I landed my first job in 2015. I got placed in a well-reputed MNC during our campus placements. Back then we didn’t have the opportunity to choose the Technology we wanted to make our career in. It was straight away emailed to us, 2 months prior to our joining.
I got ‘TESTING’ (Software Testing).
I didn’t understand much about it neither did I bother. I was ecstatic and full of enthusiasm to join the corporate world and “achieve the goals of the organization” – as my CV said.
I did pretty well during my training period and was put on to a very big project soon after. Testing for me was – whatever was taught during training. Since it was my first job, I worked very diligently, followed whatever my seniors at work taught me, and never questioned a thing(Regret this now). I believed that I work in one of the biggest projects in a very big organization in the Country – So if it’s done the way it’s done here, probably this is the best way to do it and this is how everybody else does it.
Initially, things were new so it was exciting. Slowly, after 2.5years of the same chores every day, it became monotonous. I tried to move to other roles internally – I assisted HR for 3months, tried my hands on other technologies in DB, took a month-long break, and spoke to very few testers outside my organization – they had the same sob story. One wise senior suggested staying in the organization and looking for on-shore opportunities. This triggered some excitement as I loved to travel.
I stayed in the same role anticipating that my Manager would send me on-shore someday very soon. For 2years on the grind, nothing changed. I hated the work I did but still showed up to work – no other option. I pursued a management degree as well – just so you know, might get me some good opportunities.
I quit my career in Testing and started looking for opportunities outside and fortunately I landed an overseas opportunity. And just a month prior to the joining – BOOM! COVID-19 strikes the world!
Now I didn’t have any job! I mostly did freelance testing and was helping a friend in building a startup. I felt LOST. Contrary to a mid-life crisis, I was having a mid-career crisis.
I took up a job again as a Tester – the only job I could get in the middle of a global pandemic, considering my resume and experience. Same grind from 9-5, nothing new. I did the same activities, I had been doing for the last five years.
One fine weekend, I got to know about some conference people at work were attending – Pandemic situation, nothing to do over the weekend, so I also went. First time in my life I saw so many Testers – everyone sharing their experiences, and giving talks – at a global-scale event. I could relate to so many stories shared there.
TESTING was so much more than I knew. It was a vast ocean, and I only had a glass of it till now.
I couldn’t sleep after the day1 of the conference. I was wide awake the whole night. It felt like I was awakened after a long sleep. The thing I tried to run away from, was my calling.
I only hated it because I was doing it the wrong way. There are so many resources, and people out there who have done it or are doing it the RIGHT way. It would take me a lifetime to read and learn from them. Nonetheless, I found Myself.
As they say, only when you truly lose yourself, you find yourself.
So, this was my journey where I LOST and FOUND myself through TESTING.
What’s your LOST and FOUND story? Let me know.
Thanks for your time reading my story.
List of talks from the conference > here
EBook summarizing the entire conference