The top reasons job applicants say they ghost prospective employers in the hiring process

Workers surveyed cited unpaid work in the interview process and a remote work bait-and-switch as top reasons to ghost.

• Bad experiences with talent acquisition can lead job seekers to ghost employers, a FlexJobs report finds.
• Other reasons they may ghost include unpaid work in the interview and a bait-and-switch on remote work policies.
• Ghosting on either side can have repercussions; sending even a simple email can help avoid trouble.

While it's generally more common for job seekers to never hear back from potential employers, ghosting can go both ways. Some job applicants may withdraw their candidacy without saying so, disappearing in the middle of the hiring process.

Knowing why they do so can help companies address issues in the hiring process to better attract, hire, and retain talent.

The biggest reasons job candidates said they ghost prospective employers have to do with bad experiences with talent acquisition, according to a report published Monday by FlexJobs and MyPerfectResume.

"The key touch points with HR and hiring managers during the hiring process all give job seekers information," said Toni Frana, lead career expert at FlexJobs. "Do they receive emails in a timely manner? Is the interview done shortly after the application happens? What is the tone of the messages that a job seeker receives in those touchpoints? All of those things help a job seeker determine if the culture would be a good fit for them and if this would be someplace that they would want to work."

The survey polled more than 2,000 professionals based in the United States in June. One question asked, "What factors would make you ghost an employer or pull out of the interview process?" Here's the breakdown of how they responded:

• Disorganized or unprofessional hiring manager (67%)
• Lack of communication (61%)
• Told the job is remote, but is actually hybrid or in-office (60%)
• Negative company culture (53%)
• Job doesn't align with personal values (45%)
• Unfavorable company reviews or reputation (43%)
• Poor employee benefits or compensation (43%)
• Unpaid work during interview (30%)
• Recent layoffs by the company (25%)

And while it may be tempting to ghost, remember that doing so could have repercussions — on both sides.

If you're a job candidate, consider "sending a simple email to your point of contact, explaining that you would like to move in a different direction and you wanted to let them know you appreciate all the time they have spent with you up until that point, can really go a long way," Frana said.

Employers should also let candidates know they're moving in a different direction and thank them for their time and effort in applying.

With any application, "the outcome might not be getting the job or offering the job," Frana added. But letting a candidate or prospective employer know before you go is "at least is a more positive end than just dropping communication altogether."

Have you ghosted a prospective employer before, or have another job search story to share? We'd like to hear from you. Contact this reporter at sjackson@businessinsider.com.