A QA Engineer's Journey at LexisNexis Risk Solutions

Get the inside scoop from Archana, Software Development Engineer in Test, as she lets us in on her journey into tech and how she landed her dream job at LexisNexis Risk Solutions. Discover how she went from manual testing to automation, and the skills she developed along the way. Plus, find out what it's really like to work at LexisNexis Risk Solutions (hint: it may not be what you think). Let’s get started!

Tell us about your journey into tech and how you ended up at LexisNexis Risk Solutions.

I stumbled into tech by pure chance, but my love for computers has been going strong since my younger days. It wasn't until college that I discovered my true calling in software. I started off as a manual software tester but quickly got into automation testing. That's when things got interesting. My skills in automated software testing landed me my current role as a Software Development Engineer in Test at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, and I love it here.

You’ve done both manual testing and now automation, what’s the difference for you and what skills have you developed because of these?

Manual testing was a great teacher for me in automation. Without it, I wouldn't have grasped the basics so quickly. But let's be real, the difference between the two is like night and day. With manual testing, it's all about the human touch – testing the same thing over and over again. But automation? Well, it's a whole different ball game. I code and run the code every time I need to test. Simple as that. And as a bonus, I got to learn some cool coding languages like Java, Python, and JavaScript. I think these are the essentials to stay ahead of the game as a QA.

How does the work you do make a difference to your life and the lives of your customers and what do you enjoy about working there?

As a Software Tester, I put apps through the wringer, testing every possible scenario – the good, the bad, and the ugly. And when it comes to real life decisions, I apply that same rigorous technique. I'm all about seeing things from the customer's point of view, making sure my apps can handle any use case thrown their way. After all, users are very creative, and they'll use an app in ways we never even imagined. But I'm up for the challenge, because my ultimate goal is to deliver a flawless app.

What does success as a QA Engineer look like to you and what are your tips for others?

As a QA engineer, I'm not just a front-end tester. I dive deep into the back-end components that make or break the user experience. Slow performance is a no-go, and we're the gatekeepers to make sure that the customers receive a high-quality product. One tip that helps us achieve this is to stay on top of the latest technologies and continuously improve our approaches. After all, anything and everything must be processed before it reaches the customer.

What are some misconceptions about LexisNexis Risk Solutions and what is it really like working there?

Let's debunk a couple of myths about LexisNexis Risk Solutions, shall we? It can be easy to think that with a company as global and big as ours that we’re stuck in the dark ages and don’t provide equal opportunities to all, but that’s so far from reality. And I’m proof of that! We've got a large number of female employees, and overall, in fact, on my team, men are in the minority. Not that that’s the goal, but it’s rare in tech!

And while some companies might expect you to give up your entire personal life for work, that's not the case here. One of the things I love about working here is that I've got a great work-life balance – I love it!

What type of skills do you think suits those wanting to be a part of the tech team at LexisNexis Risk Solutions (both technical and non-technical) and which of these has helped you the most?

When it comes to technical versus soft skills, I believe that technical skills are important, but they come mostly from practice rather than from learning. Other skills, such as analytical and logical thinking or a strong desire to learn, are also important in being a great match for the tech team at LexisNexis Risk Solutions.

Most importantly, confidence and the courage to express our thoughts, as well as being open to learning from our mistakes, are crucial for professional growth in this field. In my opinion, technical skills are secondary. The most helpful qualities for me have been a zeal for learning, out-of-the-box thinking, friendliness and productivity at work, and keeping up with the latest technologies.

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