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Gen Z Are Experts at Ghosting Relationships — Now They’re Ghosting Jobs

Gen Z Are Experts at Ghosting Relationships — Now They’re Ghosting Jobs

Jason had spent weeks job hunting—scrolling through LinkedIn, tweaking his résumé and enduring awkward Zoom interviews where hiring managers asked him to “describe a time he overcame adversity.” It was exhausting. So when he finally landed a remote marketing job with decent pay and benefits, you’d think he’d be celebrating. Instead, he immediately blocked his new manager’s number and deleted all traces of the company from his inbox.

“I just wasn’t feeling it,” Jason admitted later, shrugging.

Welcome to career catfishing—the latest workplace trend where Gen Zers (and some young millennials) accept job offers only to ghost their new employers. Some never show up on day one, while others endure the onboarding process just long enough to peace out without a trace. It’s a phenomenon that’s gained traction on TikTok, where users share stories of applying to jobs for the fun of it, flaking on interviews or even accepting roles on a dare.

And it’s not just an internet joke. A recent survey found that 29% of Gen Z and young millennials admitted to career catfishing, with a shocking 21% doing it because someone dared them to. Others admitted they simply “weren’t feeling it,” while some treated interviews like a practice run before taking a better offer elsewhere.

Of course, millennials are guilty of ghosting jobs too—but their reasons tend to be more strategic, like leveraging multiple offers or navigating a competitive job market. Gen Z, however, is taking a different approach: prioritizing personal fulfillment over paycheck security. If a job doesn’t match their vibe, they disappear faster than a Hinge date who “isn’t looking for anything serious.”

Workplace ghosting and the risks of playing hard to get

In an era where job-hopping is the norm and quiet quitting is basically a sport, it’s easy to see why Gen Z might not feel particularly beholden to traditional work structures. Many of them entered the workforce post-pandemic, watching companies lay off employees en masse while still demanding unwavering loyalty from workers. They’ve seen how jobs can disappear overnight, so why not play the game on their own terms?

But here’s the problem: career catfishing might feel like a power move in the moment, but it can backfire hard.

For starters, industries talk. Hiring managers have long memories, and word spreads fast—especially in niche fields. Ghosting a company today might mean burning a bridge that you need down the line. And while a viral TikTok about scamming recruiters might get you a few thousand likes, it won’t do much for your long-term career prospects when future employers start doing more thorough reference checks.

Then there’s the fact that job ghosting can reinforce negative stereotypes about Gen Z in the workplace. Older generations already see them as flighty and unreliable—fair or not. Constantly vanishing from jobs only fuels that narrative, making it harder for young workers to be taken seriously when advocating for flexibility, fair wages and mental health accommodations.

Maybe don’t ghost your job—even if you’re over it

Look, not every job is a dream job. Some are straight-up terrible. And no one should feel obligated to stick with a toxic workplace just to prove a point. But there’s a difference between setting healthy boundaries and treating job offers like party invites you can bail on at the last second.

If you realize a job isn’t for you, there are better ways to handle it. Declining an offer professionally keeps doors open. Giving notice, even a short one, preserves your reputation. And if you’re just not feeling it before the first day? A quick, polite email letting the employer know is infinitely better than pulling a full Houdini.

At the end of the day, ghosting jobs might feel fun, easy and consequence-free—but in a work culture already struggling with trust issues, it’s worth thinking twice before disappearing. After all, the job market has a long memory—even if your TikTok followers don’t.

© 2023 RELEVANT Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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