There is a term that has popped up in recent times – ghosthiring. It is when companies extend job offers to candidates but fail to follow through on onboarding. This practice leaves candidates hanging, unsure about their employment status. In some unfortunate cases, this lack of communication can lead to severe consequences, as highlighted by a recent incident involving an Information Technology analyst who shared his harrowing experience on LinkedIn.
The candidate, Abhigyan Tripathi, received a job offer from Accenture for a position in Gurugram on July 18, 2024, with a joining date set for September 23, 2024. Trusting the offer, he resigned from his then-current job, effective from August 13, 2024. However, his early excitement quickly turned into frustration as Accenture failed to respond to his repeated emails regarding the joining process, whether virtual or in-person. With no clear instructions, he decided to visit the Gurugram office in person, only to be told that they had no information about his onboarding.
From late September to early October, he received sporadic communication from Accenture, requesting documents like his passport and degree, which he provided. But instead of a confirmation, he received an auto-generated email on October 3 stating that his application was not progressing further. Confusingly, he still received calls from Accenture asking if he was ready to join, to which he always responded positively.
As of now, no definitive joining date has been given, despite his numerous follow-ups. The lack of clarity and response from Accenture’s end has left him jobless
Here’s a look at his full LinkedIn post:
However, Abhigyan isn’t alone in this. Several other professionals took to the comments section to share similar disturbing incidents. Have a look:
For job seekers, an offer letter should signify stability, not uncertainty. It’s not just about hiring the right candidate – it’s also about being a responsible employer who values the time and efforts of the people they bring into the recruitment process.