Part 2: My Journey to Becoming a Technical Program Manager at Mastercard

In Part 1 of my story, I shared my path to become an IT Project Manager in Europe. Now, let’s dive into the second part of my journey, which led me to my current role as a Lead Technical Program Manager at Mastercard.

https://introwise.com/nik-andriiash

Upon discovering my profound passion for the fintech industry and my unwavering desire to embrace fresh challenges and step beyond the boundaries of my comfort zone, I set my sights on becoming a TPM in a renowned organization like Mastercard. Here’s how I made it happen:

1. Crafting an Impactful CV:

A well-crafted CV is essential in showcasing your achievements and skills as a TPM. I focused on highlighting my accomplishments rather than just listing responsibilities. I followed a concise format: Why, How, and What, supported by quantifiable numbers. Additionally, I ensured my CV was no longer than one page, with a strong and adaptable summary tailored to each role I applied for.

This extensive preparation, often involving weekends and intense effort, helped me elevate my professional skills to completely another level. It was a challenging time, especially with the onset of layoffs and limited job openings, but I was able to find an opportunity! Remember it works only in this way:

Preparation + Opportunity = Luck to get a new role

2. Developing Expertise in System Design:

To excel as a TPM, I knew I needed a strong foundation in system design. One invaluable resource I relied on was the book “System Design Interview — An Insider’s Guide: Volume 2” by Alex Xu. It provided in-depth insights into system design interviews and helped me develop a solid understanding of key concepts. You can find it on Amazon.

Additionally, I subscribed to Educative, an online learning platform that offers a comprehensive course on modern system design interviews. This subscription helped me gain a deeper understanding of system design concepts and interview structures.

To gain further insights and perspectives, I also explored the YouTube channel System Design Interview, which provided real-life use cases and enhanced my understanding of system design interviews.

You could also find more books here https://github.com/systemdesignfightclub/SDFC.

3. Excelling in Behavioral Interviews:

Behavioural interviews play a crucial role in the TPM hiring process. To prepare, I adopted a structured approach by documenting my experiences and cases on Notion. Using the STAR++ method, I recorded my conflicts, achievements, experiences managing product managers and programs, significant failures and successes, and handling difficult situations.

I also prepared answers to common behavioural questions such as “tell me about yourself,” “how to act without authority,” and “how to make data-driven decisions.” I even explored topics like working in a multicultural team, thanks to the book You Are Good at Crossing Invisible Cultural Boundaries, which significantly contributed to my understanding of effective communication and cultural awareness in interviews.

To refine my answers, I participated in 70+ mock interviews focused on behavioral questions and took part in 12 mentoring sessions. These experiences helped me learn valuable techniques such as maintaining eye contact and answering questions in a positive manner. The book ‘Always start with Why’ (here’s my post about it) provided valuable guidance on explaining the rationale behind my decisions.

4. Last, but not least write some motivational notes. I had 10 cards in front of me (still have new ones! :)) and my favorite iiiis:

My Preparation Numbers:

1. Read 5 technical books
2. Completed 70+ mock interviews focusing on behavioral questions
3. Participated in 12 mentoring sessions
4. Addressed 50+ system design cases
5. Did 5 my own system design retrospective
6. 20+ Linkedin cources about Leadership, Product strategy, Program management
7. Plenty of youtube videos (really hard to quantify)
8. Dedicated 7 months to preparation!
9. Applied to 13–15 companies, with most of them being for training purposes except Mastercard

Every time I was told I had the best CV Hiring Managers had ever seen! :)

Ultimately, I applied to Mastercard through LinkedIn and successfully navigated five rounds of interviews:

1. 30-minute interview with the Recruiter
2. 30-minute interview with the Hiring Manager (VC, TPM)
3. 1-hour interview with the Director of Engineering
4. 1-hour interview with the Hiring manager
5. Final panel interview with the VP of Product Management, Principal Solution Architect, and Lead TPM

When interacting with different professionals such as a VP of Product Management, Principal Solution Architect, or TPM , it is essential to tailor your stories and responses to align with their specific roles and responsibilities!

Let’s smash your new journey together where I could help you navigate Behavioural interviews, STAR ++ method and land a new role for you! Just click Introwise!

In a matter of weeks, a remarkable offer landed in my lap, and I eagerly seized the chance to embark on an exciting new chapter in my career journey!

Thank you for reading! Your like and subscription really matters to me so I know my post was at least a bit useful for you. More posts are coming soon!