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Maria was a student of Information Systems in Economics at university when she enrolled in the CBOSS summer internship through a long-term program of collaboration with universities.At the time she knew very little of CBOSS - sparse information from a lecture: "...a leading IT company. ...CBOSS specializes in software for Telco companies...". The lecturer's voice was dull and the chirping of birds from the open window was captivating, but cellular networks sounded more attractive than any of traditional fields and Maria still remembers every single word about the company said on that bright spring day. In early July, she and 15 of her fellow students entered CBOSS Human Recourses Department.
The psychologist advised placing Maria in the Complex Testing Sector. She spent her first day in the company reading technical documentation.
Very few of her fellow students had experience, and even fewer knew what software testing was about. (Some say now with a smile, that they thought they did.) Relevant knowledge confined to basic SQL. The next day actual work came, and that was report testing, which seemed a scary and very demanding assignment. Maria and the other undergraduates needed better than their best to cope. Their best was good enough, and the trainees were thrilled to get their first salary.
A month flew by.
| "I was dying to figure out how the system works", says Maria. Everybody around me kept saying there was a whole world of system capabilities. But I, while testing reports during my first month, never got a chance to try something really amazing. Gosh, I was dying to see technical miracles that came true. This was a major attraction in favor of the job." |
Certainly there were other reasons for not quitting. For instance, in the fourth year university life gets less demanding for an undergraduate. This is when almost every student starts looking for a job for money, career opportunities, and experience. Here one can enjoy going round in circles a lot - employees without experience are either not wanted or are expected to work for peanuts.
Maria desperately wanted to stay in CBOSS. Luckily, the head of the department she'd worked in that month suggested she go through the ordinary application procedure and hopefully get through.
| "I feared they would turn me down, although I knew I had a good chance since I had already worked a month". |
Another asset Maria had was a flattering letter of recommendation from her CBOSS co-workers. Besides, she was no more a novice to Convergent Billing Operation Support System at that time. Finally, her dream came true: she was offered the position of a tester.
According to Maria, most of interns from her undergraduate group are still working at CBOSS.
The work proved both surprisingly challenging and rewarding.
| "During my time as a trainee I couldn't even imagine how much more complex testing processes could be", comments Maria. |
Very soon her persistence paid off – the first business review doubled her salary, although setting no limit for further growth.
She still is one of the top students at the University. The key to this successful combination of work and school is flexible working hours.
| "I never know when I'll be able to get to work after, let’s say, mid-term. At CBOSS, I'm free to do my work at any time of the day and night. It's the result that matters." |
In time, new career horizons will open to this promising specialist – a promotion as a QA engineer or a transfer to Implementation, Technical Support or the Customer Training Department of CBOSS. Experience acquired in Testing and QA opens many doors at CBOSS.
It is hard to say which direction she will pursue. Her plans for the moment are to graduate with honors and then either become a postgraduate, or get her second master’s degree in some other field.
Right now, she is looking forward to the caressing charm of the Crimea in early September next year.
