Ok, that may be a little dramatic to say that not getting a job changed my life but in a way it did. A year ago, I applied for a job that I desperately wanted – mainly because I wanted a job. I needed a job and was hungry to return to work. After not getting this job, I bitched and moaned about said job for quite some time.
Now that I reflect on that job, I know that it wasn’t right for me but did lead me to a rewarding career. How is that possible if I didn’t get the job you might ask? Well, I will try to explain. See, the job was in software testing – something that sounded interesting to me. I had beta tested games before and absolutely love it so I knew that I would enjoy testing software. What I didn’t know is what testing software really meant. Sure, I figure it meant using unfinished software and looking for what doesn’t work. But beyond that, I really didn’t have a clue and it showed in the interview. I thought of software testing as a way in with this company and that I should aspire to be something other than a tester. Now I see the error in my ways of thinking.
Software testers are not developers looking to gain experience and to get in with a company. They are doing a job – one that requires it’s own special skills and talents. This I have learned since taking a job as a tester. I no longer believe that software testing is just a stepping stone to something else. Also I’m glad I am learning software testing through my own ventures than through a company’s. This way I will be exposed to more opinions, methodologies, etc.
So even though I was sad that I didn’t get that job last year, it worked out for the best – in fact better than I could have imagined. Finally I am doing work that I love again.
