We often hear and see a lot about the onboarding process for a software quality assurance (QA) professional. But do we ever talk about the opposite? Have you as a QA professional ever wondered what to do when it’s time to jump ship and move on to another company?
Years ago when I got my first job straight out of university as a junior quality assurance analyst, a wise soul once told me that one of the first things you should prepare after starting a new job is your resignation letter. You must be wondering, “What? A resignation letter? You just started the job.” I know, I had the same thoughts, but I now understand what was meant.
If we plan to grow in our career space, the possibility of moving into another organisation and climbing the career ladder is very likely. Sometimes the job that we once enjoyed does not serve us any longer and we might want to even pivot into other career paths within the industry. Besides this, leaving a job goes far beyond simply tendering your resignation letter. With that being said, the same way we put a lot of energy and plans into embarking on a new job, similar preparations should be made to exit in good form as well. Here are some of the things I started thinking about when executing my exit strategy after deciding it was time to “transition” from my job as a quality assurance analyst to another similar role.
A Shift In Mindset Can Help With Career Transition
First things first, you have to decide if you want to quit. You also need to start training your brain to handle the possibility of quitting BEFORE you leave your job.
Do I really want to quit my job or will changing a few things make me want to stay?
What things need to change for me to stay at my current job and will those happen?
What can I do differently so that I can feel fulfilled in my job?
What would my career life look like in the position I want to transition into?
What do I need to work on to get there?
This type of questioning and examination is done by shifting your mindset. Through first shifting your mindset, you may even relate to your job in a whole new way which could cause you to re-think your desire to resign. It could also lead you to transitioning into a new role within the same company. The article Shift Your Mindset Before Quitting describes several examples of such mindset shifts. In one case, an employee wound up staying in their job. In another case, the employee remained in their current role for a short time while following through on a six-month plan to develop their portfolio and skills necessary to make the jump. Sounds like an exit strategy to me! This leads me to my next point.
Set A Deadline
If you decide that quitting is definitely the answer for you, you might want to set a personal deadline for yourself. It could be that you want to quit six months from now, a year from now, even right now. However, you want to realistically plan for an “achievable date” so that you can prepare towards taking that leap comfortably and gracefully.
Figure Out Your Finances
Can you afford to quit? That is the question! A QA professional (or any other professional for that matter) should aim to be financially stable before flying the coop. To be financially ready to move to the next job you might need to:
save more towards your emergency funds in case you don’t have another job lined up when you quit
spend a little less than you usually do to save up for the transition
figure out the pension payment options when breaking ties with your company
remain in your job a little while longer than you want, to sort your finances
It’s completely okay if at the moment you are not able to make the change because of finances. If you cannot afford to quit at this time, consider taking on a second gig (part-time). Do this only if you can manage to juggle this with your existing job. If you can manage, there are many freelance jobs for testers available on Upwork and Freelancer. This will provide you with an opportunity to get more income and ultimately provide financial security.
While figuring out your finances, I suggest doing some volunteer work that can help you to grow. And you can also seek help through the Ministry of Testing scholarships to help bring your career to the next level by attending TestBash (a software testing conference) and taking courses.
Keep Up With Industry Standards
Before making a change, refresh the skills you have and learn new skills that can help to advance your career. When considering resigning, one of the first things I started to brush up on was my knowledge and practice surrounding test automation, which as a top trend in software testing makes those who know how to do it more marketable.
In my current job, I was strictly a manual tester and so I wanted to make sure before I left the nest that I was more familiar with test automation. I also explored performance testing using JMeter.
Focus on upskilling yourself with new testing trends, techniques, and tools by enrolling in courses on Udemy or Test Automation University. Also, consider obtaining an accredited certificate or specialised training in QA engineering such as ISTQB. This might give you a competitive edge in your next job interview.
Network, Network, Network
Professional networking is important for many reasons, among which is that it can open access to job opportunities when preparing to resign. As QA professionals, networking gives us the space to meet and build professional relationships with others in our industry. This can allow you to learn a lot and even learn about other QA job offerings. Amazing, isn’t it?
Oddly enough, many IT / tech jobs do not get advertised, so being part of one or more IT / tech networks is a sure way to get notified of these offers that you may not have known about otherwise. Engaging in business networking is something that you want to be doing if planning to jump to another software quality assurance job.
Some ways you can network are by joining online communities and forums and attending webinars, meetups, and conferences. There is a plethora of these resources in our field, but just to name a few:
Online Communities
- SQA Forum
- Ministry of Testing
- EuroSTAR Huddle
Conferences and Webinars
- TestBash
- Techwell’s StarEast and StarWest
- OnlineTestConf
Build Your Professional Brand
Every QA professional should aim to update their resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile with work experiences and notable certificates that will help to propel them into their new role. You want to ask for recommendations that can be used when asked about references in an interview.
Another way to level up your career brand is by writing for career publications. As QA professionals it’s wise to look actively for opportunities to contribute our expertise, experiences, and perspectives on topics and trends within our domain. Sharing these articles on your LinkedIn profile will help in marketing your brand online. Some employers look at prospects' online social media presence before deciding to hire them. Having an online presence and test portfolio can give you an edge.
Give Your Replacement A Head Start
Throughout my career I have seen people resign with one month’s notice. They then had to spend the month (and months after the resignation) to bring their successor up to speed. This shows that proper succession planning on both your part and the company is equally important especially if you are in a leading QA position.
So when considering leaving, take the proper time to groom your replacement, have them shadow you and create adequate documentation to guide them long after you leave.
Leave With A Legacy To Be Proud Of
When you leave your job, what type of QA professional do you want to be remembered as by your colleagues or external clients? You want to strive to leave on good terms, but even more so you want to leave an enduring legacy of quality work. This might look like tying up loose ends on final projects, improving some aspects of the QA work process within your team, or just simply trying to be a changemaker.
Leaving a legacy of responsibility and craftspersonship will allow you to fulfil your purpose in the current workplace. It will survive your time at the organisation, keeping you relevant even when you are no longer there.
For Further Reading
- How to Plan to Leave Your Job • Girl's Guide to Project Management
- A successful career pivot starts with a student mindset
- 6 Reasons Why Professional Networking is Important • Girl's Guide to Project Management
- What Is a Career Brand and How Do I Make One?
- Not All Who Wander Are Lost: A Career Experience Report with Hilary Weaver-Robb
