5 Potential Reasons Why You're Not Hearing Back From Applications — and how to fix them!

By Elizabeth Joy

 
 
 
 

You've sent in application after application for your dream jobs posted on LinkedIn, our sustainable fashion job board or elsewhere and… crickets. You haven't heard anything back. Or when you do hear back, it's to tell you that "we are going in a different direction at this time."

It can be anywhere from discouraging to downright devastating depending on how badly you wanted that job or how many times you've felt knocked down.

So first off I want to acknowledge how challenging the job search can be. You're putting yourself out there, vulnerable, and given the numbers you're probably going to hear "no" (or just nothing at all) more than "yes".

The average job opening reportedly receives around 250 applications and I've seen desirable sustainable fashion jobs (like remote positions) rack up 400-500 applicants in just a few days.

But this is not to discourage you. This is to say, that if you're not finding success yet, do not take it personally or let it push you down.

Your voice, your perspectives, and your experience is important for the sustainable fashion movement.

So let's get those applications in top shape so you can be set up for job success!

Let's dive into the common reasons why you might not be hearing back from your sustainable fashion applications.

Before we even get started with the list, though, I have to mention that with the exception of a few specific cases, your resume should only be one page. An eye-tracking study found that recruiters only look at a resume for 7 seconds on average. Limit your resume to the most relevant information to ensure those 7 seconds are enough to show them that you are a good fit for the open role.

Five common application mistakes

  1. Your application isn't ATS-friendly.

We're going to cover this one straight out of the gate because it's a common mistake that is actually SO easy to fix (if you know about it).

With the volume of applications that many job posts receive, many employers (especially medium to large-sized businesses) have turned to applicant tracking system (ATS) software.

This means that if you're uploading your resume or CV to an online portal (and not emailing it directly to the hiring manager) there's a good chance your application is getting screened by a software before it gets into human hands.

This means that even qualified applicants may still not move on to the next stage, just because their resume didn't pass the robots.

HOW TO FIX THIS:

The main tips to consider are formatting and keywords.

Use a simple format for your resume (no fancy characters, charts, images, or graphs), use a normal font size and easily legible font, and keep information outside of any headers or footers on the page.

And while it can be tempting to cram as much information as physically possible onto your resume, keeping margins and proper spaces throughout will not only make it easier for software to read your resume, but humans too.

There are plenty of ATS-compliant resume templates out there online! So if you aren't using one right now, I recommend starting from scratch with a new resume template designed to pass the ATS. We also have a sustainable fashion-focused resume template inside of our membership community.

The other key aspect is keywords.

You've probably heard this before, but it really is that important to focus on incorporating keywords from the job description. This is how ATS (and humans too) can check if an applicant is actually qualified for a position.

So comb through the job posting of the position you're applying for and find the keywords they use. Make special note of any keyword used twice or more! Then find ways to incorporate that keyword into your application.

Also include the specific name of the position you're applying for in your Career Summary at the top of your resume or CV.

What if you're pivoting careers into sustainable fashion? 

Consider if there is a way to rephrase what you've done in a different industry that uses the language of the sustainable fashion space? Be honest, but also know that there can be several ways to say the same thing.

Also think about if there a skill you learned from your current or previous job that is transferable to this new job posting, even if it isn't what you would've typically considered part of your job description?

Finally, be sure to list out the specific softwares and other technologies you've used (for example instead of "social media platforms", write "Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn" or instead of "design software" say "InDesign and Photoshop"), especially if those specific technologies are listed in the job description.

 
 

2. Your application is focused on tasks, not accomplishments

A strong resume is not just about the duties you had on a job — every person with a job has job duties! — but about what you accomplished in that job. You want to show how you are well-positioned for success in this future role.

That means that you need to showcase not just that you got your assigned work done, but that you excelled at it.

HOW TO FIX THIS:

1) Brainstorm a list of projects and accomplishments you're proud of that you did in your previous roles. Then highlight items on that list most relevant for the jobs you're applying for

OR

Review the job posting and ask: What are the key qualities that they're looking for in an ideal candidate? What have you accomplished in your previous experiences that shows you have those qualities? List those out.

2) Now that you have your list, it's time to get more specific. What are some ways you can quantify your achievements? Did you manage 10 employees, handle 50 customer service calls per week, complete 10 designs, grow an Instagram account by 25%, decrease textile wastage by 70%, increase secondhand sales by 15%? Include those numbers.

3) And then put it all together and use a strong action verb at the beginning of your bullet point. Avoid generic words like "worked". 

"Developed strategic sustainability plan which decreased apparel production emissions by 20% and water usage by 50% year over year" sounds a whole lot better (and is much more clear) than "Worked on a sustainability plan".

 

3. You're not quite qualified enough (yet) OR you haven't shown that you're qualified enough

While you certainly do not need to meet 100% of the qualifications list on a job post (some sustainable fashion job posts do ask for an unreasonable amount of qualifications and experience!), you should aim for around 80%, or 90% on more competitive roles.

HOW TO FIX THIS:

If you're applying for jobs at the right experience level (i.e. early career, mid-career, senior, executive) but aren't sure if you have all the right qualifications, take some time to think about if you have built up those missing qualifications in unconventional ways or if there is a way to authentically reposition how you talk about what you've done that would align better with the sustainable fashion industry.

Sometimes it's just about shifting how you talk about your qualifications to "speak the language" of the industry you're pivoting into.

And don't forget that you don't have to limit yourself to formal work experience! Did you have relevant volunteer experience? School projects? Side or full-time businesses? Those can all be considered experience for your resume too. (You can update the headline Work Experience to Relevant Experience or just Experience.)

Other times, it might be the case that you do not have the right qualifications yet.

