The loud silence after the interview
You prepared thoroughly, the job interview went great, and you parted ways with a "We will get back to you by the end of the week." But then: nothing. The week passes, there is no response to your follow-up email, and nobody answers the phone anymore. Welcome to "ghosting" – a phenomenon that has long since ceased to be exclusive to dating and has become an unpleasant reality on the Swiss job market.
For job seekers, this absolute radio silence is draining. It fuels self-doubt and saps the energy needed for further applications. But why do companies do this, and above all: how do you deal with it without losing heart?
Why companies ghost (It is almost never about you)
When you get ghosted, the first impulse is usually: "I did something wrong." But the reality in Swiss HR departments is often much more mundane. Internal decision-making processes often drag on forever because key decision-makers are sick or on vacation. Sometimes the position has been frozen internally for budget reasons without candidates being informed. And in some cases, HR is simply so overloaded that rejections for runner-up candidates are left on the back burner until the preferred candidate has signed the contract.
This does not excuse the unprofessional behavior, but it helps to understand: in 99 percent of cases, the silence has nothing to do with your qualifications or your demeanor. It is a structural problem within the company.
3 strategies to stay mentally strong
To protect yourself from the emotional rollercoaster, you need a clear strategy for dealing with missing responses:
- The 48-hour rule: After a job interview, allow yourself 48 hours to hope and review the conversation. After that, mentally check out of the project. Act as if you have received a rejection and focus 100% on new opportunities. If an acceptance does come through after all: all the better.
- Follow up once, then let go: Once the promised deadline has passed, wait another three days and then get in touch just once by phone or email. No response? Then the matter is closed. Do not chase after anyone who does not respect your time.
- Recognize the value: Ask yourself: Do you really want to work for a company that communicates so untransparently and unreliably even during the application phase? Ghosting is often a good indicator of the internal corporate culture.
How PARAT helps you stay focused
To get out of the passive waiting game, it is crucial to keep moving. This is where the PARAT RAV-Tracking supports you. Instead of waiting for a single response and halting the process, you can neatly log your ongoing applications and maintain your streak.
Our platform's gamification approaches reward your continuous activity – regardless of how employers behave on the other side. You maintain control over your job search, stay in rhythm, and demonstrate seamless efforts to the RAV without being slowed down by a ghosting company. We believe in your personal responsibility: do not let the incompetence of others push you into passivity.
