From Junior QA Tester to Senior QA Engineer in a Major Corporation: An Interview with Nikita Klimov

What helps a junior QA tester grow into a senior engineer—technical skills, soft skills, or networking? We discussed this with Nikita Klimov, Senior QA Engineer at the American corporation ADP Inc. Nikita shared his journey and the tools that can help juniors advance in their careers.

Nikita, tell us about your key projects at your current company and the overall importance of QA testing for business.

I am currently a Senior QA Engineer at ADP (Miami, USA), a major provider of HR outsourcing services. Our team works on several benefits projects, focusing on employee insurance plans offered by our clients.

We manage information about insurance plans that employers can offer their staff. To support this an internal application called Plan Data Manager (PDM) was developed. One of PDM’s features is file generation which details these plans for clients. My team is also responsible for testing and making these documents accessible to individuals with disabilities.

We are also integrating the “Help Me Choose” service from our partners at Nayya. This tool optimizes the selection of insurance plans according to employees’ needs, reducing the HR department workload related to insurance inquiries by 80%. This project adheres to strict standards for security (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and accessibility (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines/Americans with Disabilities Act). It is a challenging project involving backend testing and integration complexities.

Why did you choose this field, and how did your career evolve?

I’ve been passionate about computers since childhood, reading specialized books and magazines. As I grew older, I started working on small projects. I was always detail-oriented—I would even write to support teams to point out website errors. This natural inclination toward quality control has always been within me.

Since breaking into the industry without experience is tough, I took some internships —to build my portfolio. I believe this is an essential step for every aspiring professional.

When the pandemic hit I had more free time without a commute. I wanted to focus my time and energy on honing my skills—I practiced more intensely and took more courses. That’s when I realized how I liked the field and decided to build a distinguished career.

Did you have the right skills beforehand, or did you start from scratch? Did you complete specialized courses?

I completed a comprehensive QA course and several additional tech-focused trainings, including automation. The course was invaluable as it taught us not only the technical aspects but also real communication with colleagues and clients. You can learn technical details on your own, but understanding company development processes requires practical experience or participation in such courses.

What key skills should be on a resume to attract employers for entry-level QA positions?

From my experience, employers look for genuine passion and interest in the job. Sometimes, they prefer a motivated candidate over an experienced one.

It’s also important to know where you want to work. Startups are flexible and value new ideas and dedication. Large corporations can be slower and prefer employees who won’t disrupt established processes. They won’t demand groundbreaking achievements but will frown upon breaking the status quo.

Cultural fit is also essential. For example, in the US, open and direct criticism is rare—people strive to maintain a positive and convivial atmosphere. If someone isn’t ready to work that way, they likely won’t be hired.

What first steps would you recommend to those just starting their QA careers? Should they aim for large companies immediately?

First, you need experience. Look for schools or boot camps that offer QA training and internships, which usually last 1-2 months, and provide you with a small portfolio.

Networking played a big role in my professional growth. Meet people, engage with them, and make yourself known. I organize meetups for tech professionals to connect and am currently negotiating with potential sponsors interested in supporting the QA community in Miami.

LinkedIn is a valuable resource. Set up your profile, add IT-related contacts, and build connections. Even as a non-HR professional, I often receive messages from newcomers with resumes and job inquiries. This method isn’t 100% reliable, but sending out 50 resumes might get one to the right person.

If you get an opportunity at a large company, it will strengthen your resume. Their processes are already well-established, making it easy to integrate. However, don’t wait for this—seek experience wherever you can, even at startups where you may get more varied responsibilities quickly.

At your first job, keep pushing forward. It’s easy to stagnate. Continue learning, building your network, refining your soft skills, and attending professional events.

What essential tools and technologies should beginners learn to be competitive in the market?

I’d recommend starting with project management tools like Jira or Confluence. Every QA tester needs to monitor task statuses. For example, our team uses a Jira sprint board to track bug tickets. I start each day with a daily review of these tickets—developers report ticket statuses, and I pick some for review.

Our ticketing standards include writing the expected and actual results, attaching screenshots or videos, and prioritizing tasks. Developers use these same items to fix bugs.

You might lack technical knowledge initially, but that’s easy to learn on the job. However, you should know how to use task trackers to adapt quickly.

Next, learn Chrome Developer Tools, which we use for both testing and development. These tools help diagnose browser behavior and errors. Everyone, probably, knows 404 (Not Found) status code—learn some more basic ones. This skill allows you to identify issues faster and provide valuable debugging insights to developers.

Then, move on to studying SQL and NoSQL databases, followed by API testing. API testing is helpful when the product lacks a UI, allowing early-stage bug fixes.

Once you’ve mastered basic testing, move on to automation to increase your value. This requires learning a programming language, with JavaScript being the most versatile as it’s used for both back-end and front-end. This knowledge can also help if you decide to transition to development later. JavaScript has popular testing frameworks like Cypress and Selenium, and Playwright is gaining traction.

What challenges did you face at the start of your career, and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge for me was not a lack of technical skills but unfamiliarity with development processes. I advise juniors to ask SCRUM Masters and Team/QA leads about process specifics at their first job. Employers don’t expect juniors to integrate seamlessly, so use the probation period to clarify all the necessary details.

If you have any questions, consider asking for a mentor. Some testers looking to become QA leads may need practice in leadership, making you an ideal candidate for them.

What roles do mentorship and guidance play in advancing one’s career in testing? Are you able to share your expertise with beginners?

To become more senior you need strong hard skills and experience in communication and process management. Mentoring provides some of the experience.

My team brings in new members due to company growth. While we don’t hire juniors, so I don’t teach technical skills, I help them understand processes. I also host mentoring sessions—starting this summer, I’ll be available on the ADPlist platform.

At my previous job with Restaurant Brands International, we practiced “lunch and learn” sessions, training new hires in a relaxed setting via video calls over coffee.

Mentorship improves my own skills too. It helps me develop leadership qualities—understanding how to communicate effectively, convey information, and explain complex processes. It also earns me recognition within the company for my proactive efforts. Lastly, mentoring gives me a sense of fulfillment, as I feel inspired and motivated when helping colleagues.

Lastly, what qualities make a QA professional a strong candidate for a managerial role?

I believe soft skills are crucial here. To start managing, you must be highly communicative—you’ll need to engage with your team, make calls, address challenges, and suggest process optimizations. People will come to you as someone who can solve issues from both client and team perspectives. 

Certifying as a SCRUM Master can also be beneficial. The training provides a clear framework for running development processes, conducting sprints, and organizing daily meetings and other ceremonies.

Keep in mind, that a manager isn’t just a good tester who moved up the ladder. You’ll need to handle administrative tasks, manage documentation, implement tools, and onboard new employees. Project management certifications like Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) or Project Management Professional (PMP) can be very helpful as well.