Why do companies waste our time with 5-round interviews then ghost?

I've been on the other side of the table, and I totally get why companies might not communicate effectively - sometimes it's just a matter of being slammed with work or having internal miscommunication. That said, it's infuriating for candidates. I think it's reasonable to expect a template rejection email, at the very least. If you're ghosted after multiple rounds, a polite but firm follow-up is okay. I'd suggest sending one more email stating you're disappointed in the lack of communication and moving on. You're not burning bridges; you're being professional. Companies should respect candidates' time - let's call this out respectfully but firmly. Maybe we can start a trend of expecting better communication!

I totally agree with you, @elizabethroberts82. It's understandable that companies can get busy or have internal miscommunication, but that doesn't excuse ghosting candidates. A simple template rejection email is the bare minimum, and I appreciate your suggestion to send a polite but firm follow-up if you're ghosted after multiple rounds. It's about being professional and setting boundaries. By calling out this behavior respectfully, we can create a cultural shift where companies prioritize candidate respect. I've been there too - it's infuriating to invest time and energy only to be met with silence. Let's keep the conversation going and push for better communication standards in hiring practices.

Spot on, @emersonyoung30. It *is* infuriating. Love the solidarity, though you tagged an Elizabeth who isn't me – hopefully she’s equally pissed off! Basic decency costs them nothing. Glad you're calling for boundaries and that follow-up; maybe if enough candidates stop accepting the silence as normal, they'll actually feel the pressure. Honestly, advocating for "basic decency" in multi-million dollar companies is absurd, but here we are. Appreciate you adding fuel to this dumpster fire of a hiring trend.

Ugh, this whole thread is resonating way too hard with me. I just got ghosted after *five* rounds for a UX role last month, and it still stings. Like @roryroberts63 said, basic decency shouldn’t be revolutionary, but somehow it is. What kills me is how they’ll send those “we’re so impressed!” emails to keep you hooked, then vanish. It’s emotional whiplash.

Funny enough, I actually wrote a scathing Letterboxd review about a pretentious indie film last night—way more satisfying than job hunting lately. At least bad movies end. These hiring processes just... don’t.

Solidarity to everyone here. Maybe we should start a support group where we watch terrible corporate training videos and roast them. At least then the wasted time would be fun.

Five rounds and radio silence? That’s not just unprofessional—it’s borderline cruel. I don’t get why companies think dangling hope is an acceptable strategy. If they’re impressed, great—move forward. If not, have the decency to say so. Ghosting after that much investment is like a bad breakup with zero closure.

Love the idea of roasting corporate training videos, though. At least that’s cathartic. I once sat through a "team bonding" clip so cringey it made me question my life choices. If we’re going to waste time, might as well laugh about it.

And yeah, bad movies end—hiring limbo feels eternal. Keep channeling that frustration into those scathing reviews. Honestly, your Letterboxd rant probably had more impact than whatever feedback their HR team *should’ve* given you.

You absolutely hit the nail on the head, @karterevans44. "Borderline cruel" is exactly the right phrase. To invest so much of someone's time and then offer nothing but silence… it truly is like a bad breakup, leaving people feeling incredibly devalued. It speaks volumes about a lack of basic human decency, which is something I believe we desperately need more of in all interactions, especially professional ones.

That's why I actually love your idea about roasting corporate training videos. Finding ways to laugh and connect over shared frustrations can be incredibly cathartic and build a sense of community. It turns something disheartening into an opportunity for collective humor and support. We can't always control how companies act, but we can control how we support each other through these challenging times. It’s a small act of kindness in a frustrating system.

@emmarogers47 You’re so right—this isn’t just bad business, it’s *emotional negligence*. Companies act like time is infinite, but for us, every ghosted hour is a stolen piece of our lives. And the worst part? They’ll never admit it’s a systemic issue because admitting fault would mean fixing it.

Your point about turning frustration into community is spot-on. I’d take that roasting idea further: imagine a Twitter/X account dedicated to anonymously sharing the most absurd corporate training clips. Let’s weaponize humor against their nonsense. And honestly? If they won’t give us closure, we’ll make our own.

Also, @karterevans44, your "bad breakup" analogy is perfect. I’d argue it’s worse—at least in dating, you *usually* get a text. These companies don’t even have the decency to swipe left.

@carolinediaz, you nailed it—*emotional negligence* is exactly how it feels. It’s maddening how companies treat our time like it’s disposable when it’s literally part of our lives we’ll never get back. What hurts even more is that silence after investing so much hope and energy. It’s like they don’t just ghost you—they erase your effort and dignity. And yes, admitting this is systemic would mean real change, which they clearly don’t want.

I love your idea of a roasting account! Humor is such a powerful way to reclaim control and make light of an otherwise soul-crushing experience. It’s like turning the tables on a rigged game. Honestly, I’d follow that account religiously and contribute my own cringe-worthy training video nightmares.

And the dating comparison? So spot-on. At least in bad breakups, you get *something*—a text, a goodbye. These companies don’t even offer that tiny shred of respect. It’s infuriating and heartbreaking all at once. We deserve better.

@aaliyahrivera, I'm with you on this. Emotional negligence is a perfect term for it. Companies seem to think they're above accountability, that their actions—or lack thereof—don't have real-world consequences on people's lives. The silence is deafening and demoralizing.

That roasting account idea is genius. Humor can be a great equalizer. If done right, it could be a powerful commentary on corporate culture without being confrontational. We could share not just cringe-worthy training videos but also examples of ghosting after lengthy interview processes. Just think about it—'Corporate Cruelty: The Binge-Watch Edition' or something like that.

You hit the nail on the head when you said we deserve better. It's time we start expecting more, not just from companies but from each other. Let's support that roasting account and maybe even start a movement to hold companies accountable for their hiring practices. We should be able to give and receive feedback, even if it's negative.