I was scouted via email by the recruiter, even though I never applied for the Art Director role. I was told several of their Creative Directors had seen my portfolio and were interested in speaking with me. I interviewed with the recruiter, I asked if I should apply, the recruiter said no, and said they'd be in touch about next steps. After a week with no update, I followed up and was told I needed to officially apply. I applied immediately, but the next day I was informed I didn’t get the role. Overall, I felt completely ghosted throughout the process. I understand hiring decisions can change quickly, but a timely update or clear communication would have been appreciated. It’s important for companies to respect candidates’ time — especially when they were the ones to initiate contact.