Research from Robert Half finds that 57% of Australian job seekers would lose interest in a role within 10 days if they did not hear back from the prospective employer.
By Maggie Mancini
More than half (57%) of Australian workers would lose interest in a role if they do not hear back within 10 business days after applying for a job, new independent research by Robert Half finds.
When asked how long after applying for a job a candidate would wait to hear back from an employer before losing interest, less than one in 10 (9%) candidates are happy to wait as long as it takes. Most (83%) job seekers give employers up to one month to respond. Approximately 13% would wait less than five business days before losing interest in the role, while 44% would lose interest between five and 10 business days after applying, 26% would give employers between 10 days and one month, and 8% would lose interest after waiting for more than a month.
“Despite an easing employment market, time remains of the essence to secure top talent,” says Nicole Gorton, director at Robert Half. “Job seekers are often juggling multiple applications and interviews, and a slow response from an employer can quickly dampen their enthusiasm. Ghosting is a major red flag not only for employers, but also candidates. Being left in the dark about their application status can lead to frustration, resentment, and a negative perception of the company. Top talent won’t wait around. If they don’t hear back within a reasonable timeframe, they’ll move on to other opportunities, which can leave employers struggling to fill critical roles.”
When asked what actions they would take if they felt an employer was ghosting them, more than one-third (35%) of candidates would not do anything at all. Another third (35%) would follow up with the employer. Meanwhile, 26% of candidates would request updates from the hiring manager, and 9% would try to find out more information from another contact within the organisation.
However, almost half (45%) of workers would have a more adverse response, with 21% of candidates saying they would refuse to consider the company for future opportunities, 12% saying they would drop out of the recruitment process, and another 12% saying they would share their experience with other job seekers on social media or an employer review website.
“The lack of communication from employers can contribute to a negative candidate experience,” Gorton says. “And while external communication platforms like Google Reviews and Glassdoor can be effective for staff attraction, it is also the place where disgruntled candidates can air their bad experiences, which in turn can damage the employer’s brand reputation and deter future applications.”
