Ghosted by Google recruiter after "informal connect" turned interview. Am I cooked?
Hey everyone,
I’m in a bit of a mental loop right now and could really use some perspective or reality checks from people who know how the Google hiring machine works. I'm feeling pretty desperate and can't stop overthinking this.
Here’s the timeline:
- End of April: Had my "Googlyness" interview for Role A.
- Next Day: Recruiter reached out asking if I’d also be interested in a similar role (but based in a different city). I said yes.
- The "Connect": They set up a "connect" with an engineer from another country for Role B. I honestly thought this was going to be an informal chat or a team-matching-style vibe. Instead, the guy jumped straight into heavy behavioral/interview questions. Because I expected a casual chat, I was caught completely off guard and don't think I performed my best.
- Since then: Absolute radio silence. My recruiter has completely ghosted me. I’ve sent two follow-up emails over the last few weeks and gotten nothing back.
I know the standard advice is "keep applying and move on," but I'm losing sleep over a couple of questions:
Was that "connect" actually a stealth interview? Did I bomb the entire process because I wasn't prepared for a formal behavioral round during what was pitched as a chat? there is no reason for them to lie about it, right?
Is there any hope when a recruiter goes completely dark? I assumed that making it to the final rounds meant I was a okay candidate, but the total ghosting makes me feel like I've been blacklisted or hard-rejected.
Should I just move on and apply other posts?
Any insights is much appreciated. Thanks.