Have you ever wondered what employees in a QA position at a digital marketing agency do ? Let's see what Mirsad Mehanović, one of the QA engineers at GRM Digital, has to say about his role.
Thank you for taking the time to talk to us about your position at GRM! Let's start with what quality assurance actually means .
Well, the term quality assurance itself somewhat speaks to what the whole process is actually about. Essentially, quality assurance means constantly working to achieve and maintain the desired quality of a product, such as a website or mobile application. On a daily basis, QA involves testing a wide range of products, finding defects, and implementing strategies to solve the problems found.
One of my main tasks as a QA engineer is to ensure that our clients' products are well-adapted to the latest devices and web browsers. To be successful in this and achieve the highest quality standards, I have to constantly monitor the latest digital trends and establish good cooperation with developers.
Tell us what are the most important aspects of quality assurance? What does the QA team at GRM do?
In quality assurance, the biggest role is, of course, testing. There are various types of testing that need to be carried out. My task is most often manual testing, while automated testing is carried out less frequently and mainly on larger projects.
However, testing is not our only responsibility. As a QA engineer, I perform tasks such as evaluating product design and functionality, planning and preparing tests before implementation, writing test cases, identifying problems, reporting bugs to developers, and retesting if necessary.
Every QA team needs certain skills to be successful, such as an eye for detail, a strong desire to work in a team, a desire to learn, an analytical approach, and the ability to put yourself in the shoes of users and clients. As you can see, it takes a lot of work on each project to keep clients happy, but working in a QA position is a lot of fun because of its interesting and dynamic nature.
Can you share with us what you enjoy most about your position? What motivates you and the QA team?
I enjoy dealing with complex situations, constantly learning, and coming up with different tactics to solve problems. I see my job as a puzzle. Adding just one piece is enough if you know you're going in the right direction. As for my motivation, it's actually a combination of curiosity, goals, and risks. Curiosity drives me to find multiple ways to achieve the desired (and expected) results, and potential risks keep me focused on all the key elements of a high-quality product.
I think the biggest source of motivation for the QA team is the awareness of how important what we do is to the final product. The QA process is an indispensable step in ensuring top quality, so we carry a great responsibility that always forces us to fully dedicate ourselves to each project. Ultimately, customer satisfaction is the most important thing, so we feel fulfilled when we receive positive comments about their experience with us.
You're a QA engineer now, but how did you initially enter the world of web programming and digital marketing?
Well, I'm studying business informatics, which is a field that combines business management with the IT sector because it deals with the digitalization of businesses. In addition, I naturally developed an interest in web programming and digital marketing because most of my friends are in that field. I wanted to learn more about the different branches within these sectors, so I researched various IT positions and the one that impressed me the most was the quality assurance field.
Learning about QA started as a hobby. I started by learning about different types of testing, then I learned how to perform tests and write a test case. I practiced at home every day and finally reached a level of knowledge that I could call myself self-taught. Just when I was starting to feel confident, I found out that GRM Digital was looking for a QA engineer. I applied and have been working here ever since.
Can you describe to us what a typical Monday in the QA team looks like?
Monday is usually reserved for reflection and discussion. We mostly talk about the previous week, the work process, the decisions we made, and the impact of those decisions on our work. This is a very useful practice, as everyone has the opportunity to express their opinion and highlight what went well and what needs to be worked on.
Our goal is to meet client expectations as efficiently as possible. Group morocco phone number data discussions about potential ways to improve our work are of great importance to achieving this goal. That's why we also try to set aside some time every day to inform each other and the DEV team about the current status of each project.
After reflection, we create a framework plan for the upcoming week. This serves as an overview of the tasks and goals we intend to accomplish by the end of the week. Once all team members have an overview of their tasks, we begin work. The first thing to do is to collect requirements and create documentation, and then start the testing processes.
Do you encounter challenges when working with clients and team members?
Challenges are an integral part of every job. I would say that one of the biggest challenges is when we don’t have a clearly defined picture of the client’s wishes and don’t know exactly what they expect from the finished product. This is usually not stated in the documentation. We overcome this challenge by having additional conversations with each client, which allows us to gain insight into the client’s market and better understand their vision and expectations.
We are very committed to providing our clients with the best possible solutions for their business, so in-depth discussions with them are extremely important for a successful strategy. We try to maintain constant contact with our clients, because in this way we can make sure that they are satisfied with the performance, and also re-evaluate the project and modify it in a timely manner if the client expresses a desire for change.
When it comes to the team, we all believe that good teamwork is one of the main factors for success. That's why we always try to communicate openly and respectfully, look at the advantages and disadvantages of all ideas, and finally the most important thing - motivate each other.
Employees in your company have various opportunities for learning and development. How has this improved your work and the delivery of GRM to clients?
It is true that GRM Digital provides access to various learning and development programs. At this point, I do not have any certifications, but I plan to soon pass the Certified Software Tester exam, i.e., obtain the CSTE certificate. I also intend to undergo additional training in automated testing, as it is becoming increasingly important for effective quality assurance. In addition to formal training, I have the opportunity to develop skills on the job every day, which contributes to the positive thinking and self-confidence necessary to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.
In my opinion, a satisfied client is a client who is aware that we have not only fulfilled their requirements, but also that we are committed to the future of their business. It means a lot to the client when, in addition to fulfilling their requirements, we provide them with an additional service, and that service is consulting. The more the team develops its competencies, the better the consulting service.