Social media handle(s): LinkedIn
A few words about me:
I'm a software tester, who initially wanted to be a developer, focused on continual development, as well as sharing knowledge with others, and have gained experience in different areas of testing.
Outside of work I am an assistant martial arts instructor with 2 black belts from different disciplines, as well as a public speaker who speaks about different subjects including mental health, neurodiversity, software testing & career development to a variety of audiences, both in person and online at conferences regionally and nationally.
I also write an online magazine called "The Tester" for the British Computer Society.
Are there any professional experiences you've had that are quite unexpected compared to what you do nowadays?
I initially wanted to be a developer, because I enjoyed programming and databases (despite programming some tasks being challenging at times), and I have programmed in a few languages like Progress 4th Generation Language, C, as well as using web development languages like HTML.
I have also done many different types of work, including volunteering work before, which has been completely different to the role as a QA Test Analyst that I do now. This includes:
Volunteering at a charity shop, selling products to the customer, taking stock and calculating the profits made at the end of a working day
Working in a pub and restaurant, serving drinks, snacks, and maintaining the cleanliness of the establishment
Volunteering at a Scout and Guide campsite, assisting colleagues with the running of the campsite, and assisting in activities (including archery, and rifle shooting)
Is your background more STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) or non-STEM related?
Yes, my background in STEM related (since college anyway). I initially wanted to work with animals, however following a stint at an RSPCA animal shelter which I really did not enjoy, I studied IT at college, followed by an IT degree at university, whilst completing an industrial placement as a programmer in London.
Where did your professional journey start?
My professional journey began when I studied IT at college. I enjoyed the courses, and wanted to pursue a university degree and well as developing a career in the industry. I gained many skills whilst studying at university, as well as taking the initiative to learn other skills in my spare time, including basic web development, and databases.
After graduating from university, I then undertook an IT graduate scheme at a multinational organisation where I gained experience of different areas of the software development life-cycle, including development, software testing, product support (which I quickly began to hate!), data metrics and project support.
I then focused on testing, following a redundancy, took the ISTBQ exam and started networking with other testers and attending different networking events to learn more about software testing. I really enjoyed them and since landing my first role as a tester just over 10 years ago I have not looked back!
How did you get into tech and what motivated you?
I got into Tech through college and university, although there are other factors that inspired me to pursue a career in Tech, including that I enjoyed working with computers at an early age.
My motivation for working in Tech was the technology I was learning about and how it could be impactful to the world, and being fascinated by it all. Since being made redundant at a previous place of work, I was motivated to be a software tester because I discovered it was my strongest area in the software development lifecycle, and attending different networking events and practicing my skills inspired me to pursue a career in that area.
Have you experienced any 'career in tech' challenges / stereotypes?
Of course! When starting my career in Tech, there was a stereotype that testing was not as an important career as say, a developer, infrastructure analyst, etc, and it was not often talked about at university, or even regarded of how essential it is in the workplace. During my career, I began to see why testing was essential (alongside development and maintenance) and I was on a graduate scheme where I did a stint of testing and discovered that I actually really enjoyed it because it allowed me to be as creative as I wished running tests. I was also influenced by an inspiring manager who saw the value I could bring to the team as a tester.
I am also a neurodiverse professional, and faced some challenges and negative stereotypes aimed against me whilst working in the Tech industry. I felt in some places I worked that I was pigeonholed into roles because some managers did not see that I could take on advanced work (although I could) and the roles did become stagnant overtime. I have also been bullied in a few places of work, because they did not understand my needs. I've also had some 'well-meaning' managers advising me not to pursue specific roles and to stick to basic roles, which fortunately I have ignored.
With these experiences, as well as some really positive experiences where I have felt valued and understood, I am working to make the Tech Industry more diverse and inclusive, and to encourage professionals to call out bad working practices, including exclusion, bullying, etc when it happens.
"Find what you enjoy, network with others and attend networking events if you can, and don't let anyone tell you what you cannot do!"
What you wish you knew before getting started in tech...
How essential testing is to the software development lifecycle, and why testers are needed in Tech. There was not much information about testing whilst studying at college and university, as well as the reasons why testing is essential for a good, shippable product. I also wished I knew about the different types of testing that can be performed.
What has been your biggest 'wow!' moment related to working in tech so far?
I've had some really good experiences in working in Tech, particularly software testing, including mentoring professionals who were interested in developing careers in testing from all walks of life, from career changes, colleagues, and university students (including PhD students who were looking for a role after university). I've also learned different skills from many professionals, which have helped shape me into the person I am now.
I've also enjoyed delivering talks about testing, including testing and mental health, and I also create a magazine called "The Tester" by the British Computer Society Specialist Interest Group in Software Testing specialist group, to help give back to the testing community, as well as the Tech Industry.
What do you like / not like about working in tech?
Likes:
Development: The opportunity to learn different skills and grow my career how I wish
Problem Solving: Problem solving, and the ability to bring creative solutions to problems faced
Evolving: The Tech Industry is evolving constantly, so there are opportunities to learn new tech, new ways of working, etc
Networking: There are so many really good networking events, and people to learn from, who inspire me.
Good Working Culture and collaboration: Working with so many amazing colleagues to deliver some really amazing solutions. A good, positive working culture is also essential for the success of a business.
Dislikes:
Rapid Change: The rapid change of the industry, and it can be tricky to learn all the different tools, best practices, can be challenging
Pressure: The Tech Industry is interesting, however it can be stressful due to the fast-paced-ness of industry and tight deadlines, especially when teams are fire-fighting!
Diversity Issues: Unfortunately there are still diversity issues which need to be addressed, particularly when there is a lack or representation. Let's aim to change this!
Bad onboarding programs: Unfortunately, there are some places which deliver piece-meal onboarding programmes, leaving professionals a little in the dark about how the business works.
"If you are interested in a specific area of Tech, research the area and the industry, reach out to professionals who have worked there and learn from them."
What's been your favourite / most memorable / funniest 'career in tech' moment so far?
We were about to release a product into the LIVE environment, until I found a critical bug where the user could not reset their password, so the release had to be postponed. Still proud that I did the right thing though.
And to wrap up, is there any advice you'd like to give to others interested in a career in tech?
Find what you enjoy, network with others and attend networking events if you can, and don't let anyone tell you what you cannot do! I would also recommend taking care of your mental health and wellbeing, and find ways of working smarter.
If you are interested in a specific area of Tech, research the area and the industry, reach out to professionals who have worked there and learn from them.
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