Ghosting -- receiving no response after an application or after interviews -- has increased massively according to the StepStone Job Market Report 2025: 60% of all applicants report at least one ghosting experience. Causes: ATS overload (recruiters process 200+ applications per position), process gaps, no explicit obligation to send rejections in Germany (only in cases of proven discrimination under AGG Section 31 Q031). What you can do: Follow up once after 2 weeks, once more after another 2 weeks -- then move on internally. GDPR Art. 15: You have the right to access stored applicant data -- this can be used as a follow-up lever. Monster shows: Candidates who follow up politely are rated as more professional than those who remain silent or react with frustration. Practical tip: Always run 3-5 processes in parallel -- never wait for a single application.
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