How to be a solo QA in a startup and stay Alive?
My solo QA journey began in 2018, confronting the specific challenges of a MedTech startup. But guess what? The core takeaways? Timeless. Let’s dive into the actionable strategies and proven advice that will equip you to master the solo QA gig, anywhere, anytime.
Observation phase OR drinking from the firehose
During my first couple of days, everything was new to me. In my situation I discovered that there is no structured, on-boarding process. So, I needed to take a hands-on approach.
Even if you have experience in the domain, expect to do a lot of initial learning. We have to gain a lot of business data, to know what the product is about. Who the customers are? What benefit they would gain during the usage of the software?
Understanding new tools as well as delivery processes. So the very first step will be to listen to the business knowledge as well as understand the procedures at the company.
The questions that I ask first as a Quality Assurance engineer were those: How is the product development done? Are you conducting a code review process? How the system is being tested? Is there continuous integration? How about some monitoring system?
In other words, learn to ask all the questions you have to understand their current workflow. First, ask questions about the team’s daily work and the product’s business logic. As a Quality Engineer, it’s crucial to understand the underlying procedures and master the business knowledge. Ask humbly to avoid seeming unpleasant or critical.
Giving feedback — time to provide your insights
Now after you got most of the your data about how the organization is operating, what they do, in which order they do it, if they like it or just got used to it, now it is time to push the refresh button. Think what your fresh point of view can bring to the table, that other people, who’ve been in the company for a while, can’t see cause they’re so used to the product, way of thinking, and the procedures. Consider the things you heard and inspected and asked, first yourself, why not use the ‘A tool’ or the ‘B method’? After you asked it yourself — you should ask the developers, your direct manager, and peers. A positive work attitude involves anticipating that they may ask in return: “Do you have an alternative recommendation?” An excellent and powerful response could be: “It relies on our specific requirements :).
Since I was the only Quality Champion at the time, I was expected to suggest improvements quickly".
“The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge.”
— Thomas Berger
The importance of networking
No matter your experience level, your professional toolbox needs more than just technical skills. Building a strong network of teammates, previous workspace colleagues, fellows met on a meetup or connected on social networks is essential.
Whenever you’d have a career crossroads or a professional uncertainty you can brainstorm and consult with your growing network. Having a network proved advantageous early on in my solo QA Lead role.
After observing the team’s work, I identified a key area for improvement: the lack of a proper defect management system. I seized the opportunity to take ownership and implement a solution that streamlined their workflow and boosted their efficiency.
Eager to find the ideal defect management tool, I actively sought out recommendations from Software Quality professionals through relevant LinkedIn groups and Facebook communities.
Taking calculated risks
While venturing into a new defect management tool and implementing fresh procedures, I embraced the inherent uncertainty. Yes, missteps could occur, but in a thriving workspace, learning from every step, even the unexpected ones, unlocks the path to innovation.
Ultimately, I took a calculated risk, choosing a tool based on my own research and analysis. It might not be the perfect solution, but if we never explore uncharted territory, we’ll never discover new perspectives. This tool eventually enable our company to scale beyond our current limitations as our staff expended over the year in 30%.
“The greatest risk in life is not taking any risk.” — Muhammad Ali
Are you alone, really?
Connecting the dots with the title, if you have an WiFi connection and a screen connected to it — you are definitely not alone. Use the power of the network to be progressive and proactive. Plug into the global network of QA minds, share your challenges, and watch the collective wisdom light your path. Even though I used my network for ideas, I decided to go with my heart for something infamous. Time will be the judge, but the journey itself feels like a win already.
