You nailed the interview, sent a great follow-up email, and felt good about your chances—then nothing. No email, no call, no update. Being ghosted by a job you were excited about is frustrating, especially in a competitive industry like fashion. It’s easy to take it personally, but job ghosting happens more often than you think. Instead of dwelling on the silence, here’s what you can do to stay proactive, keep moving forward, and maintain your professional relationships.
Follow Up (the Right Way)
Before assuming you’ve been ghosted, follow up with the hiring manager or recruiter. Sometimes delays happen due to internal decision-making, budget changes, or scheduling conflicts.
How to Follow Up:
• Send a concise and professional email if you haven’t heard back within one to two weeks of your last conversation.
• Keep it simple: “Hi Hiring Manager’s Name, I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to follow up on the Job Title position. I’m still very interested in the opportunity and would love to know if there are any updates. Looking forward to hearing from you. Best, Your Name”
• If they don’t respond, wait another week before sending a second, more open-ended message: “I understand hiring timelines can shift. If this role is no longer available, I’d still love to stay in touch for future opportunities. Wishing you all the best.”
This keeps you on their radar without coming across as pushy.
Look for Other Openings at the Same Company
Just because this opportunity didn’t work out doesn’t mean another one won’t.
• Check the company’s careers page for new openings.
• Reach out to the recruiter or HR contact to express interest in similar positions.
• Connect with employees on LinkedIn to learn more about the company’s hiring process.
Hiring needs shift constantly in fashion, so keeping in touch could lead to another opportunity.
Expand Your Network
Fashion is a relationship-driven industry. If one door closes, networking can help open another.
• Attend industry events, fashion panels, and networking nights.
• Engage with recruiters and hiring managers on LinkedIn by commenting on their posts or sharing insights.
• Reach out to professionals at brands you admire for informational interviews.
Many job opportunities come through connections rather than traditional applications.
Keep Your Job Search Moving
It’s tempting to wait for a company you’re excited about, but don’t put your search on hold.
• Continue applying to other fashion roles while waiting for a response.
• Consider different areas of fashion (PR, merchandising, buying, social media, etc.).
• Use Style Nine to Five’s job board to find fresh opportunities.
The more options you pursue, the less weight any single opportunity will hold over you.
A Recruiter’s Perspective
Sometimes, hiring managers and recruiters receive hundreds of applications for a single role. From that pool, we interview many candidates, and while we always mean to follow up, the day-to-day reality of our job can be hectic. If you haven’t heard back, it likely means you didn’t completely wow us—because if you had, we wouldn’t have let you go. That said, following up can absolutely work in your favour. It keeps you top of mind and can put you back in the running, especially if the hiring team is still making final decisions.
Learn from the Experience (and Let It Go)
Being ghosted can be discouraging, but take it as a learning experience.
• If you receive feedback later, use it to refine your approach.
• Reflect on whether this silence is a red flag about the company’s communication style.
• Move forward with confidence, knowing the right opportunity is out there.
Final Thought
Ghosting is frustrating, but in the fast-paced world of fashion, it’s not uncommon. Stay proactive, keep your options open, and continue building connections. The right opportunity will come—and when it does, you’ll be ready for it.
Need help fine-tuning your job search strategy? Explore Style Nine to Five’s career services to get expert guidance on your resume, cover letter, and more.
Do you have your sights set on a career in fashion? Get our Break Into Fashion career workbook with all the juicy tips and actionable advice you need to step into the fashion industry.