1+ year into a job search with 9 years of experience and after losing my job in the aid sector last year, and I nailed my dream job interview earlier this month (slightly more senior, but I could absolutely do it).
Long story short, I went through 3 rounds of interviews with a large NGO over the course of about a month. 1st was an online standard interview (went well), 2nd with the hiring manager/senior advisor (went great), and 3rd was a panel (went... OK).
I definitely dropped the ball on a few questions for the panel, and even though I feel like I am a perfect fit for this role in reality. I felt like I rambled and gave weak examples in the panel, and sounded insecure forba senior position. I finished stronger with good set of questions at least, but its insanely competitive for this NGO and sector these days.
Anyways - by the end of the panel, the hiring manager said they were wrapping up interviews that week and she was hoping to have a decision made by that Friday (3 days later - it was a Wednesday) - and that I should be hearing from a recruiter next. I sent a thank you to the panel 24 hours later to be polite, etc.
Its now the following Thursday night (8 days post interview/6 business days), and I havent heard anything back - not even an email asking for info about my references.
Im losing my mind checking my email hourly, going over every crappy answer I could have answered better, and honestly just spiraling. Its been my only opportunity in a year+ and it was a great one. All I can think of is how I dropped the ball because of my interview anxiety, and how I made myself sound more junior and inexperienced than I am... I'm also spiraling over why they haven't reached out yet???
Please help - I need to hear the truth of what this delay might really mean, and if I should cut my losses and move on.