You Got the Offer… Then Nothing

You get the call. The offer is coming. You celebrate, maybe even turn down other interviews. Then silence. No contract. No response. No explanation. Crickets…

It is happening more often than people realize. Candidates are receiving verbal offers that never turn into official ones. Companies are rescinding opportunities or vanishing during final stages. It is not personal. It is a reflection of how unstable and reactive the job market has become.

Here’s what you can do to protect yourself from losing out on opportunities if you have an offer rescinded or if you are ghosted by a company.  

1. Give It One Professional Nudge

If you received an offer and you haven’t heard back after 2-3 days. Send a short, calm follow up:

“Hi [Name], checking in on the offer timeline.
I remain excited about the opportunity and wanted to confirm the next steps.”

If there is no response within three business days, stop waiting and move on. Silence is a response.

2. Protect Your Options Until the Offer is Signed

Never stop interviewing until you have a signed offer letter and a confirmed start date. A verbal yes is not a commitment. Keep your momentum alive until the paperwork is real.

3. Reframe What Happened

A company that ghosts after offering you a job just showed you its internal culture. You did not lose stability. You avoided chaos. That’s not somewhere you would’ve wanted to be anyways. 

4. Regroup and Reset Your Strategy

Update your availability on LinkedIn, reconnect with recruiters, and re-engage with your interview pipeline. The faster you get back in motion, the faster confidence returns.

The Takeaway

“Offer then ghosted” hurts, but it is not a failure or a reflection of anything you’ve done. It is a filter. The right company will communicate clearly and follow through. Until then, keep showing up. The silence says more about them than it ever will about you.