My Internship Experience at Mastercard

As I reflect on my six-month internship at Mastercard, I'm filled with a sense of accomplishment and gratitude. This experience not only solidified my passion for technology but also provided me with the opportunity to develop new skills, work with an incredible team, and contribute to meaningful projects.

Technical Skills and Competencies

Throughout my internship, I refined my technical skills in Java, Java / Type Script, and software engineering as a whole. I gained hands-on experience deploying applications, troubleshooting issues, and working in complex development environments. These practical experiences helped me understand the nuances of real-world software development and provided me with a solid foundation for future endeavors.

Beyond technical skills, I made significant progress in soft skills, particularly in communication and teamwork. Regular meetings, collaborative projects, and networking opportunities required clear and effective communication, both in writing and in person. Participating in events like Advent of Code sessions and the intern hackathon helped me articulate complex problems and build confidence in tackling difficult tasks.

Business Resource Groups (BRGs)

BRGs (Business Resource Groups) at Mastercard were like university societies, offering a wide range of experiences. The Sports and Social BRG (S&S), in particular, made a huge impact during my internship.

Some of the highlights include:

Zipit Forest Adventures: This fully-paid trip to Wicklow was one of the most memorable experiences, allowing me to meet new people and go zip-lining through the forest.

Me, Vannesa and Wen Geng Lin @ the S&S BRG Party

60’s-Inspired Open Bar Party: The S&S BRG wrapped up with an incredible 60’s-themed open bar party, which was one of the best events I've attended.

Achieving Learning Outcomes

During my internship, I achieved several key learning outcomes that contributed to my professional and personal development:

• Transition to Professional Environment: I successfully adjusted from an academic setting to a corporate atmosphere.
• Technical Skill Development: I enhanced my technical skills through actively working on assigned tasks and taking on extra work.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Engaging in regular team meetings, hackathons, and collaborative projects helped me develop teamwork and leadership skills.
• Critical Thinking Skills: Participating in programming challenges like Advent of Code improved my problem-solving abilities and helped me articulate problems better.
• Project Management: I learned to navigate project management tools like Rally and participated in meetings focused on sprint planning, daily standups, and backlog refinement.
• Communication Skills: Presenting ideas during hackathons and attending workshops improved my verbal and written communication skills.
• Understanding of Corporate Culture: Experiencing Mastercard's corporate culture helped me grasp the importance of interpersonal relationships in a professional setting.

Conclusion

My internship experience at Mastercard has been invaluable. I've developed new skills, worked with an incredible team, and contributed to meaningful projects. As I look to the future, I'm excited to apply the lessons learned during this internship to my career aspirations within software engineering.

This experience has solidified my passion for technology and provided me with a strong foundation for future endeavors. I'm grateful for the opportunities presented to me and excited to see what the future holds.