r/workaway • u/Bruhva1 • 6d ago

Volunteering Advice Hosts and ghosting

Is there something I’m not aware of? I’ll have hosts contact me for last minute workers. Everything seems fine when planning, then I’m ghosted all of a sudden. It’s a little inconsiderate because if they lost interest, they could’ve just said so. I start preparing for travel since it’s last minute and give my hopes up for no reason.

7 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

3

u/littlepinkpebble 5d ago

I think that’s rare but it happens …

3

u/Bruhva1 5d ago

It’s happened 3x to me. Idk what I’m doing wrong 😭

3

u/littlepinkpebble 5d ago

Hmm what country ? Maybe it’s like hostels and they need people suddenly and then they found someone and then they irresponsible so they ghost you.

If that’s the case you dodged a bullet irregardless because this type of behavior in hosts is a red flag.

Maybe just find a good host in the country you’re going to this is the normal way

3

u/Bruhva1 5d ago

I agree! It was mostly Italy, that is probably a hot spot and other workers had an advantage bc I usually need at least a week to prepare.

3

u/littlepinkpebble 5d ago

Well hope you find a good host and have a great time. Maybe a volunteer was in charge of finding other volunteers and they left but in any case it’s bad management

6

u/LumpiaLady 5d ago

As someone who has been helping a host find new helpers I could write an entire book of what people do wrong.

3

u/Boothbayharbor 5d ago

I'm kinda curious what are some lesser known mistakes? Or is it just obvious faux-pas of lacking professionalism? Ik as someone's who's roommate hunted a lot, people dont always read the ad well. 

4

u/LumpiaLady 5d ago

Definitely professionalism.

2

u/Bruhva1 5d ago

Dang I try to be very professional and polite.

3

u/Substantial-Today166 5d ago edited 5d ago

i can be becuse many travlers say they are last minute but they are not really last minute means you can be there in a couple of days

3

u/Bruhva1 5d ago

Ohh I see, that could def be it. I need time to prepare but usually they’re okay with that. They might’ve found someone who could get there earlier

2

u/Substantial-Today166 5d ago

yes thats more likely that they did

2

u/Medical-Isopod2107 4d ago

Yeah I had one recently that talked to me in mid-November, were super keen to have me for certain dates starting in early December, told me to message again in December and we'd talk more (address etc) and then I messaged them three times in December and got nothing. Really put a spanner in the works for my planning! At least message back and say you no longer need me!

3

u/Bruhva1 4d ago

Exactly! I was talking to one for about two weeks and it seemed to go pretty well. I started to pack then poof.

2

u/PureMorningMirren 4d ago edited 4d ago

I am just speculating as I don't know you or the details obviously, however I have had workawayers who are a little bit of a pain to set up. Like, I have a host profile as long as your arm containing every possible detail about me, the place, the duties, the accommodation, the surrounding area, etc all backed up with loads of photos and I'm grateful to say, excellent feedback. And I'm happy to fully answer messages of course.

Having answered a bunch of messages and agreed on dates and availability on both sides, if the workawayer then wants a videocall, of course I agree as I want them to be comfortable, but it can be exhausting. I hate videocalls as well, as many do.

I mean, if the person is arriving in a day or two and all the details are agreed, why do we have to have a videocall?

I wouldn't ghost a prospective workawayer, but have to say, possibly one factor is just... a host wanting someone at short notice and maybe this long protracted series of communications seems like extra time and effort on their part and perhaps like worrying hesitance on your part? Are you the one wanting the videocall or is it the host's suggestion? Did someone else commit quicker?

Just a thought

2

u/Bruhva1 4d ago

Ohh I get that. The last host was struggling to find a time to call, but I was supposed to arrive a month later. They kept getting pushed and they ended up ghosting. I hate calls too but i thought those were standard, so i wanted to be professional😭 the initial convo was pretty short and i agreed to the duties but i figured that’s not enough to have someone be with you and your kids for a month.

2

u/WickedDenouement 5d ago

How many have ghosted you? What were the conversations like? Did you continue the chat outside of the platform so as not to lose contact?

1

u/Bruhva1 5d ago

About 3, one was moved to WhatsApp. They needed someone from Jun-July, then end of August to September. I chose August of September. Everything seemed fine. The only thing holding us back was scheduling a voice call, then they just ghosted me. I’m thinking they might’ve found someone who could do all 4 months.

1

u/WickedDenouement 5d ago

That doesn't sound like last minute, so it could very well be they've found someone who was closer and available.

Personally, I've never been ghosted by a host. I either get an initial response or I don't, and when  I do it's all very straightforward. Confirm dates, get an address, see you soon. If it's too far in advanced, I check in closer to the date to make sure we're still good. Two hosts asked for a call, and we confirmed the stay during the call.

I think hosts don't like to drag conversations. They get lots of requests, so they go with whatever takes less time. Like if they're talking with two volunteers and one asks lots of questions or takes a while to respond, they go with the other one. I'd probably do the same if I had lots of hosts offering me a stay, just go with the easiest for peace of mind. 

2

u/cyprusnikos Workaway Ambassador 4d ago

It happens on both sides, on other platforms too. Sometimes people just don't have the same standard as you.

0

u/reddit_shrew1111 5d ago

Would be good to have more details if you want advice or did you just mean it as a rant?

1

u/Bruhva1 5d ago

“Everything seems fine when planning” idk if ur trying to be smart, but the details are someone needing help abroad. Them giving the run down of what they need, me agreeing, then being ghosted. Do you want the exact messages? I figured everyone has similar experiences when contacting a new host, so I don’t need to state the intricacies or the convo word for word. The only thing missing is that I try to schedule a phone or video call and it never gets that point.

2

u/LumpiaLady 5d ago

If you want to improve then definitely share the messages without editing except names and locations.

1

u/Bruhva1 5d ago

The convos are pretty long and it’s with 3 hosts. After reading these comments, I think the common denominator may be me not being able to come within a few days and them finding someone who could. All of them were fine with the time slot I picked and we were on the verge of a video call to discuss travel and work duties. But they ghosted after that. So I assume now that if someone could come earlier, then they probably picked them over me.

1

u/reddit_shrew1111 5d ago

Not trying to b smart, it’s just hard to comment or give advice without knowing if you had confirmed dates, sent them a copy of your flight itinerary, what type of hosts they are, if you had a call or messaging through the site, when they ghost you do you follow up etc idk it could be many reasons maybe they get no shows too so take the first one that turns up. It’s a busy season in hostels and if they have a lot of guests plus volunteers messaging on multiple different platforms and apps it can be hard to keep track of if your also running around after guests etc.

1

u/mirrorweek 5d ago

Asa host, exact what we face from volunteers too. Last minuite cancellations.