The TripAdvisor co-founder admits that he is often ghostly on LinkedIn now that he has resigned, but career experts say it could be a “blessing of disguise.”

“When I reach out to someone on LinkedIn and become a ghost, I sometimes laugh at it,” says Cowfer. recently was recognized by Grit Podcast. “And I said, ‘Wow, that wasn’t happening to me. But it’s okay, get used to your new life.”

Kaufer said he was not bothered by people who were not responding to his message. He explained that he is rather unremarkable as the CEO of TripAdvisor, and prefers business issues and heavy operations.

However, Kaufer looks energized by slowly retreating from the limelight, but until he is ignored by his own previous associates on LinkedIn, the Jobseeker and Manager are I’m tired People aren’t Respond to them.

Career experts say luck There are several common reasons why experts are ghosts, and they share measures on how to deal with quiet rejection. The truth is that ghosts aren’t always personal, and it doesn’t hurt to follow up, strengthen connections in other industries, and adjust professional material to gain visibility. Ghosts may even be “the blessing of disguise.”

“You can ghosts and shut out after leaving your position, and even high-level leaders are not immune to it,” says Jasmine Escalella, a career expert at resume builders. luck. “Always remember that rejection and silence are part of the process and do not represent how great you are as a candidate.”

It’s not just the CEO who is becoming a ghost

Reading the former CEO of TripAdvisor is a well-known example of very common professional habits that are hurting workers and employers.

Number of job seeker interview reviews on Glassdoor I’ll mention the ghost It has more than doubled between 2020 and 2023, climbing 112%, according to platform data. And employment managers even do that. 69% of HR experts admit that they frequently close job hunting and allow them to cut communication with candidates. Recent data from Restart the builder and livecareer. Then there Problem “Ghost’s work” – A list of jobs created by employers Growth of equipment companies. Three of five job candidates say they have come across one of these incorrect posts, but don’t hear a response from their employers about the opportunity.

However, despite the applicants I’ll explain it The tired employment process of “irritated”, “unfair” and “poor” may not actually be the worst in the world.

“Being a ghost can actually be a blessing of disguise. Just like on a date, if someone disappears without a word, they’re simply not the right match,” Escalella says.

“The same goes for businesses, recruitment teams, or recruiters. If they’re not communicating, it could be a sign that they’re not in an environment where your skills and contributions are really appreciated.”

In response to ghost jobs, manager radio silence hiring and exhausting the hiring process, job seekers are turning the table of potential bosses. Approximately 75% of workers say They ignored it Actual 2025 data shows future employers over the past year. And Gen Z is the worst criminal. 93% admitted they skipped in interviews.

What to do when workers become ghosts?

Job seekers may feel helpless when connections and employment managers ghosted, but career expert Escalella suggests some ways workers can make the most of it.

1. Building a reputation beyond your role: Like the former TripAdvisor CEO, Escalella says some experts get typecasts to their roles. Once they leave, it becomes difficult for others to see them in the context of their work.
2. Adjust the application: Leave work or create a career pivot can cause ghosts if workers are no longer perfect for new opportunities. “You may be shut out before you prove that you’re right. This is why it’s important to not only tune your application to highlight transferable skills, but also invest in networking and connections in the industry you want to move.”
3. Don’t be afraid to follow up: Double text is perfectly appropriate, and Escalella says it’s good to follow up recruiters, hiring managers and potential connections. “Request status updates politely or keep interest in connections. It’s not that there’s always one response. People get busy, their inboxes get busy, and professional persistence can often be rewarded.”
4. Grow your network: It is important for workers to expand their networks and maintain momentum, as older connections may not respond after follow-up. “If you still don’t get a response, just keep gaining momentum by focusing on network growth, applying it to other roles and making it visible.”

While it can be very discouraging for workers to ghost others, Escalella says it’s important for experts to keep their heads high. The right companies and opportunities will come.

“The right company will let you know you want by getting involved, following up and creating space for your sparkle,” Escalella says. “Keeping a positive mindset and knowing your values will help you reshape your redirection to a better role and company, not as a rejection of ghosts.”