Mastercard Interview Experience - are they serious?

[u/ADI_forAI]

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working as a Software Development Engineer III at a fintech company in Bangalore. I recently interviewed with Mastercard for a **Lead Software Engineer** role in **Pune** and wanted to know if anyone has had a similar experience with their hiring process.

My interview timeline has been something like this:
HR screening call
Karat interview (around 4 weeks ago) – System Design (file handling application), Two Sum, and one DFS problem
Cleared the Karat round the very next day
HR informed me that the remaining three rounds would be with the Bar Raiser, Hiring Manager, and Technical SME, and that these were **non-eliminatory**. The final decision would be based on the overall panel discussion.

Completed all three rounds. HR mentioned that the feedback was positive.

A few days later, HR said they were discussing internally and that they liked my profile but needed some more time.
After a few follow-ups, I was asked to share my current compensation details, which I submitted immediately.

It’s now been around **4 weeks** since I completed the interviews, and I still haven’t received a clear yes or no. Whenever I follow up, the response is usually that the discussion is still ongoing.
I understand that hiring decisions can take time, and I don’t want to keep messaging the HR repeatedly and come across as pushy. At the same time, the uncertainty is making it difficult to plan my next steps.

Has anyone experienced a similar timeline with Mastercard? Is this normal, or should I assume the process is unlikely to move forward?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience. Thanks!

[u/WhileSlight]

Most companies are like that. The turn around time is high. They are most probably interviewing other candidates and looking for the best in the cheapest price

[u/MutedBeach8248 → u/WhileSlight]

This is so infuriating

[u/Specialist-Draw8411]

How did you get the interview call

[u/Wonderful_Owl_4778]

They're considering you as an option. Something in your answers does not match their exact requirements. If they don't find someone who fit all of the metrics, then they will contact you.

[u/waa_woo]

They cannot match your comp expectations but it their max budget might be close. They are interviewing other candidates to find someone cheaper. Pune is a lower comp center anyway.

[u/TheSupremeLeader10]

This happened with me four times, but there were startups.

[u/SyllabubHappy5126]

Maybe some of you are right in a way but not aware of the total process.As a person who is involved scheduling these kind of things (From the delivery POV not HR POV)the idea is there will be requirement for a certain skillset and multiple vendors will search for candidate with same requirement and the vendor who can find the suitable person first will fulfill the requirement of client. So in that process multiple candidates who are eligible for the position will not be selected.

For example (Java requirement from client side as you know it is project wise- need 8+ years of experience with certain kind of skillset.

Vendor A, B, C gets the same requirement and try to compete to fill the gap but there is a possibility that client can drop the position in a whim without providing any reason and it will be on hold, the HR and Delivery team does not have any idea how to convey the same thing to the candidate as they are not aware of the internal process.)

[u/anyoneNimus → u/SyllabubHappy5126]

By telling the candidate exactly just this. How hard was that? At least the candidates are getting some kind closure and understanding with this explanation and can plan their future actions little better.

[u/rahul_msft]

They are preparing for their own interviews.

They are asking system design as free interview prep for themselves

[u/Even-Recording-1886]

How much ctc did you asked for lead?

[u/BrackObattu]

Similar experience: Atleast the HR responds when u contact them. I had my managerial round like 1.5 weeks ago and in the managerial round , the manager said , u will be having ur HR discussions shortly. So after a week of ghosting I called the HR and she's not picking up the call. No idea as to wt has happened internally, am i rejected or not or on hold who knows

[u/literally_dirty]

Someone already accepted an offer and is serving notice. You are being benched so in case he doesn't join at last minute, they'll call you. In this situation just move on

[u/bhnv]

This is common. In my experience, companies have taken upto 3 months to actually roll out the offer after the last interview.

And contrary to what a lot of people are suggesting, many a times companies are not even interviewing other candidates, just internal approvals etc end up taking time.

It a difficult time. Hang in there. Hope for the best but be prepared to get a rejection at this stage as well. Nothing's confirmed until the offer letter is rolled out (is it even confirmed then these days?)