Handling Professional Ghosting in Pharmacy

The term ‘ghosted’ is often associated with relationships set in motion via the online dating world that suddenly cease to exist without any explanation. However, ghosting is also trending in the workplace. If you are either seeking employment or want to move forward with your career as a pharmacist, understanding the consequences of professional ghosting is a must in 2020.

We are all guilty of ghosting at some level. Making a decision not to reply to an email, phone call, or text with the hope that the person will give up and go away without an explanation from you has become routine in our personal and professional lives. No response often becomes our default form of communication. Like ghosting in the dating world, such behavior can leave the recipient feeling angry, disappointed, or confused.

A number of different ghosting situations that can occur in pharmacy, particularly for those dealing with employment. Professional ghosting between pharmacists seeking jobs and those doing the hiring are the most common.

Recently, a colleague came across a request from a pharmacist via LinkedIn encouraging her to apply for a position with his company. In addition to a pharmacy degree, the position required a unique skill set. Well qualified and excited about the opportunity, my colleague exchanged emails with the pharmacist, submitted her résumé, and sent several work samples for consideration. After 2 weeks, she sent a follow-up email to determine whether a decision about her future employment with the company had been made. The hiring pharmacist’s response? “I’ll get back to you next week.” A week passed, so this colleague sent another email, which was ignored. She never heard from the pharmacist again.

BOTTOM LINE. Technology has changed the way we now communicate in the employment process. Whether you are the job applicant or the pharmacist doing the hiring, the act of ghosting speaks volumes about you. Professional ghosting changes our perception of an individual forever. Take the time to follow up with an employment decision either by phone or email. It is courteous, and honest, offers clarity, and will not damage your professional reputation moving forward.

DONNA KOSTEVA, RPH, MED, is a pharmacist and a career specialist. Her focus is to assist those in the pharmacy profession to maximize professional career development from student to retiree. You can enjoy her website and blog at www.CareerForwardPharmacist.com.