In this case, the first reaction might be: oh I have to go back to school or spend years gaining all of these credentials.

This could be helpful in some cases, but going back to school isn't always accessible to everyone. And the fashion industry tends to value experience highly, sometimes above additional education.

So what could your next career move be that would help you gain the right experience for your dream job?

Here are some ideas:

  • Shift your current responsibilities by talking to your manager (mentioning your interest in sustainability, for example)

  • Switch to a different job within the same company that's more aligned with the direction you want to go

  • Find a new "bridge job" that will help you gain the relevant experience for your following career move

  • Volunteer at an organization to develop those skills

  • Start a side business to develop missing skills and experiences

While you're developing your qualifications, you also can be building connections in the industry — someone might just take a chance on you even if you don't meet all of the traditional criteria.

Finally, consider if this job is really the route you want to go. If you haven't done that questioning upfront, you may get to the interview round and realize that you're actually not excited about this job at all. 

Or worse: you take the job and after one month you already want to quit! Take the time to figure out which direction is most aligned.

If you need support with finding what your next aligned step might be, I do offer Career Clarity Coaching.

 

4. Your resume isn't tailored to the job.

Yes, this takes more time and also: yes, it's quite important. Don't just “spray and pray” your resume to 200 jobs. A generic resume is unlikely to stand out in a desirable, competitive sustainable fashion position.

As point number one covered, if you're not including the relevant keywords, you could be knocked out of the running for a job even if you would actually be the perfect candidate.

HOW TO FIX THIS:

  • Read the job description. And then read it again to make sure you really understand it. (Perhaps at that point you'll realize that you're not even all that interested in this job anyway, in which case you've just saved yourself some time… time that you can use on customizing your application for a role that you are actually interested in!)

  • If you are still interested and think you are a good fit, then watch out for the important keywords and qualifications listed in that job description. Highlight them or note them down in a separate document.

  • How can you customize your career summary at the top of your resume to hit on those important keywords and qualifications?

  • Now look at your experience bulleted below (or your coursework and school projects if you're a student). What can you modify or rearrange? Put the most relevant experience at the top and change up the keywords to better match the job posting.

Many applicants just send the same resume or CV to every single job. So if you take these extra steps to customize your application, then you're already going to be among the top tier of applicants.

Of courrse it takes more time upfront. But wouldn't you rather write 15 intentional resumes for jobs you are actually excited about then send in 150 applications for sub-par jobs you're not even sure you would enjoy?

Plus, as you get in the hang of customizing your resume, you'll get faster at it.

And there are plenty of helpful AI tools now, like Jobscan that can help you with speeding up this process!

 
 

5. You haven't made a connection with someone from that organization.

We all know about the importance of networking for getting work. But it sounds really intimidating, so many of us just kinda tend to avoid it. I totally get that as an introvert myself, but here's a strategy for making connection with the hiring manager in a way that might not totally make you cringe.

HOW TO FIX THIS:

1) Check if the hiring manager posted about the job themselves on LinkedIn. Comment on this post. Say more than "I'm really interested in this job!" though.

If you applied, they already know you're interested! And presumably every person who applied is interested, so this won't help you stand out.

Instead get specific: Why are you the perfect fit for that particular role? How can you show that you understand the needs of that role, team, or organization?

2) Now check if you have any first-degree connections to that organization (or if you know anyone else that works there).

Reach out with a LinkedIn message to that person reminding them how you two know each other if you don't connect regularly and asking them how they like their current position at X company. Then let them know you're considering applying for that position at their company.

Here's an example:

Hi NAME, 

Hope you're well! We connected at [PLACE] [TIME]. I saw you currently work at Y. I'm interested in applying for X position at Y company and was curious about your experience there? 

Thanks for your time,

YOUR NAME

This has two benefits. One, you'll find out if it's actually a toxic company that you would not want to apply for. Two, if it goes well, they may be able to refer you to that position. Many companies have referral bonuses for employees so they may be incentivized to help you out.


3) Finally, send a message or email to the hiring manager after applying, but do not just resend your same resume and cover letter and do not just copy and paste the same generic message every time. People can tell when it is a boilerplate note instead of something personalized to them. (To be clear personalized messages won't get a 100% response rate. Cold emails or messages never will get a perfect response rate. But personalizing your messages will increase your odds substantially.)

So in your message:

  • Share your interest,

  • Share why you care about this particular company or role,

  • And then share what makes you qualified.

Here's an example message:

Hi NAME, 

Hope you're well / hope you had a lovely weekend! / hope you had a great week so far!

I just applied to the [JOB TITLE] position at [COMPANY] and I want to let you know how passionate I am about how [COMPANY] is [leading the conversation in circular fashion] [investing in fair wages for your workers] [prioritizing inclusivity and accessibility in slow fashion]. 

I am a [strategic communications professional] with [5] years of experience and a committed sustainable fashion advocate. [I volunteer for several sustainable fashion nonprofits and am well-positioned to work in this industry professionally.] / [I have grown social media engagement by 50% and secured PR features in several leading magazines at my current role and would be excited to bring strong results to your organization as well.]

Thank you for your time,

NAME

The hiring manager may not be able to follow up with you if they are getting dozens of these emails, so there's no need to follow up several times. You might consider one quick follow up note restating your interest, but understand that they may be getting hundreds of emails weekly or daily and might not have time to reply so don't be discouraged if you don't hear back right away.

 

And that's a wrap…

For the 5 most common reasons you might not be hearing back from sustainable fashion applications. I hope that you found these fixes helpful and you're getting re-inspired to go out there and go after your dream jobs.

If you need more support:

 
Resources, GuidesConscious Fashion Collective