So lock down continues and so does my job hunting. I've had a couple of video interviews with one company which I thought were promising. I got on with both the people who were interviewing me and they seemed to be pretty relaxed with me. Sadly though I was not asked back for the third interview- the reason they give was that did not feel I would suit the company culture/structure. They also indicated that I was maybe a little overqualified for the position that I was going for. They seemed to think I was more suited for a manager, lead test role.
Fair enough I thought, but they then went on and listed out what they liked about me and there seemed to be a lot more positive than negative unless of course not fitting the culture was massive negative, and the long list of things they liked about me could not cancel that out. Here is what they said
"Some good points the team shared regarding your skills and experience:Very experienced test specialist
Senior Tester in most recent roles
Very much involved in process improvement
Process driven although claimed could tolerate less formal process
Demonstrated good test knowledge
Good communication"
So I was bummed out for a while after that. I am looking at any jobs that I feel I can do, but of course, a lot of the testing jobs are now coming with the "A" word, "Automation" which of course I have little or no experience of. I am trying to learn how to code with Python, mostly by using YouTube examples and whatever "free" courses I can find. I get very frustrated, however, particularly if there is a tricky bit and have not set up the IDE correctly so I do not see X option that individual on YouTube seems to miraculously have.
I am using the Ministry of Test Slack which has resulted in some help from people via video. I am considering setting up a channel on there for Python for beginners that might be a place for people like me to go and cry- not sure what the rules are for that though.
So what else can I blether* about? I changed the name of this blog to "The Test Department" as I thought the previous name "Last of Manual Testers" was a bit off. The new name is a bit of a throwback to when as a student I worked at Paper Mill during the summer break.
I spent a month cleaning the mill ponds and water channels under the mill- we were called the "Pond Squad" . However, for the first week were assigned to different departments until they emptied all the water from the said ponds and waterways. So in my years there, I worked in various "departments" like "Scaffolding" or "Guards" departments. The "Guards" department was essentially 2 old men going round all the machines and made sure they had all correct safety guards on the machinery. Also back in the day software development was a much more separate entity from the development.
A long time ago I went for an interview with a company and after the interview, the guy asked me if I wanted to "meet the test team". Taking this as a good sign I agreed. I was then taken on a walk through the company office "Here is our development team" he said pointing to a fabulous room with wide windows looking out on trees and sunshine and well dressed focused individuals. Well, this looks great I thought. We continued on our way through a maze of doors, corridors, then down a few flights of stairs and then he opens a door into a basement room that had no windows "..and this is our Test department/lab" In there were people who looked like that had not seen daylight in a long time...I did not get the job and perhaps that was maybe a good thing.
Other things I have been considering other than learning how to code is learning how to draw. I have never been that artistic inclined, other than a few doodles that a 5-year-old would discard as "not up to standard" I have done no drawing. I always wanted to try to learn how to sketch better. So I have also been watching YouTube videos on that. I do have a basic sketch pad and some pencils that were given to me as a gift gathering dust somewhere- it might help me to switch off from the stress of trying to find a new gig. Worst case I could always consider taking up street artists for a living.
I am currently reading Chuck Wendig's "The Wanderers" which is a huge book about a mysterious disease that causes a group of people to "Sleep Walk" across the US, and the resulting media/social mayhem that it causes. I am halfway through and really enjoying, a lot it is very pertinent to what is happening at the moment. Anyway, I have to go and watch a video on how to hold a pencil...
* blether Scottish word for talking. I will use Scottish words..so beware.
Music on the headpones
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