From Chance to Passion: A Software Tester’s Story

It’s not a typical tale about a career switch to a quality assurance specialist. Michał didn't plan to be a software tester; he was surprised by it yet couldn’t have embraced it better. Read his career story, learn what he’s eager to know about candidates during interviews as a recruiter, and discover how important hardware testing is in his job.

How did your software tester career kick off?

It was a total coincidence and a decision that wasn’t made by me. To give you a bigger picture, I studied Management Engineering, and as I approached graduation, I planned to become a business analyst or scrum master. I eventually landed a business analyst internship at a corporation in Gdańsk. Super excited about that, I arrived on the first day only to be informed that there was a change of plans. It would be a software testing internship after all.

How did you react to that?

I was a bit surprised. Maybe back then, I wasn’t assertive enough, so I didn’t oppose the change. However, I quickly started getting interesting tasks and soon found myself enjoying this new role.

What surprised you in a software tester role?

At first, the fact that it even exists! I mean, I was aware of the role in software development, but I never really thought about its purpose in the whole process. I was certainly surprised by the amount of repetitive work related to it. While some might find it boring, I somehow enjoy it. Of course, QA is not the only role that involves repetitive tasks; other professions, including programmers, also have to deal with that challenge.

Is manual testing a profession that’s about to become extinct?

Absolutely not. Both manual and automated testing have different responsibilities and complement each other. Automated tests are mostly about regression tests and repetitive tasks, while manual testing focuses on new functionalities and exploratory testing.

Okay, but what about AI? Will it replace testers?

Based on my experience, I don’t see that happening. I think that there will actually be a greater need for testers to verify AI results.

How did you land at Bright Inventions?

It's all thanks to Łukasz, whom I have known for years. He works at Bright Inventions and had been convincing me for years to apply. For a long time, I thought I couldn't possibly meet the requirements to join the company. Obviously, I now regret that hesitation because I really enjoy working here.

At Bright Inventions, you test software and its integrations with hardware. Tell us more about it.

Yes, all my desk drawers are full of different devices, cables, trackers, and more. While working at Bright Inventions, I had the opportunity to be part of various projects, including testing a POS application with multiple devices such as printers, terminals, and POS monitors.

Currently, I am part of a team developing an IoT solution based on a network of bluetooth trackers which is mostly used for device tracking. The number of usages is almost limitless and it can serve in healthcare, supply chains, or cold delivery chains for example.

Working with Bluetooth is very specific and differs significantly from testing web or typical mobile apps. It's a truly developmental experience because you must anticipate many factors, such as the impact of wireless headphones connected to a phone on the entire application's operation. It also allows me to conduct some tests outdoors, providing a welcome break from sitting in front of the computer all the time.

As a tech recruiter, what do you expect from candidates?

I seek people who truly understand what they say they do. Sometimes, when you learn from a tutorial, you might grasp a framework like Cypress for test automation but not fully understand what automation is all about.

I also look for people who know how to work with software developers because it can be quite challenging. That’s why soft skills are essential. I usually ask candidates about their experience with cooperation with developers checking their proactivity, assertiveness, and empathy.

What is your after-hours hobby?

Since I was a child, I've always enjoyed assembling Lego.

Now that I have a three-year-old, I can go to the store and pretend that the Lego is only for him. I mostly buy Lego City sets – my son is excited about all the vehicles, and I get to assemble the bricks. It's a win-win!