The Psychology Behind Ghosting: Understanding Candidate Silence

When a candidate disappears mid-process, it’s easy to take it personally. But often, ghosting stems from anxiety, avoidance, or a growing scepticism about recruitment. An Indeed survey revealed that 77% of candidates have ghosted employers, and many justify it based on their poor experiences with hiring processes.

Candidates today operate in a high-stakes, high-noise environment. Ghosting is sometimes the path of least resistance, especially when faced with multiple job offers, or when a recruiter seems cold, robotic, or unclear. Even fear plays a role: no one wants to feel awkward explaining why they've reconsidered.

The good news? There’s room to shift the dynamic. Companies that approach hiring with empathy and clarity tend to build trust early on. Something as simple as following up when you said you would, even if there’s no update, sends a signal that this is a business worth engaging with. We’ve found that employers who invest in more transparent candidate communication at every stage experience fewer fall-offs and stronger engagement.

Level Up collaborates closely with employers to help refine their recruitment tone and candidate journey. If you’ve noticed more silence than usual, now may be the right time to reassess how your brand is landing.