Nobody’s Applying? You’re Probably Ghosting Talent
SHRM Talent 2026May 26, 202600:13:07

Nobody’s Applying? You’re Probably Ghosting Talent

The hiring market isn’t broken. Communication is. Pete Schramm breaks down why candidates disappear, why recruiters lose trust fast, and how most companies still make hiring way harder than it needs to be.

Most hiring problems are self-inflicted. Candidates apply to 200 jobs and hear back from almost nobody. Recruiters lose attention in minutes. Vendors all look the same. Pete cuts through the noise on talent management, candidate experience, AI, recruiting communication, employer branding, and why “being memorable” actually matters now.

In this episode… we get real about ghosting candidates, broken recruiting processes, AI changing the game, and why most companies still fail basic communication. They also unpack candidate assessments, employer trust, vendor sameness, and the brutal reality of attention spans in hiring today.

Key Takeaways :

Pete applied to nearly 200 jobs in college and barely heard back from a handful of employers.

There are companies in Pittsburgh alone with 1,000+ open jobs, yet candidates still think nobody is hiring.

Most “talent management” today still feels transactional instead of human.

Candidates abandon recruiting funnels fast if companies don’t respond quickly.

AI is letting companies do “more with less,” but it’s also accelerating competition.

Recruiters lose trust when they ask candidates to complete assessments with zero context.

Giving candidates visibility into the hiring process is basic respect, not innovation.

Younger candidates move on in minutes if you miss their attention window.

Most HR vendors blend together because everybody markets the same safe message.

“Be memorable” was a recurring theme. Pete argues companies must actually take risks to stand out.

Software sales still comes down to one thing: people buy from people they like.


Guest : Pete Schramm

Founder of Lattitude and a workforce strategist focused on connecting people to meaningful work, better hiring communication, and long-term career growth.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-schramm/

Connect with Us :

William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup/

Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary/


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