We spoke with Natalia Sheika, Quality Assurance Engineer for the Denway Country Unit, based in Kyiv. We talked about her journey at Vaimo and what she likes most about being a QA.
Hi Natalia, and welcome to Vaimo Introducing! To kick things off, can you tell us about your journey at Vaimo: where your journey with Vaimo started, and how you transitioned to Quality Assurance?
Long story short, I started at Vaimo as an English teacher, after a friend of mine recommended me. From there, I was asked whether I wanted to become an Office Manager here at our Kyiv office. At that point, I wanted to get some experience in the office setting to put on my resume, so I was really happy to accept the job. I already knew all of the 30 or 40 people who were in the office so there was a really smooth transition for the team.
I liked being an Office Manager, but two years later, I felt like that was it for me. And when my Country Manager in Ukraine asked me one day how I was, I was sincere and told him that I didn’t see myself in that position anymore and wanted to be a QA. And a couple of hours later, he asked me into his office and had found someone to teach me.
However, the department where my teacher was, fell apart. I was still an Office Manager and couldn’t believe the day would come when I could start working as a QA. But I have a friend, Maryna, who is now a Project Manager but used to be a QA at Vaimo Denway. She suggested asking the Denway Country Manager whether there were any positions available—with his approval and her mentoring, I got given that first chance and became a QA trainee.
How has Vaimo supported you in your career development and taking on new roles?
Before working at Vaimo, I didn’t even know there were QAs. But as I was involved in organising things like the QA summit in Kiyv, I found out more about the job. At the time, I didn’t even think that it could be me in the future. I am very grateful that Christian, the Country Manager for Denway, gave me that first chance. I know it was a risk for him.
At the time, they only had one QA, but they still took me on as a rookie. I started a QA course and was learning at work at the same time, which was great. My team was also incredibly supportive.
I know how difficult it is to enter this or any field with no experience. For me, it was a miracle that I was offered a job right away. I am so grateful for everything my unit has done for me. So in return, I give back everything I have learned.
What does a typical day look like for you (if there is such a thing as a typical day!)?
My typical day is the same as many developers or QAs. I attend a daily meeting, in my case two or three, as I am on multiple projects. Then I check the boards to see if I have any new tasks. I also participate in internal meetings and sometimes in meetings with clients, for example, to demo a new feature. I am also always communicating within the team and being there for people to ask me questions. And since I am part of several teams, there is a whole lot of communicating going on.
You have been with Vaimo for almost five years now and worked in three different positions. What do you find most rewarding in your current role?
I feel excited when I can help people—when I answer their question, and I see a smile on their face or when they send me a funny emoji in the chat. I think this is something in common with being an Office Manager—providing help when needed.
It is also very rewarding when a client shows their appreciation for what you as a team have done—when they are happy with the project and want to continue working with Vaimo.
What is your biggest achievement to date—personal or professional?
So, I was thinking about this. And one thing I can say is being the only QA for the Denway Unit for almost a year. Two or three years ago, I wouldn’t have believed that I could do it, but I managed with the help from the unit! I think it is a great achievement for any employee to do their job the best they can, not for the money or reward, but just because you want to give 100%.
What four words would you use to describe Vaimo?
Empathetic—I always see people taking other people’s feelings into consideration. My managers and team members acknowledge other’s feelings.
Rewarding—people are recognised for their achievements. We can often see this in the shoutouts people put up, congratulating others for a go-live, migration or meeting that has gone well. I think there are a lot of people in my unit who do a great job, and it is nice to see them celebrated!
Motivating—we get rewards for our good work. I have seen people striving more when they know there will be some reward. They do great work without a reward, but with it, they go the extra mile.
Helpful—what I have witnessed here over the years is that everyone is helpful. Even when they are annoyed, and it’s normal for people to sometimes get annoyed, they will still help you.
A big thank you to Natalia for joining us and sharing her story. Stay tuned to our blog to hear more stories from Vaimoers across our global offices!
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