Written by: Kalli

Have you ever excitedly applied or interviewed for a job, only to be left on delivered for weeks? Maybe you even got ghosted by your dream company. I remember really wanting to work at a smoothie shop near my house, only to hear nothing for months. After three weeks I gave up and applied to another job only to get a message two weeks later asking if I was still interested. It’s disheartening to say the least. According to Kate Beckman, Director of Brand and Community at RippleMatch, 70% of Generation Z applicants believe being ghosted by a company contributes to a negative job searching experience. I’m sure many of us have experienced this and will continue to experience this in the years to come, but how can we ensure that we don’t miss out on opportunities? 

When you think about Generation Z, you think about the first generation raised on technology. For a generation raised in such a fast-paced environment with the world in their pockets, job searching looks a little different. Paper applications are a thing of the past. Majority of hiring happens on the internet, whether that be through a job searching website or through email. With workers being in such high demand, opportunities are everywhere. An infographic in the same presentation by Kate Beckman claims that, “Gen Z candidates begin to lose interest in a role within two weeks of applying.” How can that issue be resolved? Active communication may be the key. 

While it may be intimidating, reaching out to the company after the interview may work in your favor. Sometimes, it may just feel like the company doesn’t want you. That’s okay. But by reaching out to them, maybe you will find that they do want you to join their team- it’s just taking a while to process the application. Talking to the interviewer after the interview could also help. In an ideal world they would tell you directly when they plan to accept or decline you for the job, but most of the time you have to advocate for yourself. It won’t hurt your chances- if anything, it tells them that you really do want the job and are anxious to hear their answer. 

Having a little bit of patience doesn’t hurt either. Asking the interviewer when they expect to have an answer can give you an estimated timeline as to when they would get back to you. After a few months, it’s probably best to move on. But after two weeks? You’re sure to still stand a chance in their candidate pool. While looking at other jobs is great, don’t lose hope if your dream company hasn’t responded to you yet. Take a deep breath and just relax. 

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Source: The State of the Gen Z Job Search: New Insights To Inform Your Fall Strategy