Recruiter Ghosted Me After a Verbal Offer—What Should I Do When Looking for a Job in South Africa?
Finally having your dream job is such a relief considering the overwhelming process of job hunting. Imagine getting ghosted by a recruiter who verbally promised you a job and now you feel like you imagined the whole thing. Job hunters often get ghosted by recruiters after offering them a job verbally. The question is, how do you prevent this from happening, or what do you do when it actually happens? Follow the guide below to help you through the process of actionable steps to take and how to protect yourself when looking for a job in South Africa.
What Is Recruiter Ghosting?
When a recruiter gives you an idea that they are hiring you then they suddenly stop communication and do not respond to any of your calls or messages. Recruiters can ghost you after a verbal job offer, during salary negotiation, or after an interview.
Why Do Recruiters Ghost Candidates in South Africa?
There are a few reason why recruiters end up ghosting candidates but some of them are
- When the company decides to cut the budget and has to put the hiring process on hold.
- Sometimes the recruiters are also waiting to hear from their client or hiring manager for the go-ahead.
- When they have found someone who is better fitting for the role and they just didn’t inform you.
- Some recruiters are just disorganized and do not respect the follow-through process of updating the candidates.
Steps to Take in South Africa If a Recruiter Ghosts You After a Verbal Offer
Confirm the Situation
Make sure you confirm if there is no misunderstanding between you and the recruiter before reaching out.
- Double check your emails, messages, and phone calls to confirm if you were really offered the job and what the conditions were.
- Reach out and send a follow-up message to the recruiter.
Example of a Follow-Up Email:
Subject: Follow-Up on the previously discussed Job Offer for [Job Title]
Dear [Recruiter’s Name],
I hope this email finds you well. I’m enquiring on the verbal offer we discussed for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. I’m ready to move forward and would appreciate an update on how far with the process.
Thank you for your time, and I would appreciate hearing from you soon.
Best regards,
[Your Full Name]
Reach Out Professionally
You can wait for a day or two after sending a follow-up email; if not then find a way to reach out to someone on the inside, either HR or a hiring manager, to check if there is still a hiring process for the job you were offered. LinkedIn will help you identify key contacts of the company you are interested in.
Tip: Be subtle when reaching out, just express your interest in the role and your enthusiasm to join the company.
Set a Deadline
Give yourself a personal deadline; for example, if a recruiter does not reach out after a week then you give up on the issue and move forward to other applications.
Example Email to Close the Loop:
Subject: Closing the Loop on Job Opportunity
Dear [Recruiter’s Name],
I hope this email finds you well. I’m writing to follow up on the [Job Title] position at [Company Name] that we have discussed. Since I have not been updated on the next step after the discussion, I will assume the position is no longer available and will proceed with other opportunities.
Thank you again for considering me, and I wish you and your team all the best.
Kind regards,
[Your Full Name]
Protect Yourself Legally
A verbal job offer can be legally binding in South Africa, but it will be hard to prove yourself if there is no record of it happening. You may have grounds to sue or report the recruiters if there was an offer letter or email confirmation. You can contact CCMA or any legal advice services to escalate the issue if the recruiter’s job offer caused you harm in any way, for example, you quit your current job after being offered a job by the recruiter.
Continue Job Hunting
Being ghosted by a recruiter after a verbal job offer in South Africa can leave you demoralized. Do not give up yet; learn from the experience and remember the goals you have set for yourself.
How to Avoid Recruiters Ghosting You in the Future
Request a Written Offer
Make sure you ask for something tangible to prove that you were promised a job. When a recruiter verbally offers you a job, respectfully ask for a written letter before making any decision that may cost you.
Always ask for a formal, written offer before resigning from your current job or celebrating the new role.
Example Of What to Say:
“Thank you for the verbal offer. Is it possible to send me a formal offer letter right away so we can finalize the next steps?”
Ask About Timelines
When a recruiter verbally offers you a job, or during an interview in South Africa, make sure you ask the hiring timeline so that you know when to give up if they don’t respond.
What to Ask:
- “When can I expect the written offer?”
- “What are the next steps in the hiring process?”
Maintain Professional Boundaries
Make sure to always remain professional in all communications and avoid appearing desperate. Apply for various job opportunities so that you don’t put your hopes in one opportunity.
What To look Out For During the Job Search
Be Aware of Scams
The South African job market is full of scams taking advantage of the vulnerable job seekers. Watch out for scammers, and do not entertain a recruiter or employer asking for payments, ID copies or banking details during the hiring process.
Network on Platforms Like LinkedIn
For more genuine and authentic opportunities, connect with other professionals in your industry through LinkedIn and get an opportunity of first-hand view when a job gets posted.
Understand Salary Expectations
There are websites like Payscale and Glassdoor South Africa that give you an idea of how much your role typically pays; this will help you decide on fair offers during your job search.
Research typical salaries for your role to ensure offers are fair. Websites like Payscale or Glassdoor South Africa can provide insights.
Final Thoughts
Once in a while during your job search in South Africa, you are gonna bump into scammers or recruiters who will ghost you after verbally offering you a job and there is nothing you can do to avoid it, just find a way to professionally deal with the situation and move forward. Make sure you protect yourself legally during your career journey and connect with other professionals on Linked in for more genuine job opportunities.
Remember to be proactive and do a follow up message after not hearing from recruiters after a job offer and also remain professional and know when to let go.
