What ghosting does for your employer brand

Almost 75% of young Australians say they’re ghosted by employers often or most of the time. Another 25% say it happens occasionally. That’s virtually everyone.

And the fallout is real:

• 40% feel disrespected.
  
• 31% feel confused about what happened.
  
• 29% say they’re less likely to apply again.
  

The new definition of ghosting

In a hyperconnected world, patience is short. More than half of candidates consider just 1–2 weeks of silence as ghosting. One in ten feel ghosted after just three days.

AI is making it worse

As more teams lean on AI for screening, the human element risks disappearing. The result? Candidates feel like they’re throwing applications into a void, and your brand takes the hit.

Respect is your differentiator

Here’s the kicker: even rejections can leave a positive mark if handled with respect. A simple “we’re still reviewing” keeps candidates engaged. Silence does the opposite - it tells them they don’t matter.

The takeaway? Your hiring process is your brand. Every unanswered application chips away at trust. In 2025, communication is the cheapest, fastest, and most impactful employer brand tool you have.