Her name is Ana-Maria Boronia. Friends simply call her Ana. A few years ago, you could have run into Ana in Brazil or Colombia. She studied geology in college and philology in high school. She chose a career in the oil industry, even though as a child she dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. She remembers that from 11th grade onward she had nothing more to do with math, physics, or computer science.
Today, at 32, she has started her career in IT. She learned that there's no such thing as "I can't", and that has become her motto. She says that little Ana would look with admiration today at the decisions she's made as an adult. Ambition, perseverance, and the drive to be a little better every day than she was yesterday are written all over her CV. Ana graduated from the Intro to IT and Software Testing programs at the Informal School of IT. We're proud!
I worked for 4 years as a Data Engineer on oil platforms in Brazil and Colombia
1. Tell us about your professional life before enrolling at the Informal School of IT.
In 2008 I finished the Faculty of Geography and Geology, specializing in "Technical Geology". In 2010, after finishing my master's studies at the same faculty, I got a job in the oil industry. I started working in Romania, on an onshore rig, then went to the Czech Republic. When that project ended, I changed both company and continent at the same time. I worked for 4 years as a Data Engineer on oil platforms in Brazil and Colombia.
2. At what point did you decide to change your career? Why?
I liked the job I had. I also liked the adventure-filled life. But in jobs like that, you can't really make plans for anything, like Christmas, Easter, important events. There's no such thing as work-life balance. The right moment for a change came with the onset of the oil crisis. The stress of losing my job, the uncertainty of tomorrow, made me think very carefully about what I'd like to do.
3. Why IT?
I always worked with computers and learned a lot of software over my 5 years in the oil industry. But I didn't know which suited me better, between programming or testing. I saw that the Informal School of IT also offers guidance. So I chose to start with… the beginning! I was one of the students in the second cohort of the Intro to IT program at the Informal School of IT. I liked programming a lot too, but I continued with Software Testing, because it suited me better. Attention to detail, that "professional pessimism" so to speak, helped me in my previous job too.
Guess what: at the job interview I get a question from exactly the same category
4. How did the whole experience at the Informal School of IT help you?
It gave me the courage to apply to IT companies. After I sent my CV, my phone started ringing. I remember applying on Monday morning, right after taking the final test at the Informal School of IT, and they called me about a job that same day.
5. From the course sessions, you especially remember…
There were many beautiful moments. But one special one was the recap day of the Software Testing program.
I still remember the excitement of drawing the question. I drew the first ticket from a category I didn't master very well, and the second ticket ended up being from the same category, and guess what: at the job interview I get a question from exactly the same category. Of course, the answer was no longer a mystery to me.
6. How was the job interview? What advice could you give other students based on this experience?
What helped me enormously was having also taken the Intro to IT program. There were a lot of questions on IT fundamentals.
The interview experience had 3 parts: technical test, technical interview, and HR interview.
ONE IMPORTANT TIP:
Apply to companies. Put your CV to work. Don't wait for the right moment; the right moment is every day. I told myself I had to strike while the iron was hot, because time passes and information fades. The >4 months of testing at the School, under the guidance of professional trainers, are enough to speak confidently about testing fundamentals with any experienced tester. Some container content
7. How would you describe an hour of class at the Informal School of IT?
Simply put: professionalism. Very engaged mentors, very interested students. There was good chemistry between us. I still remember the whole experience fondly.
8. Your motivation to keep learning is…
To be a little better every day than you were yesterday.
9. Your biggest fear was…
Not finding a job right away. I really wanted to find a job immediately after graduating, since I hadn't been working since December 2015.
10. Let's imagine it's 2025. Where do you see yourself, professionally speaking?
That's a long way off, but I want to stay in IT. I'll definitely have even more to tell by then. I like what I do and I don't want to stop. I'm already thinking about a new investment in my training. Test Automation is my next goal.
11. What's the motto that guides you?
"There's no such thing as 'I can't'" and "You are what you think. Think positive!".
