Women in technology - Interview with Oliwia

Oliwia Brodowska: I am a manual tester in the R-Flex project. I ensure the quality of our application and, consequently, customer satisfaction.

I've been in the project for about 1.5 years now. It was a completely standard path. My previous job didn't quite meet my expectations, so I started looking for something new. I applied, and already during the first interview at Raiffeisen Tech, I felt like I wanted to work here.

Right away, I noticed a great atmosphere. During the first interview, I clicked well with the people I talked to. After the meeting, I felt like this was the place I wanted to be every day. And that's how it turned out. From the very beginning of my new job, I felt a great atmosphere.

A good atmosphere, interesting relationships are what I need in a job. For me, as an extrovert who enjoys interacting with people, this is essential. And here, collaboration among people is amazing. However, that's certainly not the only thing that gives me satisfaction here. I simply enjoy the outcome of this work. The real, tangible product we create - our application. It's nice to see growing customer satisfaction. The product's development itself is also incredibly satisfying. When I joined the organization 1.5 years ago, the application looked completely different. Now I feel that thanks to our work, it has become much more advanced. Knowing that I contributed to this is very gratifying for me.

Since I joined, my scope of duties has changed slightly. Over the 1.5 years, I found myself in a completely different place than where I started. I began my work from a junior position, so I had a lot of learning and expanding my knowledge to do. Previously, I didn't have much experience in testing strictly web applications. Here, I had the opportunity to spread my wings and broaden my skills.

I'm in a place where I don't have to fight for my development. Our supervisors encourage us to improve our skills. I have the opportunity to participate in many training sessions and courses. Whenever someone comes up with an initiative, there is room for it. Our managers support us a lot in this. I'm glad that I can openly discuss with my supervisor about how they see my future role in the project and my development path. And personal development through appropriate courses and training is very important, although in my opinion, the work itself and performing new tasks teach us the most.

I have to admit that I'm still working on it. I think it's somewhat challenging when we work remotely. I try to separate the part of my apartment where I work from the part where I spend my time outside of work. If I work from the office, I try not to think about work after hours - tomorrow is another day. And relaxation? There are days when I have more energy and I'm eager to do something, to go out and meet people. There are also moments when I lack energy, so my remedy then is a long walk with headphones and total relaxation.

I'm from a generation that doesn't accept divisions and definitions that something is for women or for men. The same goes for work. I'm glad to meet more and more people who think the same way. In my opinion, we have nothing to fear. Each of us can find our place even in a job where there are more men. We definitely have nothing to be afraid of. We're just as good!

Definitely! There are plenty of IT areas and jobs. There's no reason not to try. I think it's worth it! Remember that IT is not just about development roles. I've encountered the stereotype that I'll just sit at the computer all the time, not talking to anyone - boring. That's a very damaging stereotype because our work isn't like that at all! And when it comes to the area of testing and quality assurance, I think people who are willing and ready to work with others will definitely find themselves here.

Of course! Although I feel like I ended up in IT somewhat by accident. I believe a lot depends on luck and chance in our lives. I'm not sure if you can plan your career path from beginning to end. I started with studies - I chose a technical field - mathematics. I didn't associate my future with IT. It wasn't until I was choosing a specialization that I started to consider various options, various branches of development. That's when I became interested in IT specialization. That's how my adventure with IT and student programming began, which I really enjoyed. I liked the real effect of it. The proof that what I designed works and is great. The satisfaction from this absorbed me, and then I knew I wanted to develop in this direction. I started working in the area of quality assurance testing even during my studies. And here I am.

I believe that if someone is interested in a particular area, they shouldn't wait for an opportunity, for someone else's perspective. It's worth developing on your own and trying new things. Courses, training sessions, conferences are a great way to see if the chosen path is right for us.

I really enjoy collaborating with others. My position perfectly fulfills this need. That's why I really like hybrid work. It's great to meet face-to-face for a coffee or lunch. It really brings the team together.

Above all, the openness of other people. I also like a cheerful disposition and a sense of distance from oneself. I greatly appreciate openness to feedback and giving feedback. This is very important to me because feedback can influence how we will continue to work and draw our attention to what we can change. Another thing is honesty in interpersonal relationships.

Surely, it was my first team integration trip. It was planned just two weeks after I joined the company. The decision to participate, although preceded by some doubts, was definitely a good one! It was my first contact with the team, which turned out to be great. After just a few hours, I felt like among a group of friends. And it's always like that. Soon we'll have a joint skiing trip. It shows that we not only enjoy working together but also spending time together.

Absolutely yes! When it comes to atmosphere and development opportunities, it's the best place!