Starting at Mastercard as a Technical Intern

I’ll be joining Mastercard as a Technical Intern in January 2024, based in the Dublin tech hub. It’s a six-month placement through my university, and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into real projects with a proper team.

The Buddy System

One thing that stood out early on is the Buddy System they use at the Dublin office. Every intern gets two people assigned to them, an organizational buddy (usually someone who did the internship before and now works full-time) and a team buddy (someone in your actual team). I haven’t met mine yet, but I like the idea of having a few go-to people to help navigate those first few weeks. It’s a smart setup, especially for new folks coming in.

Early Impressions

Even before starting, it’s clear the culture leans supportive and people seem genuinely sound. Between the setup, the people I’ve already spoken to, and what I’ve heard from past interns, it looks like a solid environment to learn and actually contribute.

What I’m Hoping For

I’ve been looking forward to working on something that matters, ideally something that ships, and get a better feel for how larger teams operate in the real world. Whether through technical work or just getting to know people in the office, I’m hoping this internship helps me figure out what direction I want to take after graduation.