You had a great phone chat with a candidate. They sounded keen and confirmed their interview.
Then nothing. Nada. No show, no reply to your texts. No call back. Nothing.
Candidate ghosting is one of the most frustrating parts of hiring right now, especially in the trades. It’s easy to write it off as “people these days”. But more often than not, something in the process is giving candidates a reason to walk away.
You’re not the only one
Ghosting is everywhere. In Robert Half research, nearly nine in ten Australian employers said they’d lost at least one candidate during hiring over the past year.
Speed is a big part of it. Another Robert Half survey found 57% of Australian workers lose interest in a job if they don’t hear back within 10 business days. That survey was of office workers. Skilled tradespeople have even more options, so their patience is often shorter.
What may be going on
1. Someone else moved faster than you.
Good tradespeople are in short supply, and they’re rarely applying for just one job. If another business called them the same day and made an offer that week, your interview next Thursday never stood a chance.
2. Their current boss made a counteroffer.
When a good fitter, electrician or mechanic resigns, their employer often panics and offers more money. Many accept. Some feel awkward telling you, so they go quiet instead.
3. The pay or hours weren’t clear upfront.
If the ad said “competitive rates” and the real number came out at interview, many candidates won’t come back. The same goes for overtime, shifts or travel they didn’t expect. It’s easier for them to disappear than to say “that’s not enough”.
4. Your process asks too much.
Most tradespeople can’t take time off in the middle of a workday. Daytime interviews, long online application forms or three rounds of meetings can make it more effort than it’s worth.
5. They didn’t hear from you.
This one’s uncomfortable, but it’s common. If a candidate applied and heard nothing for a week, they’ve likely moved on. Ghosting runs both ways, and candidates notice when employers do it.
6. Something about the business put them off.
Candidates check your Google reviews, your website and who they know who’s worked for you. A string of bad reviews or a reputation for high turnover can quietly end the conversation before it starts.
7. They were never really serious.
Some people apply for jobs to test the market or get leverage for a pay rise. You can’t stop that completely, but you can spot it earlier by asking good questions upfront.
What you can do about it
Move fast.
Call good applicants within a day or two, interview within the week and make your offer quickly. Speed is one of the biggest advantages a small or medium business has over a large one.
Be upfront about pay and conditions.
Put the rate, hours and roster in the ad. No one should find out the pay at the end of the process. (Not sure how? Read our guide on how to write a trades job ad.)
Make it easy to say yes.
Offer early morning, after work or phone interviews. Keep the process to one or two steps if you can.
Stay in touch.
A quick text after each step keeps candidates warm, even if it’s just “Thanks for coming in, we’ll be in touch by Friday.” Then follow through when you say you will.
Ask about other offers.
Early on, ask: “Are you talking to anyone else? Would you accept a counteroffer if your boss offered one?” Their answers tell you how serious they are and how fast you need to move.
Look after your reputation.
Respond to reviews, treat every candidate with respect and tell unsuccessful applicants they missed out. Word gets around in the trades.
The bottom line
Candidate ghosting usually isn’t random. It’s often a sign that your process is too slow, too unclear or too hard for the people you want to hire. Tighten those up and fewer candidates will disappear.
At Freedom Recruitment Agency, we keep candidates engaged from first call to first day. We screen for genuine interest early and manage the back-and-forth, so you’re not left chasing people who’ve gone quiet.
Book a free 15-minute Hiring Clarity Call and let’s take the guesswork out of your next hire.