Ghosting Isn’t Just for Halloween: Why People Ghost and What to Do About It

10/20/2026

You sent a text, you’re scared to double-text, yet you still haven’t gotten a response back. A week has gone by, still nothing. That person who used to message you back within seconds has simply vanished into thin air.

I’ve got good news and bad news.

Bad news: you could have been ghosted. This is when someone suddenly cuts you off from all communication with no warning or explanation. This can happen with a crush, a close friend, or even a job prospect you really hoped to hear back from.

Here’s the good news: while getting ghosted stings, I’ve got some information and helpful tips to help you get through it.

Why Do People Ghost?

It is easy to assume that getting ghosted is because of something you did or said. Here’s the truth: getting ghosted often says more about the other person than it does about you. People who ghost often don’t know how to have a hard conversation and simply avoid it in the long term.

Some want to avoid direct conflict or an awkward interaction. Others might get really busy and forget to reply for so long that they now feel too embarrassed to say anything. I know I’ve accidentally left friends on read for weeks because I typed out a response, forgot to hit send, and somehow convinced myself they were the ones ghosting me. Often, when it comes to being ghosted, it is best to just not take it personally.

Don’t Spiral

I know that when someone goes silent, you feel like you’re just dying for answers. You’re probably asking yourself if you said something, or did something wrong. That is a loop that will eat away at you if you don’t actively work to avoid it.

Try these instead:

Check in once, but then stop. Try sending a friendly check-in message; if they don’t respond, then avoid engaging further.
Skip the stalk. Checking in on the profile of someone who ghosted you will only refresh those hurt feelings.
Find your own closure. You might deserve an explanation, but the hard truth is that you may never get one. Sometimes, closure is something you have to give yourself. If someone ghosted you, I promise you, it will feel better to let it go and move on.
Lean on your people. If you’re feeling some type of way because you’ve been ghosted, lean on those you trust. Talk to a friend, hit the gym, or participate in a hobby you love. Staying busy and working on your mental health helps soothe the sting.

What to Do When an Employer Ghosts You

Ghosting can also happen in a professional setting. Perhaps you killed it at the interview you were excited for, weeks go by, and you’ve heard nothing back. This is getting more and more common, and it can be incredibly frustrating. Approximately 50% of job seekers have been ghosted by a prospective employer. They, too, received no updates, not even a generic rejection email.

Here are a few ways to handle this situation like a pro:

Follow up politely. Best practice is to always send a thank-you note within 24 hours of an interview; make sure you include something unique to the interview. This could be a conversation you had or something you learned. If you don’t hear back by the timeline they gave you, it is okay to send a polite follow-up email. If they didn't give you a timeline, waiting about a week is a good rule of thumb. Sometimes, your application simply gets buried in a busy inbox.
Ask for feedback after a rejection. If you receive a generic rejection email, consider reaching out to ask for professional feedback. You might learn something that will help you further your own growth and help you at the next interview.
Keep it professional. Never burn your bridges. You may not have heard back from this interview, but if you apply to another job with the same company, it helps to not have sent an angry message. Doing this will never help you, and only hurts your chances. However, I can vouch for this—the company I work for professionally ghosted me a year before I was hired for an even better position that I love.
Keep applying. Never put your job search on hold just because you have an exciting interview with one company. Keep leads at the top of your funnel; it never hurts to have a backup plan.

If you’re looking for work in Northeast Ohio and want to Level Up your job search skills or find new job postings, check out these employment resources.

Moving Forward

Being ghosted can definitely make you feel unwanted, but don’t let it make you feel like something is wrong with you. Try to treat people the way that you wish you’d been treated. If someone isn’t interested, a short but kind message is a gift.

If you can’t shake a funk after being ghosted, make sure you talk to someone you trust, such as a parent, friend, teacher, or counselor. Remember that while you can’t control who walks into and out of your life, you can control how you take care of yourself going forward. Keep pouring energy into you; you’ve got this.

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About the Author: My name is Serena. I am a transition-aged youth in Northeast Ohio who is learning to navigate adulthood one step at a time alongside all of you. I have faced my fair share of challenges, but I have learned from each experience. I want to share how I see the world, advocate for myself, and keep moving forward. My story is still being written, and it’s rooted in growth, resilience, and figuring things out as I go.