Christopher Lynch - QA Analyst at Expleo

What's your name and Job Title?

Chris Meaney, and I am a Quality Assurance Analyst.

What does your job involve?

My role as a QA analyst is multi-dimensional. I ensure project stakeholders requirements are met through our testing. I carry out functional testing on the projects that I work on, making sure that everything works the way it should. I also deal with a lot of defect management, tracking down fixes from developers, making sure said fixes are deployed into our test environment and performing retests for the tickets that have been raised.

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

I have a bachelor's degree in Computer Science. After graduating I took on a role as a brand ambassador in a start-up fintech company. When the pandemic hit, the role became more tenuous, and I realised I wanted to get explore a career in IT. I came across an ad for the Expleo Grad Programme online and immediately thought that it was for me. I applied and the rest, as they say, is history.

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

I found the process well organised and easy to follow. I applied online and was contacted by phone shortly afterwards with an invitation to join a zoom session where there would be a series of group activities, a short exam, and then a one-to-one interview. The activities were interesting and insightful, and I found the whole day quite fun (for a job interview!). I heard back very quickly following my application and was sent details for my training to begin on the Grad Programme.

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

In the role, there’s lots of moving parts, between client expectations and Expleo commitments and therefore organisation is important I need to manage stakeholders, keep track of defects, and carry out day-to-day testing, so staying organised is key.

On-site, the projects can be complex and challenging, and therefore I keep an open mind, accepting that I don’t know everything and asking questions has saved me a lot of time and embarrassment and meant that the projects have run more smoothly. Ensuring I am a team player and keeping an open dialogue with my colleagues at Expleo and my clients is key.

What have you enjoyed about working with Expleo?

I receive great support and my questions are always dealt with at face value. You feel respected here. In a time where job anxiety is everywhere, I have never had that in my time with Expleo. My team is made up of a lot of great people who I work well with, and I think it’s a testament to Expleo that the standard of character here is as high as it is.

What are your hopes for the future?

I’m not really one for making plans for the future but in the short term, I’m looking forward to a Covid free summer with sun and travel and a few pints with friends. In the future, I’m happy with where I’m at both personally and professionally at the moment but I'd love to travel and work abroad for a few years, maybe somewhere like New York or New Zealand. I’m constantly pushing forward and I’m looking forward to seeing where my career can take me.

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

A lot of companies aren’t too concerned with the nature of your degree but with the skills, you can bring to their organisation and therefore showcasing your skills in an interview is important. At Expleo I have received a lot of in-house training, which is more applicable to my day-to-day than what I learned in college. Interpersonal skills and a good work ethic and dedication are what interviewers are looking for.

Keep an eye out for our open Graduate Programme Positions!