Loredana, Software Testing Graduate: "I Formed a Realistic Picture of What It Means to Be a Tester"
April 25, 2017
The finance and accounting field was, for a long time, the only option guiding her professional path and her ambitions to grow further. She graduated from the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, with a bachelor's degree in Accounting and Management Information Systems. She continued training through a master's degree, then proved her expertise through hands-on experience. Always focused on developing and growing, she felt it wasn't enough. She didn't neglect her passion for technology and computer science, but instead decided to make it a career.
Loredana Pasat was convinced that if you truly want to break into the IT industry and study hard, you can do it, even if that means completely changing your field of activity. She turned this conviction into action. How? She immediately applied to Informal School of IT Bucharest and became part of the graduating classes of the Software Testing program.
Today, she's a software tester at a well-known IT company in Bucharest.
With every new course session, I felt like I was climbing an important step toward the career I wanted
1. Tell us about your professional journey. What did you start with, and what do you do today?
When I started this program, I had only a minimal, basic understanding of what Software Testing is all about. With every new week and course session, I felt like I was climbing an important step toward the career I wanted. I gathered an impressive amount of information about this wonderful field, and in the end I achieved what I set out to do. I finished the learning program at Informal School of IT Bucharest working as a software tester at one of the IT companies I had applied to.
I gained more confidence in myself and in what I know
2. What was the job interview like?
I was very nervous. The interview included theoretical questions, but I also had to take a practical test. That part was actually the interesting one, because I applied almost everything I'd learned during the course to solve it. I strongly believe that everything I learned during the course sessions helped me: to have more confidence in myself and in what I know.
I learned to have a different perspective on how to learn
3. What was the biggest challenge during the learning process, and how did you overcome it?
I came from a completely different field where I had experience. So I had to learn to have a different perspective on things, on how to learn. There were many specialized terms I had to get familiar with, and just as much new information I had to absorb in a short time. That meant reading a lot, talking with people who work in the field, listening, learning, and answering my own questions and doubts.
You get the chance to see, in a hands-on way, exactly how a real job works
4. How would you explain to someone who knows nothing about Informal School of IT what happens in our classrooms?
The courses are extremely interactive! Every student can openly talk with the mentors, can ask any kind of question, so they learn as much as possible and nothing stays unclear. Besides the theoretical information, which will help you gain essential knowledge, the practical part matters too, where you get the chance to see, in a hands-on way, exactly how a real job works.
Advice for those reading this interview:
"To those who aren't yet sure whether to enroll in Informal School of IT's Software Testing program, I'd suggest applying with confidence! They have the chance to build an extremely useful knowledge base, but more than that, they can form a clear and realistic picture of everything the software tester profession involves.
And to current students? I'll just say this: keep at it. Give your best at every training session at the School."
