Job seekers often experience ghosting or love-bombing during interviews, which can lead to self-doubt and questioning their career and sanity.

Despite Debra Boggs' assistance in helping executive-level leaders secure employment, they may still encounter frustrating experiences.

D&S Executive Career Management's founder and CEO, Boggs, had a candidate interviewing for a vice president-level role. After going through several rounds of discussions, he felt optimistic about the outcome. When he was invited for a follow-up interview onsite, Boggs saw it as a positive sign and was excited to make the journey, despite the three-hour commute.

The hiring manager was tardy and gave him only half an hour of his time, which dampened his optimism, according to Boggs, as he spoke to CNBC Make It.

The dramatic shift in respect for his time and efforts was a real red flag," Boggs says. "There were some other red flags that came up during the process, but I said, 'This is the best they're ever going to offer you in terms of respect.'

Job seekers often experience progress in their search, only to have the rug pulled out from under them during the hiring process.

According to a survey of 2,900 global employees by Greenhouse, a majority of job-seekers have experienced "love-bombing" or been ghosted during the interview process for a new role.

A report indicates that 53% of job-seekers have experienced being love-bombed by recruiters and hiring managers, who showered them with excessive praise and flattery during the hiring process, only to later pass them over for the role or offer them a salary and title that did not reflect their qualifications, skills, and experience.

A significant number of job seekers, approximately 52%, have experienced being ghosted during the hiring process, even after making it to the final rounds of interviews, with no communication from the recruiter or hiring manager regarding a decision.

According to Terry Petzold, managing partner at Fox Search Group, the "No. 1 frustration in the market" for job-seekers is such experiences.

"Petzold states that a major issue across companies is not providing feedback to candidates, which leaves individuals in a confusing state and causes anxiety and self-doubt about their career and mental well-being."

Why companies 'love-bomb' prospective employees

Companies that need to fill a role quickly may send job-seekers mixed signals, such as love-bombing, due to a lack of clarity about the position's requirements.

In today's market, when businesses have limited budgets for hiring, they often combine one, two, or three positions into a single role.

According to Petzold, companies have been excessively selective and overly aggressive in their efforts to acquire the ideal candidate for their specific needs at a particular time. However, it is amusing to note that many companies do not require the same individual six months from now. Instead, they need them immediately, but the hiring process often takes at least a quarter or two, particularly for executives.

Hiring managers may not have a clear understanding of the specific skills and objectives they want their new hire to possess by the time they make a decision, which could lead to a mismatch with their initial vision for the role. Job-seekers may experience a sense of whiplash when they discover they are no longer the ideal candidate for the position at the end of the hiring process.

Petzold says, "They receive the love bomb, everyone is excited, but there's no email."

He emphasizes that while companies prioritize customer experience, they often neglect the well-being of their current and potential employees.

A single negative experience of a candidate can have a domino effect on their friends, family, and social media followers who learn about it.

Jon Stross, president and co-founder of Greenhouse, advises job-seekers to remember that employers may not aim to love-bomb them and that it's crucial to understand the role of recruiters in the hiring process.

A recruiter's role is to highlight the best qualities in candidates and motivate them to stay engaged, according to Stross. While this may not always be done with malicious intent, recruiters are genuinely excited about the candidates they are interviewing.

While they may not be the final decision-makers, it's important to remember that just because someone is praising you doesn't guarantee you'll get the job. You still need to convince everyone else that you're the best candidate.

'Trust your gut on those red flags'

In some cases, a bad hiring experience may not necessarily be a deal-breaker from pursuing other roles with the company later. Instead, it's important to leave with good karma and keep a door open for future opportunities.

During the hiring process, companies are trying to attract you, so they put their best foot forward. However, if any red flags come up during the interview or something doesn't feel right, you must remember that they are on their absolute best behavior.

If you sense disorganization in the hiring process or receive conflicting information from different sources, these may be signs of a dysfunctional culture that will only intensify when you join the company. Trust your instincts on those warning signs.

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