I interviewed for a senior TA role at Mastercard and was genuinely excited about the opportunity to join such a globally respected brand in the financial and tech space. Unfortunately, the first-round screening call was quite underwhelming — especially given this was with a manager for her own team. There was no proper introduction or overview of the role, team structure, or scope of responsibilities. The interviewer asked me a series of questions in a very robotic manner, without taking the time to explain what the team does or how the role fits into the wider business. It felt more like a checklist than a conversation. As a senior candidate, I found the lack of engagement and context quite disappointing. On top of that, the compensation offered for the role is surprisingly low considering Mastercard’s position as a major financial brand. Overall, the interaction left me questioning whether the team culture truly aligns with the company’s stated values around collaboration, inclusion, and talent development.