David Lynch - QA Associate at Expleo

What's your name and Job Title?

David Lynch and I’m a QA Associate.

What does your job involve?

My job is software testing, aside from testing code there are many different processes that make-up software testing. A large part of my role is helping the business identify the requirements of a user. This is usually done in refinement meetings where members of the team and I meet to discuss the work requirements, how we will do it and how the work will provide value to the user.

I then draft acceptance criteria – this is a list of test cases that are used to help us identify if the solution is ’working’, a large part of my job is trying to determine what defines a solution as working.

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

I applied to the Expleo Graduate programme in summer 2021. I was looking to start working in a tech company but given my degree in Business Computing, I also didn’t want my role to be entirely technical. I believe that Expleo was the perfect balance to leverage my technical knowledge but also rely on some of the business skills that I have learned throughout my degree.

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

Firstly, there was an HR call to discuss questions relating to myself and to see if I would be a good fit for Expleo. After this, there was an assessment day where other candidates and I completed a short exam followed by some team-building exercises and puzzles.

This was interesting and is one of the reasons why I decided to take the role, as it was apparent from the interview that Expleo was very focused on teamwork and achieving goals together which is something I also value.

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

In my role, I think a strong inquisitive nature is required. This is something that I have learned from experience, and I believed it has helped me in my career. It’s important to look at all possible solutions and not simply take the first one that comes to mind.

This is not only true for your ideas but also for others. Make sure you don’t just ask one person for a solution to a problem, broaden your scope and get the input from different people as this will allow you to learn a lot and even give you new ideas that you may not have thought of.

What have you enjoyed working with Expleo?

I have enjoyed the work environment within Expleo. Usually, when starting a role, it can be a scary thing and reaching out to others and asking questions. However, upon starting with Expleo I never felt this way. Everyone was extraordinarily helpful and nice, regardless of their level in the company. This was a very refreshing thing and helped me adjust to my role.

I also enjoyed the opportunities that Expleo have given me outside of work. I was allowed to take part in Junior Achievement Ireland* and teach a class on STEM subjects to students. This is not something I have ever imagined doing, but after doing this I can say that teaching is something that I truly enjoy, and I’m happy that I was able to have that experience.

What are your hopes for the future?

To further develop myself in the more technical side of my role and take opportunities to try different experiences.

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

Try to not be defined by what you have studied in college, upon completing my degree I believed that a software developer was the only job I could do but once I got out into the world, I realised there are many different possibilities for me. Look at exploring a career you are passionate about and assess the skills that you have learned in college and see what areas of work these skills can be applied to.

Keep an eye out for our open Graduate Programme Positions!

* Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI) is a non-profit, helping young people prepare for their futures by delivering hands-on, experiential learning in entrepreneurship, employability, financial literacy, and the value of STEM.