SurroundParty7640's journey

Applied at Big 4 company for Project Manager / Business Consultant

I recently interviewed for a Project Manager / Business Consultant position at a Big 4 company, which I had applied for three months ago. Back then, I had a good conversation with the hiring manager but ultimately received a rejection. The role was posted again, so I decided to apply once more and was pleased to pass the recruiter screening. Now, I've been invited to interview with the same hiring manager again. In the past three months, I've successfully delivered several projects and gained more hands-on experience, which has significantly improved my understanding of project management methodologies. I'm also planning to pursue PM certifications to further enhance my skills. However, I'm feeling a bit apprehensive since three months isn't a long time. I wonder if the hiring manager will have unconscious bias from our previous interaction. If they decided I wasn't the right fit once, will they be able to reassess my candidacy with fresh eyes? I'm also debating whether to mention our previous interview at the beginning of the conversation or wait to see if the hiring manager brings it up first. I'm curious if anyone else has interviewed the same candidate twice and what factors influenced their decision to give them another chance. What expectations do you have for someone returning after just a few months?