From #OpenToWork to #Hiring
Ghosting persists. Integrity means replying, especially when no one’s watching.
“Helping one person may not change the whole world, but it can change one person’s whole world.” That line from Rishad Tobaccowala a still guides me.
Eighteen months ago I wrote about ghosting in our industry. I hoped the trend would fade. It has not. Messages still go unanswered. Interviews stall with no reply. People are left to guess what went wrong. It hurts. It erodes trust. It also wastes time we cannot get back.
Here is the twist. Some of the very recruiters who once ghosted me now reach out with new energy. Why? They saw a title change and a “Hiring” banner. The tone flipped in a day. I am glad when doors open. Yet the timing stings. It points to a hard truth about virtue signalling. We say we care about people. We post about empathy and culture. But our actions must match our words when there is nothing to gain.
This note is for everyone with the #opentowork tag. I see you. I have been there. The silence is heavy. The search can feel like a full-time job with no pay and no clear end. Please hear this: your value is not set by a reply, a title, or a logo. Your value is set by your work, your grit, and your character.
My mission has not changed. I choose to help. In the last year and a half I have connected with more than 170 people. I have referred 10+ candidates for roles at Samba TV . Many did not ask. Some were strangers. It was the right thing to do. When I could not help, I said so fast and with care. A fast “no” is a gift. A silent “maybe” is not.
This is not a call-out post. It is a call-in. We can do better, together. If you recruit, close the loop. Even a one-line note helps:* “Not a fit, thanks for your time.” *If you lead a team, model it. Make response SLAs part of how you work. If you post about people first values, live them when no one is watching. That is integrity. That is culture.
To those on the market, here is what has helped me. Keep a short, clear story of your value. Ask for direct feedback. Build a small circle that checks in each week. Share leads with each other. Track your pipeline like a sales plan. Celebrate small wins. Rest when you need to. You are running a marathon, not a sprint.
To my network, here is my pledge. I will keep opening doors. I will keep making intros. I will keep saying “no” when needed, fast and with respect. If you need a read on a role or a warm intro, ask. If I can help, I will. If I cannot, I will still reply.
Our industry runs on reach and frequency. People run on trust and kindness. Let’s raise both. Send the note. Close the loop. Share the lead. And yes, call out ghosting when you see it. Not to shame, but to grow.
I’ll end where I began, with that simple truth. Helping one person may not change the whole world. But it can change one person’s whole world.
Today, be that change for someone. #opentowork