As a child, he wanted to become a hunter or a painter. Today, at 31, he hunts bugs and paints test scenarios. Mădălin Petrila firmly believes that everyone has a duty to listen to their calling and follow it with passion. That's how he discovered IT – “the change of his life”, as he calls it – after a career as a design engineer. This newly discovered path brings him satisfaction and professional fulfillment every day. “I'm grateful”, he says today, when he talks about his learning experience at Informal School of IT.
And not just that.
“Informal School of IT gave me the momentum I needed to make the change I needed. It was the backdoor that opened doors for me whose existence I didn't even know about”, says Mădălin, a graduate of Software Testing
There's a place, somewhere, for all of us. We just have to discover it
1. When did you decide to become a student at Informal School of IT?
Before deciding to make the change in my life, I worked as a design engineer at a multinational company. It was a good period for me, but still, I felt that I wasn't doing what I should be doing, that it wasn't my true calling.
That's when I decided to apply to Informal School of IT.
2. What did you study before?
I studied at the Faculty of Hydrotechnics, Geodesy and Land Surveying. This is also where I had my first contact with programming, something I had wanted, as a way of fulfilling a wish from high school. I took a Pascal programming course. I gave it my absolute best and, after just a few months, I was able to create my own programs to help me do various calculations in the field.
Sometime in my second year of my master's, still in the same field, I was accepted to study for 4 months at “Universidade de Lisboa” in Portugal, where I also did my master's thesis on “Object Detection and Object Classification”. It mattered then and it still helps me now.
When I enrolled at Informal School of IT, I thought I needed a backdoor to become a programmer. But I discovered something even more exciting, which suited me better: testing.
3. What was the most important thing you learned at Informal School of IT?
All the information I gathered as part of the educational program was, and still is, important. If I had to name something specific, I'd say teamwork would take priority over the other hard skills gained during the courses. Soft skills are becoming increasingly important in the Romanian job market, and that's a good thing.
I remember the review session. I got assigned something I disliked: the V Cycle. Now I teach the V Cycle. Karma!
4. What were the mentors who guided you at Informal School of IT like?
Looking at the big picture, I have to say I'm grateful to the mentors at Informal School of IT for all the effort they put into sharing their knowledge and practical industry experience. The feedback we received was always constructive, and as a result, we all managed to learn applicable things and pass the final exam with flying colors.
5. From the course sessions, what do you especially remember…
I fondly remember many things from the course sessions. The SQL sessions with Dragoș Cogean stuck in my mind – he's a character much loved by all the students at Informal School of IT because of the passion with which he filled us with information. Another thing I fondly remember is the review session. At one point I got assigned something I disliked: the V Cycle. Now I'm in the position of teaching the V Cycle to new colleagues in the department. Karma!
Teamwork during the extra hours when we did our homework is also a very pleasant memory.
6. The biggest challenge? The biggest fear?
The whole course period was a challenge, both for me and for my fellow students. The extra SQL sessions where I helped my classmates with their homework were challenging. That's when, without a doubt, I learned to develop my hard and soft skills.
Fear? That I'd lose my way. I was very determined to finish this course and do it well, and that's exactly what happened.
The job interview simulation session was an extraordinary thing
7. How was the job interview?
Except for the fact that I mixed up the buildings and was 15 minutes late, I think the first interview was interactive and exciting. I managed to answer most of the questions and show that I had a solid grasp of my knowledge. I had to attend two interviews, one technical and one with HR, as is the case at most corporations, but that didn't stop me from getting hired.
8. How much did the job interview prep session at Informal School of IT help you?
The job interview simulation session, as part of the course, was an extraordinary thing for all of us. We could see what employers' requirements were and how we could meet them.
9. From your experience, what advice can you give others?
For anyone who wants to make a career change: it's good to know your future employer, research the field they work in, and show them that you're also passionate about what they do. One important point: don't give up after the first rejection!
10. Let's imagine we're in 2025. Where do you see yourself, professionally speaking?
In such a near future, I'd see myself leading a team, doing what I love most, security testing.
Everyone feels it when they're called elsewhere. They just have to listen to their calling
concluded Mădălin Petrila, a graduate of the Software Testing educational program at Informal School of IT, ending the interview.
