The geek in query: Shayna Swanson The employment title: SDET, Distributed Application Server I fully grasp you utilised to be a recruiter?
Yep. I began being a recruiter at Microsoft in 2005. I interviewed mainly technical candidates, and decades of hearing how fired up they had been about their technical roles acquired me actually excited about it also. I've a diploma in business enterprise management and HR management, so my qualifications is certainly non-technical. But when I heard about Microsoft's Test Apprenticeship System, it appeared such as the excellent opportunity so, I applied. I used to be accepted and immediately after nine months of on-the-job coaching,
Microsoft Office 2007, now I am a tester working on Dublin. Why testing?
A new problem. HR and Engineering are two diverse beasts and I used to be prepared to become challenged inside a numerous way. Testing seriously match what I was searching for. Also, it is multifaceted. I prefer to be creative and also have selection in my operate. With the testing you receive to code and also create out plans. You also get to seriously believe regarding the product inside a diverse way: "how and why would the user do this, or how would even a hacker try to attack this?" You get to put on distinct hats and be several people. Was it intimidating,
Office 2007 Serial, making the switch from a non-technical role?
Yes and no. Yes, because you're around all these super-smart people who have experience in what they're doing. But then no,
Microsoft Office 2010, because at the beginning the knowing was that I didn’t have a CS track record so the initial expectation was just for me to learn — so it's kind of easy to live up to that one. What was it like, telling your recruiting manager that you were not only changing gigs, but completely changing worlds?
My manager knew I used to be technically inclined, so when projects came up that involved more technical aspects of the applications we utilised in HR, they were assigned to me. During a mid-year profession discussion, I brought up doing the Test Apprenticeship Program and my manager was totally receptive. Profession development isn't just about climbing the ladder at Microsoft — it is regarding the opportunity to function on a lot of numerous things as well. Where else can you have a paying job and get trained with completely new skills at the same time? What's the biggest diverse between working in HR and operating as a tester?
It's lot noisier in HR! You're talking with people all the time, that’s your work. On the technical side of things, people can get heads down and focused on their own thing. So, first recruiter. Now tester. What's next?
Currently,
Windows 7 Key, I’m focused on ongoing test training and trying to learn and contribute as much as I can. I just made the move so I’d prefer to get certainly good at this position first. …Weeeeell,
Office Enterprise 2007, essentially I've written a design spec for a project and perfect now am functioning on some test plans, so the whole PM side of things might pique my interest down the road. Links please? • Microsoft's Test Apprenticeship Program • Microsoft's Dublin project