This is The Faces of HackSoft, our blog series where we introduce you to our talented team members.
In this edition, we shine the spotlight on Deian Ivanov. ✨
Dido currently serves as one of our Manual QA Engineers, driven by a strong motivation to transition into automation. With a fascinating story and diverse hobbies, he's a valued member of our team.
Let's dive into what he shared with us. 👀
Can you tell us more about yourself?
Hi! My name is Deian Ivanov. 👋Here's a bit about my story.
I moved to the San Francisco bay area, immediately after graduating high school. I spent around 8 years there and decided that I prefer the tranquil life in a small village in central Bulgaria.
This decision however, led to a problem - finding work that I enjoyed was not easy. 😅
So, after a few months of research, I found the solution - I really like testing and troubleshooting stuff, and Quality Assurance looked like it was "my thing".
At the end, the possibility to work remotely as a QA, made me dive into it and I'm happy with that decision. 😊
What have you been working on and for how long? What languages have you been using?
My entire QA experience is around 2 years (excluding courses).
My first job as a QA involved mostly Integration/API testing with Postman.
Currently I'm working as a Manual QA, moving towards automation.
I have some basic knowledge in Java and Selenium, (took a course a while back), but never used it. I've been studying and practicing Python in my free time. 🐍
I also like Playwright more than Selenium, so the natural choice would be Playwright with Python.
Additionally, React is in my learning queue. 📃
What are your favorite technologies and why?
Playwright (Python) - It's easy to learn, read and maintain. 🐍
Recently ChatGPT has become more useful to me, mostly as a learning tool that helps me understand different issues. 🤖
I also actually like the the TCMS that we use - Qase. It's simple and gets the job done well enough. This goes as well for the rest of the tools that we use - Trello, Whimsical. ✅
Why did you decide to join HackSoft?
Mostly because of the clear growth opportunity.
Another reason is the technology I want to progress in - Playwright with Python.
I did some research on the company beforehand and I liked the company values. The team seemed fun and easy to work with, which has proven to be correct. 🙌
Name three HackSoft values that fit your personality?
- Freedom and Responsibility
- Growth Mindset
- Long Term Thinking
How do you level up your software skills every day?
I actually watch a lot of lectures about testing. 🧑💻
Additionally, I use Codecademy for learning languages and code related stuff. For me, it works really well.
Do you have a morning routine? Can you tell us what you do before work?
I wake up early. Have a coffee or 3, while listening to a podcast/lecture/documentary or simply rock music. ☕🎧
Stretch a little bit, and if the weather is nice and it's not winter, I'd go and do some work on my property/garden. 🏡
Take a shower and start working. The physical work, before the intellectual work clears the mind very well. 🧠
What's the motto that motivates you?
Everything can be done better. 🔍
What are your hobbies/interests?
As every villager, I like gardening. 🧑🌾
I also like building and repairing stuff around the house by myself, and since this never ends - it's a hobby now. 👷
Last, but not least - I really enjoy fishing. 🎣
