Tester with inconsistent Academic Background

Tester with inconsistent Academic Background 

Today I want to declare that I am happy that I didn't have consistent academic Background i.e. min 60% starting from class 10. 

Then what is my academic background?

A good question!

Class 10 - 80.64%

Class 12 - 55% 

B.Sc., - 59 % 

MCA (IGNOU - Distance learning) - I got admission to this course In my first year of the career when I realized, I need to have more formal education to survive as tester. 

Just in case if you are wondering why I was Inconsistently consistent :)! (I have been trained by mentor to think NLQ - Next logical question)

1. Class 10 - It just happened in flow

2. Class 12 - Our family shifted to a new city. My father was travelling once in a week as he was working in a different city (3 hours journey). I was missing him so much. First time in my life I felt so lonely and before even I could get my grounds going, results were out. 

Though I was thinking of reappearing to improve my score, my father advice me to move forward. 

3. BSC., - This is where I realized my passion for Physics. In the final year, I was so confident of good score, I applied revaluation in Physics, but my score was reduced by around 10 marks! 

I had real tough time to digest this. All I wanted to do is, clear Integrated PhD entrance in IISC., I did clear written test but I was not qualified because of 60% slab in graduation! The professor in the interview panel still offered me to assist him in couple of his workshops where he was helping kids to understand Mathematics and Science. 

Appeared of JAM - Joint Admission for MSC In IITs and premier institute. But My ranking was not good enough. A big relief was, there was no 60% marks requirement. 

I became more serious about this. Then I had to pause the preparation. 

Why?

Life happened. My father was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease stage 1. He was still working in the bank. And my siblings were still studying. I decided to try my luck in Bangalore. 

Then what happened?

Again life happened. 

1. I got selected in king fisher airlines ticket booking center, way back 2005 Nov. I got to know there is something called "Soft Skill".

I was constantly asked to accompany for smoking by my trainer. I was scared. And I quit after 15 days of trying. 

2. I worked in a tele calling DSA (Direct Selling Agency), that was near to my hostel. So that, I can save on bus fare. 

My manager used to appreciate me that, every day I go with questions. Then there was this guy who started sending flowers to the security because he liked my voice! 

I was constantly living in fear. I didn't want to tell at home, as I didn't want to give up. One day I spoke to my college friend about it. He told me to quit the job asap and go to home for few days. And change the phone no. etc., 

He assured that, he will help me to search the new job. I quit the job after getting my first month's salary. 

Came back to Bangalore after 15 days.

3. Then I joined a CAT coaching institute as counselor in the Shivajinagar center. I worked here for 6 months. There was a course which was famous during that time - PGSEM - Post Graduate in Software Enterprise Managmenet. I used to talk to few arrogant "Software Engineers" who used to show off... 

Here, coaching for Class 11 and class 12 started. There was this scientist who worked in Jet Propulsion Laboratory who was teaching Physics. I used to attend his classes once in a week. I requested him not to ask any questions. But he used to make solve the problems on the board instead! 

I started enjoying my work. As I love conversing with people. There was this guy who called to enquire about the course and he was working in a call center. I went an extra mile to accommodate his shift schedules. That was one of my first challenging tasks - where I was learning art of negotiation unknowingly. 

I used to listen to the lectures wrt CAT coaching and the intense preparation. I realized what I was missing in preparation for JAM. I was just being ambitious about clearing JAM but I was not dedicated enough. I started working on my basics parallelly. 

There this incident that made me breakdown. A parent called enquiring about missing class details. That parent didn't allow to explain my side. It was full on 15 minutes non-stop bashing. I broke down. My manager got to know about it. He made me sit with him and asked me to listen to the call that he is going to have with the same parent. 

I witnessed the power of communication, for the first time in my life. That parent and his wife came to office to apologies to me. But my manager was adamant that, he will not allow them to meet me as they don't deserve that. I was just sitting in next cabin observing all this. He gave one of the best advices - 

To be fearless. 

Go with data. 

Talk in calm mind. 

If you want to be heard, then pause in right time. 

Work on voice modulation. 

At the same time, he was tough task master. I am still searching him on linkedin to say thanks but no luck yet. 

Dear Ajit sir, 

Thank you! Thank you for standing up for me when I was scared most for the first time in my life, when I have not even asked you to do so. 

And yes, that grey shirt looks really nice on you :)! 

Life was preparing me for its new game. My friend used to come to office on weekends to pick me as I used to work on Sundays. I was accumulating leaves to travel back home. 

He was constantly following questions:

1. What are my career goals?

2. What is the new skill I am learning?

3. What is my plan about my career etc., 

He was never satisficed with my answer. One fine day, he wrote a big email as - that summarizes that he is finding "I was being way too casual about my plan". That email was so powerful that, I resigned from my work on the same day. Went back home to think through. 

I was back after 2 weeks. This time, he suggested to do some technical course that can help me to build my career. I went to an embedded training institute, as Electronics was one of the subjects in my graduation. She suggested to join testing course instead as I have good communication skills and I can get a job. My friend paid the course fee. 

Again, my friend made me join a course to learn Linux basics. 

I was continuously looking for the job for next 6 months. I was constantly been denied to apply most of the entry level tester openings because not having min 60% score in academics. 

Then there was this guy in training and placement institute in Malleswaram that needs a special mention in my job searching. 

He : You join our project. We train in such a way that, you can apply with 2 years of fake experience. As you have a gap after your graduation and you have not even scored minimum 60%. And now you want to work in software industry <in a sarcastic tone/> 

Me : but I do want to apply as fresher. 

He: I can write and give, you will never get a job opportunity to apply as fresher 

That day I cried a lot. I decided I will go back home. In my hostel I told my hostel mates, who became an extended family by now were shocked with my decision. My room mate called my friend and told him about my decision. As I was travelling back home next day and I didn't inform him as I was ashamed that I wasted his money. 

We met in the park near home. Want to share the conversation:

He: Ok. Now you go back home. What you do after that?

Me : I will get married to some one 

He : Who?

Me : I don't know. I will ask my father to search a guy?

He : Go on. I am listening. 

Me : Why can't you stop being sarcastic? 

Again I broke down. 

After few mins of PJs and pep talk, he told me try of next one month rigorously. So that, I should not repent in future.

Next day I got to know about this testing training institute. I spoke the placement guy - saying "I don't have consistent 60% score and I took a break after graduation. And I do not want to add any fake experience in my resume. Will I get a job?

He said yes firmly. 

Trainer was really good. She had good examples to explain testing. And the Placement guy used to take sessions on Saturdays about interview preparation. Also, he used to teach about email writing, how to talk in a meeting when you actually get job etc, 

3 weeks into the program... I got to know about this opening in Global Edge. They wanted to start a batch for BSC and BCA graduates. This was an experimental batch. 

I got my first job because, they conducted written tests and GD and Interview. 

Closing thoughts:

Just don't give up! 

And thanks to every one who are there in this journey of me being a software tester... 

Just thought of sharing this post as I felt like sharing.