Carl Heary - QA Associate at Expleo

What's your name and Job Title?

Carl Heary, I’m a QA Associate.

What does your job involve?

I am currently working with a large telecom company where we carry out manual testing. I create and execute test plans to ensure systems are functioning as they should. A typical day would consist of daily stand-ups with my team, where we discuss current projects and raise any potential blockers that might need support from developers or stakeholders.

Right now, I’m working on gathering new requirements for our next big test release. As part of the graduate programme, there’s lots of training to be completed over the 11 months which supports your development within the QA workstream, such as volunteering for Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI), Udemy training*, and more.

How did you get into your job? What were you looking for, and what is your educational background?

My background wasn’t initially in IT. In 2020 I decided to change career having previously studied Music Production at IADT. I did a conversion course in Software Development at Maynooth University as I always had an interest in computers and technology. After completion of the course, I applied for the Expleo Graduate Programme because I was looking for a company willing to invest in me and my development.

What was the Expleo hiring process like getting into the Grad Programme?

The hiring process took around three weeks to complete. I first had a screening phone call with HR, then attended a virtual Expleo Assessment Day a week later where I met other candidates and employees within the company. We did team building and icebreaker challenges, followed by a one-on-one interview. It was a great day and a very enjoyable experience!

What skills do you need to be successful in your role?

Communication skills, you’re not going to know everything so being comfortable to communicate well with people and asking questions is very important.

What have you enjoyed working with Expleo?

I have enjoyed being able to contribute to exciting and innovative projects in my short time at Expleo. From the get-go, you take on lots of responsibility which I didn’t expect being a recent graduate, but the culture is very important here, the people and how they interact with one another and no matter how much experience you have, there is always support waiting for you, which I really like.

There’s also a great social culture in Expleo, with events constantly popping up throughout the year, whether it be volunteering or celebratory. We recently had our first in-person ‘Spring Fling’ party to kick off the calendar year in February 2022, the first since the ease of Covid restrictions. It was great fun and I got to meet employees from other areas of the business.

What are your hopes for the future?

I’m looking forward to continuing to develop new skills and further my career at Expleo, there hasn’t been a dull day since joining, and I am excited for the challenges ahead.

What advice would you give to a college student looking at careers and jobs?

Don’t be afraid to Network – Set up your own LinkedIn profile (if you haven’t already) and reach out to people in the industry that work in areas that appeal to you. Most, if not all, are more than happy to have a chat and share advice. It’s also important to show confidence about your abilities both on your CV and during the interview stages, but at the same time – be honest about the areas you want to develop in.

Keep an eye out for our open Graduate Programme Positions!