From the pharmacist
To quality engineer

How did the training go? What knowledge and skills have you acquired?
I have been interested in the field of IT since my school days, if not for pharmacy, I would have enrolled in IT studies. However, at that time my understanding of IT was extremely narrow, I thought that working in IT was just programming and nothing else. Over time, while working in the field of pharmaceuticals, I became more and more interested in technological innovations, in the IT sphere, I began to seriously consider retraining and made a plan on how I could implement it.

How did you choose your chosen training program and why Vilnius Coding School?
"Vilnius Coding School" specified a clear training plan, had additional soft skills (Soft Skills) training and career center, which was focused on helping its students find a job.

How did the training go? What knowledge and skills have you acquired?
I got acquainted with the theory of testing (testing levels, types, methods, etc.), learned to write test scripts and cases, learned the basics of the JAVA programming language, wrote automated tests using the TestNG framework and Selenium Webdriver. I learned how to log defects using JIRA. I got acquainted with the Agile work methodology. I am glad that there were a lot of practical tasks and homework, which made it possible to master the basics of testing more effectively.

How did the search for the company go? Was it difficult?
After completing VCS training, I continued self-study and at the same time looked for a job - I got negative answers, and basically for one reason - "we chose another candidate with more experience". I decided to pass the ISTQB certification, thus showing my motivation for the QA field, and after passing it, I received a job offer.

What advice would you give to people who dream of changing careers, but do not dare for various reasons (thinking that it is too late to change something, that they will be too weak for IT companies, etc.)?
I think that if you are thinking about changing your career, it is very important to clarify for yourself at the beginning why you want to change your career, why you want to work in IT, take a look at various roles, choose what interests you the most. I would advise you to make a detailed plan - write down what, how and when you intend to do, and stick to this plan. It should be understood that the path to retraining is not easy, you will have to leave your comfort zone and do it often. It is important to understand that when faced with the first difficulties, not to break down, - I would like you to be stubborn, to achieve your goals, to analyze your actions, not to be afraid to ask for help - "Vilnius Coding School" has an excellent career center. It is also important to realize that after completing retraining courses, learning cannot stop, in the end you are choosing a field where continuous improvement and learning is necessary. Such trainings are a good starting point in order to continue to understand what to "hang on to" and how and where to deepen your knowledge. 🙂 And with desire and persistence, the goal will be achieved sooner or later.