Unveiling the QA internship journey. Conversation with Meline Hovsepyan

Let's delve into the core of our recent QA internship at InConcept Labs! Meline Hovsepyan, the QA Team Lead who headed the internship program, breaks down the details in a quick Q&A. Explore the behind-the-scenes of our program – from selecting interns to their hands-on projects. It's your shortcut to the world of QA internships at InConcept Labs.

Q: What was the internship program all about?

A: The internship aimed to continue embodying InConcept Labs' value of community engagement. This marks the sixth internship initiated by InConcept Labs, staying true to our commitment to give back to the community. Instead of just theoretical knowledge, we wanted to provide novice QA specialists with hands-on experience in a real project with a complex system and full Agile processes.

Intern Selection and Recruitment:

Q: How did you pick interns, and what were you looking for??

A: Selecting interns involved a three-step process. We were looking for strong English proficiency (at least B2+), theoretical QA knowledge, time commitment, and motivation. Out of 518 CVs, 254 candidates proceeded to a second-round online test with a specially calculated formula, through which 34 candidates successfully passed. Ultimately, following HR/QA interviews, we selected the final 5 candidates.

Internship Structure:

Q: What was the internship like in terms of time and activities??

A: The internship lasted 4 months, with interns working both in the office and remotely for 40 hours a week. While the official duration remained, we encouraged participants to put in extra time for a more enriching experience. We were pleasantly surprised to see some interns going above and beyond.

Training and Development:

Q: What kind of training did interns get?

A: Interns were hands-on in the entire work process, familiarizing themselves with and utilizing our internal communication tools.

We conducted regular meetings for our interns, including bug scrubs, test case reviews, and retrospectives, to assess their ongoing tasks and facilitate feedback sharing.

Furthermore, our engineers designed and presented talks on core technical themes, emphasizing aspects that would be most beneficial for the professional development of our interns.

Projects and Assignments:

Q: What role did the interns play in a real project, and what were the specifics of their contributions?

A: Interns played a crucial role in a real project encompassing web, mobile, and tablet platforms, incorporating a multi-environment concept. With their contribution, we successfully delivered one of our most complex releases, featuring several significant features. Surprisingly, it turned out to be a fairly smooth release (laughter).

In my view, this presented the interns with the most significant challenge during their internship. It taught them to work in an overloaded mode, swiftly transitioning from one task or feature to another throughout the day. This experience ensured they gained a hands-on understanding of both the benefits and drawbacks of working in an Agile framework.

Mentorship and Support:

Q: How did you as mentors help interns?

A: We created individual work plans, supervised their daily tasks, refined the plans based on feedback, and conducted daily reviews and discussions to ensure a supportive environment.

Feedback and Evaluation:

Q: How was intern performance evaluated?

A: We gave regular feedback, focusing on both performance and existing challenges. Two HR/QA 1-to-1 sessions provided comprehensive feedback, analyzing the current situation and emphasizing points for more effective collaboration.

Success Stories:

Q: Any standout success stories from interns?

A: One intern was hired as a Junior QA Engineer within our team after completing the internship. She even joined InConcept Labs' musical band as a vocalist.

Company Culture and Integration:

Q: How did you weave InConcept Labs' company culture into the internship?

A: Interns actively mingled with team members during the working and lunch times, joined corporate events, and got a deeper understanding of InConcept Labs beyond the work setting.

Networking and Exposure:

Q: Were there chances for interns to connect with professionals?

A: Direct communication with developers and participation in technical sessions provided ample networking opportunities, fostering a collaborative environment. Interns communicated closely with all team members. After 1-1.5 months, as they began to show tangible results in their work, it felt more like a regular job for them. They were fully immersed in the project processes and, after discussing observed bugs with us, they personally engaged with the programmers to address issues and provide suggestions.

Challenges and Learning Points:

Q: Any hurdles faced during the internship?

A: Overcoming personal challenges and staying motivated during a demanding release period were key highlights. Continuous monitoring, evaluation, and a bit of compassion played crucial roles in a successful internship completion.

Closing Thoughts:

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add or highlight about the internship program?

A: Conducting an internship is a highly responsible, time-consuming, and effort-intensive process. Before initiating an internship, it is crucial to acknowledge that achieving the desired results requires a significant time investment. Regularly addressing beginners' questions and possessing the professional experience to impart are essential.

Merely focusing on planning, task distribution, and final or partial result verification would not yield the desired outcomes. One of the keys to success was continuous monitoring, evaluation, and, of course, compassion.

Q: What advice would you give to future interns or organizations considering similar programs?

A: I would advise interns to dedicate as much time as possible during the internship to learn and absorb what is being offered by mentors. It is crucial to seize the opportunity to ask numerous questions, undertake various tasks, and address challenges within them. Actively participating in discussions and raising questions contributes to a deeper understanding.

Effective communication with all team members is equally vital. This not only aids in acquiring technical knowledge but also allows interns to become an integral part of the community.