Recruiter Not Responding? You're Not Stuck.
You had a great conversation. They promised to follow up. Now it's radio silence. Days turn to weeks. You're left wondering: should I follow up again? Move on?
Here's the truth: don't wait. Take action.
Sound Familiar?
You're not alone. Recruiter ghosting is one of the most frustrating parts of job searching.
They said they'd call. They didn't.
You nailed the phone screen. They said 'we'll be in touch this week.' That was 3 weeks ago.
Follow-ups go unanswered
You've sent 2 polite follow-up emails. Nothing. You don't want to seem desperate but you need answers.
Waiting is killing you
Other opportunities are slipping by while you wait for this one recruiter to respond.
No way to reach anyone else
This recruiter was your only contact at the company. If they ghost, you're stuck.
"I interviewed with a recruiter at Google. They said I was a 'great fit' and they'd get back to me 'within the week.' It's been a month. I've followed up twice. Nothing."
— Reddit r/recruitinghell
What To Do When a Recruiter Goes Silent
Don't panic. Here's a practical game plan.
Don't take it personally
Recruiters handle 50-100+ candidates at once. They're not ignoring you specifically—they're overwhelmed.
Send one more follow-up
A final, brief check-in is professional. After that, it's time to move on.
Find an alternative contact
Search for other recruiters or hiring managers at the same company. Sometimes a different door opens.
Expand your pipeline
Never put all your eggs in one basket. Reach out to 10+ companies, not just one.
Find Alternative Contacts (The Smart Move)
Your job search shouldn't depend on one person responding.
Find other recruiters at the same company
One recruiter ghosted? There are usually 5-20 more. Reach out to someone who will respond.
Direct email addresses
Skip LinkedIn. Email lands in their inbox and gets read—even if they're busy.
Stop relying on one person
With access to multiple contacts, your job search doesn't depend on a single recruiter.
Take back control
Proactive outreach beats passive waiting. Reach more people. Get more responses.
How to Find Other Recruiters at the Same Company
Search the Company
Type the company name in our search. We'll show you all recruiters we have on file.
Browse Alternatives
See job titles, departments, and locations. Find someone who might handle roles like yours.
Reach Out Directly
Get their email. Send a thoughtful message. Get back in the running.
Sample Email to a New Contact
Subject: Quick question about [Role Title] opportunity
Hi [Name],
I recently applied for the [Role Title] position at [Company] and had some initial conversations with your team. I'm reaching out because I'm genuinely excited about this opportunity and wanted to connect with someone who might have visibility into the hiring process.
I bring [brief 1-sentence value prop]. Would you be open to a brief conversation about whether this role might be a fit?
Thanks for your time,
[Your Name]
Keep it brief, professional, and value-focused. Don't mention being ghosted.