Like many other industries, the dental field has dealt with new hiring challenges that came about during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Barry Lyon, DDS, a chief dental officer for the division of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry for Dental Care Alliance, recently spoke with Becker's about how one hiring challenge, "ghosting," is affecting employers.
Editor's note: This Q&A is part of a weekly series featuring Dr. Lyon focused on topics in the dental industry and DSO field. This response was lightly edited for clarity and length.
Dr. Barry Lyon: Many who have recently sought to hire employees have been ghosted by potential candidates. This relatively recent and unfortunately pervasive phenomenon has affected all levels of employment. What has caused this and how can employers mitigate it?
Ghosting can take many forms, from failing to return phone calls, not showing up for interviews, to failing to reply to emails. The "ghosts" are unaware the business and professional worlds are small. According to the HireHive, ghosting behavior is a result of the unemployment rate and the job market. Indeed says the prevalence of ghosting has increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic and that 77% of employers reported that they were ghosted in 2021.
While the common belief that ghosting is simply rudeness and inconsideration on the part of the candidate, employers may share some responsibility. Examine your hiring process. Is it too long, causing candidates to lose patience or allowing them more time to explore other opportunities? Rashly hiring someone is ill-advised, but so is prolonging the process. Consider whether your communication is effective. Many candidates respond to texting more than emails, which may not be read. Strive to communicate in such a way that there’s a need to respond. Make clear from the beginning what the job requirements are, what the compensation is and what the hiring timeline is. Attempt to develop a rapport that creates a bond with the candidate.
While ghosting won’t be going away anytime soon, look beyond the ghost and examine your office’s culture, communication and presentation.