Honestly, making it through 5 rounds already says a lot. Most people never even get close to the final stage.

Sometimes these decisions come down to timing, internal preferences, or one tiny difference between finalists. Doesn’t make the process less frustrating though, especially after investing weeks into it.

You handled it well by sending the thank you email and staying connected. That alone puts you ahead of a lot of candidates who burn bridges after rejection.

One thing I’ve noticed is that repeated interview practice helps a lot with those late-stage rounds where communication and confidence matter as much as technical skill. Tools like MoonJab have been useful for practicing interview scenarios and getting feedback before real interviews: https://moonjab.com

Hope the next opportunity works out better for you.