Trick of Treat? The Job Search Edition

You find a role that sounds like a great fit. You tailor your résumé, write the cover letter, and submit your application.

Weeks pass. The same role keeps getting reposted, and you’re left wondering whether anyone is actually hiring.

Trick or treat?

A recruiter reaches out enthusiastically. “Your background is exactly what we’re looking for!”

You respond. You interview. You follow up.

Then the recruiter becomes a ghost. 👻

You make it through several interviews for another opportunity. The offer arrives, and the salary is lower than the range you discussed.

Apparently, some of the compensation was wearing a costume.

Trick or treat?

Job hunting has enough suspense to qualify as a seasonal attraction. Candidates are left wondering whether the opportunity is real, when they might hear back, and whether the details will hold up through the offer.

Candidates deserve a few more treats in the hiring process:

🍬 Real opportunities. Post roles you intend to fill. Clearly label postings meant to build a candidate pool for future openings.

🍬 Clear communication. Share realistic timelines. When plans change, send an update.

🍬 Closure. Close the loop, especially with people who have invested time in interviews.

🍬 Consistent compensation information. Discuss the range early. If the range changes, tell candidates promptly and confirm alignment before moving forward.

Candidates bring preparation, time, and hope to the process. As HR professionals and hiring leaders, we can honor that investment with clear information, consistent communication, and follow-through.

This Halloween, the haunted houses can handle the disappearing acts and surprise endings.