Mastering Communication and Time Management: The Key to Success in QA Engineering

I’ve always enjoyed solving problems and paying close attention to details, which is why I gravitated towards software testing and automation during my college years. Today, in my role as a QA engineer at Workday, I use these skills every day. For example, I help automate repetitive tasks, ensuring our products meet high-quality standards.

One of the key projects I worked on recently involved automating a time-consuming process. Before automation, our team had to manually send emails with data from Excel spreadsheets — a repetitive task prone to errors, especially when dealing with large amounts of data. Every time we needed to send these emails, someone had to open the spreadsheet, select the data, and format the email, usually for multiple recipients.

To simplify this, I used Power Automate, a Microsoft tool designed to automate workflows. I set up a process so that when data is updated in the Excel sheet, an email is automatically generated and sent to the designated recipients. The flow was customized to include specific data fields from the spreadsheet, all without manual input.

This change saved our team significant time. What used to take several minutes is now done automatically, reducing the risk of human error. This automation freed up time for more valuable work, and we now trust that the emails are accurate every time.

The Most Valuable Lesson: Being Flexible and Always Learning

At Workday, I quickly realized the importance of flexibility, as priorities and tasks can change rapidly, requiring me to adjust quickly. There have been times I’ve had the opportunity to expand my skillset by troubleshooting issues outside of my defined role. I embraced these challenges as opportunities for growth.

Effective communication and teamwork have been vital in my role as a QA engineer. Initially, I struggled to communicate complex technical details clearly, often providing too much information, which led to confusion. I had to make a shift and adjust my communication style between how I communicated up to that point in my life, including in college, to meet the expectations of a global organization. This shift has helped me collaborate more effectively within my team and with other cross-functional teams.

Mistakes have also been an important part of my growth. Each mistake taught me something valuable, whether it was about efficiency, communication, or problem-solving. As a result, I’ve become more aligned with my team and better at handling projects.

Mentors and Role Models: The Impact of Strong Leadership

I’ve been fortunate to have strong mentors who have guided me in my career. My current manager, in particular, has been a great influence. He helped me a lot in improving my communication style, helping me adopt a style that focuses on delivering clear, concise messages by emphasizing only the key points. He once told me that an ideal response should always be formulated in your mind before it rolls off your tongue, which was a lightbulb moment! He also introduced me to specific communication techniques, including the ‘power of three,’ which is essentially presenting information in groups of three key points or ideas, based on the idea that the human brain tends to remember and process information more easily when it is broken down into sets of three.

His leadership style encourages teamwork and continuous learning, inspiring me to improve my skills and take on new challenges. I’ve learned a lot from other leaders at Workday too. There is a culture of dedication, creativity, and resilience amongst our leaders — and that motivates me to aim higher and always strive to be better.

From Chasing Quick Wins to Chasing Real Results

Time management has been another area of focus and a big opportunity for me. I’ve always worked hard, but I’ve learned that working hard isn’t always directly proportional to strong results.

As William Penn said, “Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.”

A few months ago, I decided to start each day by creating a to-do list before beginning my work day, prioritizing the most urgent tasks instead of focusing on completing small, insignificant tasks for quick dopamine hits. It’s a simple thing to do, but if done every day without fail, it will lead to significant results. This small change has made a big difference in how organized I feel.

I also began connecting with colleagues from different teams to better understand their workflows. I once spoke with different developers to learn about their project timelines, which helped me plan my tasks more effectively. By reaching out to others, I’ve been able to improve my own work and contribute more effectively to the team.

Finding Focus and Clarity through Meditation

Meditation is a personal habit that helps me stay focused and calm, especially during some stressful times. I first started meditating in school, and it’s something I continue today. I remember feeling overwhelmed during my internship with tight deadlines and a heavy workload. I turned to meditation, taking just five minutes to focus on my breath, and it helped me clear my mind. Now, even on the busiest days, I make time for meditation. It helps me stay grounded and approach challenges with a clearer mindset.

As mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, “When meditation is mastered, the mind is unwavering like the flame of a lamp in a windless place.”

In my career journey, I’ve discovered that success in QA engineering goes beyond technical skills. It’s about embracing flexibility, fostering clear communication, learning from mentors, and effectively managing time. These principles, along with personal practices like meditation, have empowered me to navigate challenges, grow professionally, and contribute meaningfully to my team. I’m excited to continue learning and evolving in this dynamic field. If you’re looking for a company that accelerates your career growth from day one, look no further than Workday.

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