Most people can handle rejection. What they cannot handle is silence after they showed up.

If you have ever interviewed for a job and never heard back, this is for you.

You prepared.
You rearranged your schedule.
You showed up ready.
You followed up professionally.

And then… nothing.

No “yes.”
No “no.”
No explanation.

Just silence.

This happens every day in the United States, across every industry and at every level.
Hourly workers. Professionals. Parents returning to work. Recent graduates. Senior leaders.

Interview ghosting has become normalized.
It should not be.

Surveys show that more than half of job seekers report negative mental health effects after being ghosted by employers, including anxiety, self-doubt, and depression.

Why This Matters

Interviewing is not casual.

It requires time, emotional energy, preparation, and often personal sacrifice. When an employer invites someone to interview, they initiate a professional relationship built on mutual effort.

Silence at the end of that process is not neutral.

Ghosting:

• traps candidates in uncertainty
• delays financial and life decisions
• increases anxiety and self-doubt
• erodes trust in employers and institutions
• disproportionately harms people with the least power in the process

Rejection allows people to move on.
Ghosting keeps people stuck.

Why I Started This

I earned my Master of Legal Studies in HR and Employment Law in December 2025, where I studied how employment law protects workers in many areas but leaves this gap unaddressed.

I was recruited into a senior-level role at a Fortune company. I participated in multiple interviews, prepared extensively, submitted strategic work, and was told next steps were coming.

Weeks passed.

I followed up professionally.
I remained patient and respectful.
I stayed engaged in good faith.

There was no response.

Not even a “no.”

I did everything candidates are told to do. There was no closure, no accountability, and no protection.

That experience is not rare. It is common. And it is unnecessary.

What the Fair Hiring Timelines Act Does

The Fair Hiring Timelines Act establishes a simple, reasonable standard:

If an employer conducts an interview, they must provide one of the following within a defined timeframe:

• an offer
• a rejection
• or a notice that the candidate remains under consideration

That is all.

No explanations required.
No feedback mandated.
No hiring decisions forced.

Just acknowledgment. 

Why This Is Reasonable

Most employers already have systems capable of doing this. Applicant tracking systems automate communications every day.

This proposal does not regulate who gets hired.
It does not interfere with business judgment.
It does not require justification or documentation.

It establishes a professional floor.

Other regions are already moving in this direction. Ontario, Canada enacted a similar requirement effective in 2026. The Fair Hiring Timelines Act proposes a more efficient U.S. standard aligned with common payroll cycles and existing hiring practices.

Good employers already do this.
This law ensures everyone does.

What This Is Not

This is not anti-business.
This is not anti-recruiter.
This is not about punishment or shaming.

It is about restoring professionalism, dignity, and basic respect to a process that affects millions of Americans.

Silence should not be an acceptable outcome of an interview.

For many candidates, that silence creates real harm. It delays financial decisions, intensifies anxiety, erodes confidence, and leaves people questioning their worth. Research shows that employer ghosting is associated with increased stress, depression, and loss of trust, especially for those already navigating job loss or economic uncertainty.

Why Your Signature Matters

If you have ever:

• waited weeks after an interview for clarity
• refreshed your inbox hoping for an answer
• hesitated to follow up again out of fear
• felt embarrassed or invisible in the process

Then you already understand why this matters.

Signing this petition sends a clear message: People deserve closure after interviews.

Call to Action

Please sign and share this petition if you believe:

• interviewing is human work
• time deserves respect
• closure should never be optional

The complete Fair Hiring Timelines Act, legislative summary, and supporting evidence are available here: Fair Hiring Timelines Act

Behind every interview is a person taking a chance.