Introduction: Peter Deng - SDET Consultant 

My colleague Peter, a CompSci graduate recruited through the successful SDET Academy scheme, and I, a long-serving test consultant, wanted to compare and share our experiences with building client relationships. As test consultants, we work closely with clients across many different sectors for weeks, months, or years, adapting to new systems and delivering quality assurance services. We have both learned that delays in connecting with clients can be as impactful to a project's delivery as scope and code changes. 

From Down Under to New Heights: Stu Hadley’s Duathlon Adventure

Welcome to Part Two of our Q&A interview duel. Our Test Manager, Stu Hadley, shares his feelings about competing at such a high level, the invaluable support he received from his coach and team, and the unforgettable experiences he had while travelling to Australia. He also gives special shout-outs to those who helped him along the way and offers insights into his future goals and upcoming races.

Part One - From Start to Finish: Stu’s World Final Journey

We continue the story that began with Stu’s rigorous training before and after the race in Germany in May, Stu took on the challenge of the World Final in Australia. The World Final wasn’t just a race for Stu; it was the culmination of months of hard work and preparation. We’ll follow his journey through the heat, the competition, and the ultimate test of his abilities.

Building Relationships in Consultancy

A vital part of consultancy work is building strong relationships with clients or project teams. One of the most rewarding aspects of this process is learning how to effectively address difficult or uncomfortable situations. Embracing this challenge is key to personal and professional growth.

Consultancy is dynamic and adaptive because it involves working with new individuals and loyal customers. Try viewing ‘difficult’ and ‘awkward’ situations as opportunities for creative problem-solving and innovative solutions for growth. The terms 'difficult' and 'awkward' can span a variety of situations.

Part Two - Train Like a Pro: Guide to Sports Training

Welcome back to Part 2 of our blog series! In this blog, Stu explains how he manages to balance work with his sports training, highlighting the importance of family support and meticulous planning. Stu also shares how his extensive music playlist fuels his duathlon races, and his quick-fire answers offer insights into his personal preferences.

Part 1 - In the Spotlight: Stu Hadley - A Q&A Session

nFocus are very proud to supports and sponsors our very own Stu Hadley as he pursues his dream as an athlete representing Great Britain for major events this year. 

Rachel and Eve engaged in a captivating discussion with Stu about his upcoming races and his transition from triathlons to duathlons. Stu reveals his next race, the Mallory Park Sprinter Qualifier, aiming for a spot in next year's World Duathlon Championship.

Embracing Challenges and Driving Quality: Introduction

Are you enthusiastic about technology and want to blossom an admirable career rich with opportunities? Would you like some insight into what life is like as an nFocus SDET? If so, look no further.

Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace: Are we there yet? 

Since the 1990s, employers have tried consciously to motivate their employees by engaging and empowering them to contribute to their organisations. This was the beginning of the “inclusion” wave which was stirred further by globalisation. As people from different cultures with different identities connected with each other through their employers, the evident “diversity” demanded attention. We, as employees, wanted to be treated equally irrespective of our age, race, language, gender, religious identity or who we choose to love. 

Exploring the Essential Skills SDET’s need to become a Good Communicator

After reading a previous blog that covered important basics for a career in software testing, ‘What makes an Effective Test Consultant?’; it felt to me that a more detailed look at one of these areas was needed to help illustrate how important soft skills are for people starting out in this space.

Overview of Technical Testing

This week's blog comes from our guest writer, Renée Mineart.

One of the first lessons taught in every writing class I’ve ever taken is the concept of “show, don’t tell”. 

When writing a bit of prose, you always want to show the reader what is happening in a scene as opposed to a short summary telling them what happened. “Bob fell out of the tree” isn’t nearly as impactful as “Bob put his full body weight on the branch beneath his hand as he planned the next stage of his climb but the branch was unable to support his weight."