I recently applied for a position that is essentially the bigger version of an internship I had a couple of years ago, which I really enjoyed. After submitting my application, I had a phone screen a couple of weeks back. I followed up with the corporate recruiter, who informed me that the hiring manager hasn't shown any interest yet but would let me know if that changes. I initially thought I might have been outcompeted due to the tough job market, especially since the job listing was just reposted. I felt disappointed to be left in the dark, especially since the specific internship I did isn't offered anymore. I meet about 90% of the qualifications for this role, and I have a decent relationship with the person I interned under, though he's not the hiring manager. I'm considering reaching out to him to leverage that connection or even contacting the hiring manager directly, which I know can be frowned upon. This position is my dream job, and opportunities in this niche are rare in my area. I'm also a bit worried that I might have hit some HR filter for some reason. Despite feeling like I've been indirectly told 'no,' I noticed the hiring manager checked my LinkedIn recently, which gives me a glimmer of hope. I just really want the chance to sit down for an interview, even if I ultimately don’t get the offer.