06/03/2026
Just read a killer piece by Mike Gionta, from The RecruiterU on client communication, and it hit home for every hospitality recruiter who’s been ghosted after a final interview. His take? “No news is bad news.” If it’s been 10+ days of silence post-final, the issue probably started way earlier — when you took the search.
Most of us skip the awkward but critical step: setting realistic expectations. As Mike puts it, “If you do not have a system for selling, you’re subject to your buyer’s system for buying.” Hiring managers aren’t being jerks when they go dark. They never knew how quickly you wanted feedback, because you didn’t set the expectation up front.
Clients don’t realize every day of silence makes your A-player candidate think, “They must not want me.” In the hospitality industry, where candidates can have multiple offers, any delay in communication can kill the deal.
So how do you fix it? Call and email: “Hey Mr. Hiring Manager, I’m racking my brain wondering what I did to p**s you off. I’m a big boy. I can take constructive criticism. If I’ve burned a bridge, I need to know. But if you still want Joe for your team, I have to let him know it’s a no-go if I don’t hear from you today.” Mike says this gets a 90%+ callback rate because it removes shame and defensiveness.
Then reset. Admit it and own the problem in a conversation with the client. Sorry, it’s my fault I should have let you know how quickly my candidates are making decisions on new position. When candidates don’t hear back quickly, they assume it is rejection and move on.
Set your preferred communication; Mr. Hiring Manager, I would ask you to get back to me within 24 hours to let me know if you are interested in the candidate. We don’t need to set up the actual interview that day (but it would be helpful).
Bottom line for hospitality recruiters: We’re not just filling roles — we’re managing our candidates' egos, timelines, and perceptions. Set the system upfront, with your client, share those expectations with your candidates, so no one is left worrying or feeling rejected.
What do you do when a client goes dark? Drop it in the comments below
