Meet a Tester: Jose

, Kristel is Testlio's co-founder.

In Meet a Tester, we feature QA experts from our community who share their love for quality and Testlio. Our second interview is with Jose from San Diego, California, USA.

1. How did you end up testing for Testlio?

The story of how I ended up working as a tester, specifically for Testlio is an interesting and unexpected one. At the time I applied to become a software tester at Testlio I had just finished a course in Computer Animation, so I was transitioning from being a student to beginning to seeking to apply for a job in the Animation industry, which has very little to do with software testing.

During this time I needed a job as I refined my Animation portfolio before applying at studios, and a friend who had been working for Testlio for about two years, I believe, mentioned there was a need for US testers and invited me to apply.

Due to my lack of experience in software testing I was a bit nervous, but applied and got invited to take a practice test, and, well, here I am now! In what is the most unexpected thing that has happened to me, I found myself almost full time in a field that I never thought I would be part of, completely different from art, and yet loving every moment of it.

2. Why are you testing apps for Testlio specifically?

There are a few key things that I love about testing apps for Testlio, the obvious one is of course that working from home is in many ways a luxury that not a lot of companies offer. As is the freedom that comes with being able to work at your own pace.

Another thing that makes it very exciting to do work for Testlio is that I’ve been very fortunate to be invited to a great variety of projects from many different clients. So in one week I get to test a different number of apps that range from productivity to entertainment. And while mobile testing is the main focus, because we also cover other devices such as TV boxsets, some weeks I get to test some very cool apps right on my television.

Considering where technology is headed, and as our homes continue to get “smarter”, I’m excited to see what we will be testing next, and on what kind of devices!

And that’s the nice thing about testing apps for Testlio, you never know what cool app, or device, you will be testing on next.

Lastly, the Testlio community is simply great, from the moment I tested my first app until today, it has been a constant show of support for one another. And the support comes from all places, from fellow testers, from project leads, and from our managers. Not to mention, the talent of everyone I’ve worked with continues to inspire me and push me to become better at what I do.

So, all of that, among other things, make Testlio the right company for me to test apps for.

3. What drives you?

My biggest drivers are a mixture of my own passions for the things I wish to achieve, as well as the inspiration I get from the people I meet or work with.

When it comes to my personal life, I have certain expectations about myself that help me not just establish my goals, but also work hard towards reaching them. And these expectations are shaped by some of my passions, for example cooking, or art making. There’s always something new I want to create or learn how to make. Whether it is a new dish from a cuisine I’m not familiar with or a new animation. In order to be driven to accomplish these objectives, it is important to first set clear, and obtainable, goals. As well as a clear vision of the steps required to reach those goals.
This also applies to my work life, especially when you work with other talented individuals, it is very easy to be inspired to want to be the best you can be. And in order get there, I feel it is necessary also to clearly set and define your goals.

4. What are the pros and cons of a distributed workplace?

My favorite part has to be being able to eat lunch in my own kitchen, eating food that I myself made!

In all seriousness, working form home, even if it is a long day, it is your home. It is your safe space. There are many things in your home that bring you comfort and therefore help you get through challenging work days with ease. Coming back from breaks means you come back really recharged and ready to take on the tasks at hand because you took those breaks in your own home.

The downside of working from home is that it can potentially mean you will have a hard time leaving your home!

5. How would you convince a friend to join Testlio?

I would try to summarize everything I wrote above!

But, the variety of clients we work with makes for a very exciting working environment, every day is something different, something new. The talent that you will work along side with on every single project is inspiring and also makes work very exciting. The ability to work from home is, of course, something I would bring up, that is just a very nice perk.

And well, having met Kristel Kruustük a few months back while she visited San Diego makes me feel very confident that working at Testlio is working at a company that from the ground up was created with a very unique and clear vision that compares to few, and a company that not only offers an innovative solution for clients, but also offers an empowering, fair, and exciting job environment for those who are willing and ready to be part of that vision.