I recently completed the interview process with SoFi for a Patch Management Engineer position. Over the course of a month, I had five interviews—starting with a phone screen, followed by technical conversations with senior engineers and a team lead, and concluding with the hiring manager. Throughout the process, I felt a strong connection with the team. The technical discussions were engaging, and the team members were enthusiastic, communicative, and seemed genuinely interested. The recruiter even reached out to extend one of my interviews from 30 to 45 minutes because the hiring manager had more questions, which I took as a positive sign. However, my final interview with the hiring manager felt quite different. His energy was noticeably lower, and I sensed a lack of engagement compared to the rest of the team. It left me feeling unsure about the fit. Eventually, I learned they decided to move forward with another candidate, and I was the runner-up. While I appreciate the opportunity and understand that not every process results in an offer, I believe starting the interview process with the hiring manager earlier on could benefit everyone. It would help align expectations upfront, streamline the decision-making process, and save time for both the team and the candidate—especially since candidates often rearrange work schedules or take time off to accommodate interviews. Despite the outcome, I’m grateful for the experience and thank the SoFi team for their time and consideration.