I recently completed a comprehensive interview process for a Training Program Manager role. The process began with a recruiter screen, followed by a 45-minute interview with the hiring manager. This led to a full interview loop consisting of five consecutive 45-minute sessions with only one 30-minute break. I had to write an essay before the interview loop. The first interviewer was a potential teammate from the training team. While I answered her questions comfortably, I did not feel a strong personal rapport. The next three interviews, however, went very well; two interviewers explicitly stated they were positively inclined toward my candidacy. The final session was again with the hiring manager. Her demeanor had noticeably shifted from our first meeting, which felt more reserved. Given my past experience at Amazon where hiring managers consolidate feedback before final interviews I suspect the first interviewer may have shared reservations, which likely influenced the final outcome. Despite dedicating roughly 10 hours to the process and having over 20 years of experience in aerospace and L&D, I received a rejection. The questions throughout were surprisingly straightforward, with little depth or follow-up, which left me feeling the process did not fully engage with the depth of my expertise.