2021 was a crazy year. My intention of studying in Canada came to a halt due to the COVID outbreak. The sudden shift to the "new normal" led me to the conclusion that I needed to shift my career to IT.
I have been to different fields like advertising, marketing, and the academia. All of which I enjoyed. Each offers a different work environment, and each needs a specific skillset to succeed. In the world of advertising, I had the opportunity to work with a lot of creatives. While in the field of marketing, I learned to work with various groups, collaborate, communicate, and enhance my problem-solving skills while conducting various product promotions and events. While in the academy, it taught me how to confidently speak to various age groups and effectively communicate. It also pushed me to develop my organizational skills and my time management skills.
During the time I was making a decision on which program to take in Canada, I realized that there's a growing need for talent in the field of IT. Due to the pandemic, there's been a significant shift to a digitalized system. I realized that IT would be an integral part of the "new normal". Imagine the endless possibility of interacting on a digital platform to perform various tasks such as sharing stories on Facebook, buying clothes online, ordering food in a mobile app, sending money via online transfer, and paying bills in an online banking app. It seems like all activities can now be done digitally.
Putting all of these into consideration, I went to research different schools, programs, and career options in the field of IT. From all the options I have, I ended up selecting NBCC, Moncton, New Brunswick. I then decided to take the IT QA Tester Program. I did a lot of research on QA testers and I was immediately amazed by how involved they are in the development of applications and software.
When I started my program, I initially felt excited but at the same time felt little, as I have very limited skills in programming. I don't even consider myself tech-savvy. However, I have well-equipped instructors and diverse classmates who helped me learn the essentials and practical skills to jumpstart my career in IT QA.
Some may say that shifting to a different career is detrimental to building a solid career. However, I believe that all my previous experiences will not be wasted. I am confident that throughout the years, I have developed various transferrable skills that are advantageous for me.
It took me years to determine which career I wanted to dedicate myself to. Now that I have made my final decision, I am working towards completing my program and acquiring certifications to validate my skills and knowledge in QA.
I would like to end this post with a quote from career coach Stacey Lane, who shared a good definition of a non-linear career path.
"It starts out in one direction, but zigs and zags through insights, discoveries, and happy accidents. A nonlinear path requires a bit of planning, chance, serendipity, risk, and faith."
With this in mind, I just want to emphasize that all paths we create in our careers will help us acquire experiences that will help build our unique strengths. These skillsets may align with the new direction we're headed to and help us grow into our best professional selves.
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