Snowballcatttt's journey

I recently went through a tough experience after applying for an Environmental & Sustainability Engineer position in July. The interview process was quite extensive, involving around four rounds followed by an onsite interview. After investing so much time and effort, I was ultimately informed that they chose another candidate. This rejection hit hard, especially as an international student trying to establish my career in the UK. It makes me question if there's something I should be doing differently. I'm curious to hear from others in the environmental or sustainability fields: how common is it to reach the final stage and still face rejection? If you've been in a similar situation, how did you handle your next applications? For those who have hired international graduates, are there specific qualities or experiences you think candidates often overlook? Is it a good sign to repeatedly reach the final stage, even if it doesn't lead to an offer?