reporting they are overwhelmed with applicants, or have a bare-bones human resources department that simply can't respond to everyone. Others can't respond for legal reasons.
Tampa Career Consultant Lisa Jacobson says before you ever leave a job interview, you should ask when you'll hear from the prospective employer so you'll know when to expect a response. She also said ask about the timeframe for hiring the position.
There is also one other critical question: "If I am not selected for the position, will I be hearing from you?"
"The third time I would probably pick up the phone and leave a message," Jacobson said.
She says if you still hear nothing, there's not much you can really do. However, there is one thing Jacobson said you should never do.
"It's not a good idea to be snippy or to tell them that they've been rude," she said.
She said she'll remember this feeling if she ever becomes a hiring manager.
