The first interview was with the company recruiter. She was very kind and attentive.
The second interview was with the Learning Technology Manager. That conversation went very well, and I left feeling convinced that I would enjoy working with her. She even sent me an email saying that after the final interview with two members of her team, we would discuss the next steps.
However, the last interview with two members of her team changed everything. Although they tried to be cordial, and they were, the atmosphere felt somewhat forced. Some of the questions did not seem related to the role.
The next day, I was informed that I had not been selected and that they had chosen another candidate. However, two days later, the same role was posted again.
I came to the conclusion that the team members may not have wanted me there because I have significantly more experience and preparation than they do. One of them mentioned that they were looking for a humble candidate. However, humility does not mean hiding your skills and abilities out of fear that a colleague might feel uncomfortable.
My recommendation, if you are reading this and plan to interview for this position, is to request that the two team members record the interview so the manager can review it and reach her own conclusions. As long as they continue interviewing candidates who may have more experience than they do, they may look for reasons to reject them regardless of how well prepared the candidate is or how positive their attitude may be.
If you already have strong experience and preparation, take a moment to reflect on whether this is truly the team you want to be part of, regardless of how good the manager may be.