Getting an interview request can feel like a huge win—it’s exciting and validating, especially after all the effort put into applying in this competitive job market. However, being ghosted after that initial excitement is incredibly disheartening. The recruiter and I exchanged emails and eventually confirmed a date for the interview. On the scheduled day, I waited for a phone call from the recruiter but never received one. Ten minutes later, I received an email from the recruiter claiming they had called and it went to voicemail, but I had no missed calls or messages. I replied to confirm the phone number, which was also included in my email signature, but I never received a response. This experience left me with a negative impression of the company’s communication practices and overall candidate experience.