Jack’s Introduction to Quality Engineering at tiQtoQ

At tiQtoQ, we take pride in offering meaningful work experience opportunities that help individuals to explore new career paths and build skills for long-term professional growth. Our structured programme is tailored for participants at any stage of their career.

As part of our broader commitment to career development, we've launched the Career Pathways initiative to offer our permanent employees clear and structured growth opportunities. In parallel, we continue to invest in early-stage experiences, such as our work experience placements, to help individuals gain valuable exposure to the tech industry.

We recently welcomed Jack, a third-year Business Management degree student, to spend a week with our team.

A New Perspective on Quality Engineering

Jack came to tiQtoQ with little prior knowledge of the tech industry, especially the field of Quality Assurance (QA) and software testing. His primary goal was to gain real-world experience in how a business operates, particularly within a technology-focused environment. Over the course of the week, Jack engaged in a wide range of activities designed to provide hands-on learning and comprehensive industry insight.

His introduction began with a company overview, which helped establish an understanding of tiQtoQ’s structure, services, products, and operational approach. This initial session set the stage for deeper engagement with various teams and exposed Jack to agile project management methods, including participating in sprint and story refinement meetings. These sessions helped illustrate how software development is organised and executed in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Learning by Doing: Tools, Concepts, and Context

Throughout the week, Jack explored essential technologies and industry practices that underpin the work of QA professionals. He learned how tools like Jira facilitate project tracking and agile workflows, and how techniques such as using pivot tables in Excel can support data analysis and reporting across business contexts. These foundational skills are broadly applicable across industries and roles.

He was also introduced to the concept of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), along with the phases involved in software engineering. This exposure helped him bridge the gap between his academic background in Business Management and the real-world processes used by engineering teams.

Another key takeaway from Jack's experience was understanding the balance between manual and automated testing. He gained insight into how technologies like Microsoft Playwright are used for efficient, automated QA processes, and how manual testing continues to play a vital role in scenarios where human intuition is necessary.

Business Operations Beyond Engineering

In addition to technical exposure, Jack also explored the wider business functions that support tiQtoQ's operations. From learning about HR policies and compliance systems to understanding the importance of digital engagement.

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Jack's conclusion

“This work experience has been very useful for me. First of all, it was really useful to understand how the business works and all the different elements that are needed to function. Furthermore, I have learnt so much about QA and testing since the start of the week. As I didn’t know anything about the industry before, this week has been really effective in teaching me how quality engineering works and how important it is for all businesses to ensure their systems are at the correct standard. I also learnt how to use tools such as Jira that can be applied to lots of different jobs and environments. Overall, Ifeel this work experience has been very beneficial for my future endeavours”

At tiQtoQ, we remain committed to fostering these opportunities and continuing to support talent at every stage of their journey.

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