belledamesans-merci's journey

I had an interview today for a position I really wanted at my current company, but I feel like I might have blown it. I'm being laid off because my client is struggling financially and decided to cut my position during contract negotiations. This new role was for a different account within the same company, and I was excited about the opportunity. Before the interview, I spoke with the recruiter who mentioned that the hiring manager was looking for someone analytical. I prepared to showcase my analytical skills, but during the interview, the questions were mostly about my current role instead. This completely threw me off track. One question that stuck with me was about the last ad-hoc request I handled from a client. It was a simple task, and I answered truthfully, but now I'm worried it might have given the impression that I lack experience with more complex requests, which isn't true. I'm left wondering if I should reach out to the recruiter to provide feedback or discuss my concerns. Also, I've noticed this pattern in other interviews where I get flustered when asked questions that feel like tests without clear criteria for success, leading me to over-explain. I really want to improve my interview skills moving forward.

I’m currently 100% remote but facing a layoff. My manager suggested a similar role on a different account that requires me to come into the office once a week. However, the commute is a staggering 2.5 hours each way, involving multiple transfers: 30 minutes on the subway, an hour on Amtrak, and another 30 minutes on a bus, assuming everything runs smoothly. I was taken aback when my manager didn’t seem phased by the commute time when I pointed it out. I’ve had a similar long commute in the past, and I hated every moment of it. The anxiety of missing transfers was exhausting. I’m wondering if I’m overreacting or if this is truly unreasonable. I’m considering my options, including looking for local or fully remote positions, but I’m also aware that the job market is tough right now.