"“We’ll Get Back to You”"

Four words. That’s all it takes to keep a candidate hanging for weeks.

“We’ll get back to you.”

I’ve been in recruitment for over 15 years. I’ve seen candidates refresh their inbox 47 times a day. I’ve seen them turn down other opportunities because they’re “waiting to hear back.” I’ve seen them lose sleep, lose confidence, and lose faith in the entire hiring process.

All because someone couldn’t send a two-line email.

Here’s What’s Actually Happening

When a hiring manager says “we’ll get back to you,” they usually mean one of three things:

1. We haven’t decided yet and we’re not sure when we will
2. You’re the backup candidate and we’re waiting to see if our first choice accepts
3. We’ve already decided no, but we don’t want to deal with the awkwardness right now

None of these are acceptable reasons to leave someone in limbo.

The Candidate Experience Isn’t a Marketing Buzzword

Companies spend thousands on employer branding. They want to be seen as “great places to work.” They post about their values on LinkedIn.

Then they ghost candidates.

The disconnect is staggering. And candidates talk. They post on Glassdoor. They tell their friends. They remember – especially when they become decision-makers themselves.

What It Costs You

That candidate you left hanging? They might have been perfect for the next role. They might have referred their talented friend. They might have become your client in five years.

But they won’t. Because you couldn’t be bothered to close the loop.

A Simple Fix

I tell my clients: If you can’t make a decision within two weeks of a final interview, you’re not ready to hire. If you can make a decision but can’t communicate it, that’s worse.

A rejection email takes 30 seconds to send. A phone call takes two minutes. The impact of radio silence lasts much longer.

To The Candidates

If you haven’t heard back after your follow-up email, you have your answer. It’s not the answer you wanted, but it’s an answer.

Move on. The company that wants you won’t make you guess.