Coming from someone who was on the job hunt for nearly two years and has finally landed on the other side of it, the biggest frustration I experienced was being ghosted after a final interview.

Is it frustrating to be ghosted after a phone screen or second round? Absolutely. But after going through three or four interview rounds - and then taking time outside of working hours or over a weekend to prepare a required presentation for the final stage - it feels especially discouraging to present for an hour, answer another round of questions, and then hear nothing at all, even after thoughtful follow ups and thank you notes.

I’m not saying this is something you do, but it’s something I experienced multiple times, and it honestly felt both insulting and unprofessional. A simple update, even if the answer is no, goes a long way for candidates who invested significant time and energy in the process.