bloom: Valeska Remmery
Valeska was working as a software tester when she began training as an analyst-programmer. It soon became apparent that she enjoyed programming as much as testing. Fortunately, there is such a thing as test programming, so Valeska became a test automation engineer at Refleqt. Sometimes life seems predetermined! 🛣️
Computers!
For as long as she can remember, Valeska had computers in the house. "Our dad taught my brother and me to play Prince of Persia. That must have been the early '90s. We were still playing on an MS-DOS PC back then. A while later we got Internet, through the phone line, so it was very expensive. We were only allowed to be online for an hour a day. For the rest, I often just sat at the computer, clicking around, changing settings and so on. I learned by playing. That's how my passion for computer science grew."
"I learned while playing and that's how my passion for computers grew."
Can I guess what studies you went into?
"Well, that's where things kind of went wrong. In fifth and sixth grade I did accounting-informatics, but I wasn't good at math so I was advised against studying computer science. In retrospect, that's kind of unfortunate, especially since I didn't find my niche anywhere else. I did two years of college. First a year of graphic design, but that wasn't digital enough, then I switched to business management, but I found that too boring. After two years of trying, I went to work, even though the desire to do something with computer science was still there. It seemed feasible to combine my interim jobs with night school. I followed a six-month module Macromedia Flash at CVO and it went so well that I decided to start a graduate program in computer science, also in evening classes. I obtained all the partial certificates, but no diploma because I didn't make my final paper."
Still, you found a job as a software tester.
"Because I didn't have a degree, the temp agency I was working for at that time always gave me simple administrative jobs, until one day they offered me a job in a logistics company. They couldn't really explain to me exactly what it entailed and when I went to apply, it turned out to be for software tester. The company was deliberately looking for juniors with no experience that they wanted to train on the job. In that fortuitous way, I ended up in testing. And because they knew there that I was pursuing a graduate degree in network administration, I was allowed to do IT support after a while. I got a lot out of that, but growing further within IT wasn't going to work out at that company. I had liked testing from day one, so I started looking for another employer. Fortunately, I was able to start working as a tester at a consulting company fairly quickly."
Testing or programming?
After her first graduate degree, Valeska apparently had a taste for it. "I had been enjoying doing software testing for several years, but in the long run I wanted to learn to program as well. I then started an analyst-programmer course, which I found super fun. As a result, I started wondering what I wanted to do most. Testing or programming? By doing some googling, I discovered that you can also do test automation: programming tests. I then delved into that and even tried to introduce it at work. The programmers were on board, but IT management wasn't. For me, at that point, my story with that employer stopped, because I had very clearly set my sights on a job as a test automation engineer. I found that job at Refleqt."
"I had taught myself test automation and sometimes I wondered if I was doing the right thing. It's nice to get constructive feedback now."
Was there an immediate match?
"Their job posting appealed to me 100%, as did their company profile. And apparently the interest was mutual. I am very happy that I am now working at a company with knowledge and experience in the field I want to grow in. I actually taught myself test automation and sometimes I wondered if I was doing the right thing. It is nice to get constructive feedback now. At Refleqt I can and may learn a lot."
In addition to her role as a test automation engineer, Valeska also coaches younger colleagues. "Within Cronos I got the chance to take a coaching course and now I coach four people. I really enjoy that. I myself always appreciate it when someone with more experience takes me along, so to speak, and pushes me in the right direction. Even though I can do my own thing, it's nice to get confirmation from time to time. Very cool that I get to do that for others now."
Dream job(s)
You took a lot of courses, but did not earn a higher education degree. Did you ever feel you had to answer for that?
"Gradually I started to realize that you can learn just as well on the job," he said.
"That's indeed how it was in my head. I've always wanted to prove myself everywhere by working hard. That usually works out and I also learn quickly because I ask the right questions. So by now I know that things will work out, but it still took a few years. When I stopped studying after those two years of bachelor, without a diploma, I found it super disappointing! But gradually I started to realize that you can learn just as well on the job. These days I don't mind so much that I don't have a degree. I now have enough confidence in myself and my skills, and I really enjoy doing my job."
Are there challenges you still face?
"After a year at Refleqt, I still think my technical knowledge could be a lot better. Learning new technologies eventually works, but it is always slower than I would like. That frustrates me, while I should be happy with the progress I'm making. This is where I want to find a better balance. It's advice I also share with my coachees. Never give up! Don't let things that are a little more difficult for a while block you. Keep trying and ask for help. It will work out."
We read on LinkedIn that you are also a freelance news editor and game (p)reviewer. Tell us more about that?
"Game reviews I've been writing for a long time. First at 9lives and since twelve years at 4Gamers.be. My handle is 'valies.' As a kid I gamed regularly, but that stopped during my teenage years. Around my twenties I started again, on the PlayStation 2. I also read a lot about games then, including on 9lives, and there I saw that they were looking for people to write news stories. I did that for a while, until they asked me if I wanted to review as well. Sure!"
So what do you play like that?
"Especially action adventure games on PlayStation. My favorite game is Resistance, which came out on PS3. Super fun shooters! Or Killzone, also very cool. And I still have a collection of old consoles at home that I play with on a vintage CRT TV."
Valeska concludes with a dream: "What I would find very cool is to be allowed to work on a game as a tester someday. That would really be the max. But you don't hear me complaining, though. I've always found computers fascinating, so I've really arrived at what I wanted from a young age."
