Mastercard visited our campus for a recruitment drive, providing an exciting opportunity for students to showcase their skills and secure positions in their esteemed organization.
First Technical Interview:
After waiting 3-4 hours, I was the last of 39 shortlisted students to go for the first technical round. I was being called last since I did not attend mastercard ppt presentation. My interview began with my introduction. He then started asking me questions based on what I had told him in the introduction. Since I told him about my interest in Competitive Programming and Web Development he gave me a CP problem to solve. It was to check whether the given string was Palindrome or not. Initially, I did it in O(n) and he asked me to optimize it. I took time to think and devised an O(log n) solution. He then asked me if I could reverse a string in O(1). I thought for a moment and said No. He said okay and moved on to next questions. He asked me about my work in BMC Software as an intern. I covered that part in detail, explaining every aspect of my work covering minute details and How it impacted BMC. He asked me why I didn’t receive PPO (Pre Placement Offer) from BMC to which I said that the product which I was working on had no vacancies for freshers. (Actual reason I didn’t knew). After that he jumped into projects, I told him my part and contribution in all projects. He asked me about REST API calls, what are different REST methods, which all did I use etc. I answered easily. He later asked me What to keep in mind before developing frontend part of website. I answered recalling my learnings from the HCI subject (Human Computer Interaction). Once it was over, he moved to basic DBMS questions, which were theoretical. I don’t remember exactly but they were basic and can be answered easily. Later he asked few Non Technical questions regarding my Positions of responsibility in college. I answered how I played important role during technical events of PICT CSI Student Branch and went on to become Chairperson of that club. Told him about my contributions as Management Head of PICT NSS. In the end, he gave me a puzzle to solve. I have never seen or heard that puzzle but immediately after 20-30 seconds I got the answer. He asked if I ever saw this question before to which I said NO and explained him my logic. He seemed satisfied and the first technical interview was over.
Puzzle was: You are given three boxes and a statement written in each box. You know that two boxes are wrongly stated and one is correct.
First box has statement: There are no mangoes in Box 1.
Second Box had statement: There are no mangoes in Box 2.
Third Box had statement: There are mangoes in Box 3.
So which box had mangoes?
Second technical interview:
Out of 39, some odd 25-26 people made it to second technical interview. In the break I studied about Mastercard and what does it do. I expected it to come. Interview started with mastercard questions. He asked who is Mastercard’s biggest competitor. I was lucky that I read about it during break. (Attend mastercard ppt as they cover everything in that, I was about to pay the price but was saved).
After that he asked me for my introduction, I covered everything what I did in my college and what my interests are. From that he made out I liked taking part in multiple activities and liked working in a team. We exchanged casual talks like we do with our friends. He then started with difference between C, C++, told him. Asked me about Python basics. He gave me a DBMS query to fetch second highest salaried employee from employee records table. Using pen and paper I wrote the query. He asked about Normalisation in DBMS. Later he gave me string based CP question which was tricky in C++ but easy in Python. I tried solving with C++, completed 90% part and then I was stuck. I used extreme brute force method and came with a solution. After interview was over I realised how easy it was in Python. He didn’t go into much details and asked very basic questions on OOP. Lastly he asked about my work in BMC Software, asked why I did not receive PPO, gave the same reason as first interview. Here he replied to me that maybe you will make it in mastercard (Here I was sure that I am making through 2nd interview). He then covered Projects and ended interview asking questions on my participation in club activities. It was a shorter interview and I felt like it was a confirmatory one.
HR round:
After lots of waiting I was called for HR round, we total 22 reached HR round. I thought of HR as easy one and we all expected 16-18 students to make it, actual numbers I will write in the end. So HR started with introduction, what my family does. Here I lied that my sister works as SDE in Barclays (She is pursuing MS in DS from Uni of Michigan, USA). I did not wanted to create an impression that I will pursue MS in future so played safely. HR liked my Theatre Management System project and asked me Why made me go for this project. Told her. Later she asked me How I became Chairperson and what was the process, told her. She asked me about my work in NSS, told her. She asked why I did not receive the PPO from BMC Software, gave her the same reason. Lastly she asked me that I have such a good CGPA, a nice all rounder profile then why not MS?, told her that my experience in BMC Software taught me that working in corporate gives you more exposure, so no plans of MS in future. She ended asking me if I have anything to ask, I asked her about her experience in Mastercard. It was a decent interview.
We all waited for 2-3 hours for the results to come. At around 9 PM, two HRs came. They asked us to guess how many are making it, I said all 22 ;). She started announcing names and I was 8th one out of 9 students who finally made it.
After analyzing I could make out that Mastercard is looking for a person who is confident, has good speaking skills and have basic technical knowledge. They want a person who will fit-in in their team.
All the best to anyone who is appearing for mastercard interview.