"Planit is really committed to ongoing learning and education, and provides opportunities for staff to gain new qualifications and certifications in a variety of areas. We are actively encouraged to own our career progression."

Nicole, Engineer, Planit

Nicole’ interest in technology led her to study a degree in software engineering. While she enjoyed development, Nicole knew she didn’t want to be a developer.

When there was an opportunity to shift into Business Analysis, Nicole took it and went to work for the WA government. It was in this role that she had the opportunity to study and complete the ISTQB Foundation Certificate, which provides an introduction to testing principles and process.

“That certification really piqued my interest in testing,” Nicole says. “I have always been a detail-oriented person who likes to get things ‘just right’, so the meticulous attention to detail in testing made it a natural fit for me.”

The bug hunting process, particularly in thinking up new ways to try and ‘break’ the app by using it in ways the developers perhaps hadn't considered, also had its merits.

“There's a certain satisfaction that comes with uncovering a nice, juicy bug and then squashing it!” Nicole says.

From there, Nicole took on a variety of agency contracting roles combining both business and test analysis skills. And the more testing Nicole did, the more she began hearing about Planit.

“One day I saw an ad on Seek for an Engineer position at Planit and I applied straight away,” Nicole says. “The opportunity to work in a consulting role, where you can get the variety of contracting without the insecurity between contracts, was simply too good to pass up!”

Since joining the Perth team, Nicole has been able to do just that. In addition to working with a variety of clients, the other aspect of Planit that appeals to her is near limitless access to the company’s industry-leading training courses.

“Planit is really committed to ongoing learning and education, and provides opportunities for staff to gain new qualifications and certifications in a variety of areas,” Nicole says. “We are actively encouraged to own our career progression, and speak up when there's an area of testing that interests us so those interests can be incorporated into our role, which is essentially how I got my start in testing.”

Nicole has also likes the “senior buddy” system used to mentor junior testers. “It's good to know there's someone to turn to if you need advice or guidance while you're out on a client site, rather than feeling you're out there on your own,” she says.

Having one’s testing efforts get recognised with a Supernova award at the end of year Christmas party has also been a personal highlight.

“It was such an unexpected surprise, and so great to know that the work I'd done on a client site was recognised and appreciated!” Nicole says.