Interview with Natálie, moving to Rotterdam for her new job adventure!

Natálie has the opportunity to transition within our company from her role as a Software Tester to a Junior Product Owner. This change also involves a move from our Brno Solution Center to our office in Rotterdam. In this interview, discover her career journey so far and how she's preparing for her new workplace.

Naty, could you briefly describe how you transitioned from studying a humanities-focused field to software testing?

I started as a self-learner using an online platform where I taught myself through tasks focused on frontend development, testing, and similar areas. I found that I really enjoyed it, so I decided to enroll in a more intensive online course through Beetroot Academy, which focused on frontend development. On a friend’s recommendation, I also completed a certification in software testing. After finishing the course, I started looking for positions related to testing or development, and that’s how I found my way to Level.works.

What attracted you most to software testing? (What was your biggest motivation?)

From the beginning, I enjoyed writing code because I found it fascinating to see how things would appear right in front of me and what the code could do. So, my primary goal was to learn how to work with databases, particularly SQL. I also enjoyed manual testing, mainly because at Level.works, we have both an app and a website, so it's like "double testing," which I found really interesting. I aimed to eventually write automated tests in Cypress, which I managed to do, and that's what I enjoyed the most.

How and when did the opportunity to transition to the Junior PO role arise?

It happened in the spring and was influenced by several factors. One of them was that I was already in a testing position and had a deep understanding of the platform since I was testing defects and stories across the entire system, so I had that "general knowledge" (of the platform, ed. note) of it. Additionally, I was involved in production support, where we were setting up new processes, working with end customers, and I had to evaluate which tickets were high priority and which were lower priority, and then figure out how to address them. I worked closely with the Scrum Master and the Tech Lead. At the same time, our team was growing, and we needed to bring on a new Product Owner.

In what ways are the roles of Software Tester and PO similar, and how do they differ?

As I mentioned earlier, both roles require a broad understanding of the entire platform. However, the focus differs: the Software Tester role is more technically oriented, while the PO role is more about delivering business value—ensuring that the platform will be beneficial and that the benefit is the right one for the client or user. These are the two most fundamental differences between the roles, in my view.

The PO role requires you to be based in Rotterdam. How are you preparing for the move?

At the educational event hosted by Welcome to the Jungle, spring 2024, Naty and Kate

I'm preparing gradually. Things are moving more slowly than I expected, but that’s often the case with moving. The difference now is that I’m relocating to another country, so figuring out what I’ll need, when I’ll need it, and how to arrange everything are the most challenging aspects for me at the moment. But they’re not insurmountable. On the contrary, I have a lot of support from my colleagues, and I always know who to turn to. It’s more of a lengthy process, but it’s not as difficult as it would be if I were doing it all on my own, moving to a new country, and starting to work for a company I had never worked for before.

What’s the housing situation like in the Netherlands?

When it comes to housing in the Netherlands, moving in September works against me because it’s the time when many students are also relocating. Housing in general is a challenge. You have to put in a lot of effort, pay for access to various platforms, or find people who already live there and can help. This issue affects not only students but also working professionals. Luckily, I have colleagues there, which is an advantage. To rent an apartment, you need a BSN (citizen service number, similar to a birth number in Czech Republic, ed. note). Fortunately, I worked in the Netherlands a few years ago as a student, so I already have this number. For someone new, though, it's something that can only be arranged at a government office. Additionally, you often need to attend apartment viewings in person, which isn’t always possible.

What are you most looking forward to right now?

I'm really looking forward to the moment when I’m all moved in and can finally sit down at the desk I claimed for myself a year and a half ago (laughs).

How would you evaluate your career progress at Level.works so far?

On a business trip to Rotterdam, spring 2024, Juli, Kuba, Šimon and Naty

I’d say it’s been fast, but not unnatural. It was definitely quicker than I expected (Natálie joined Level.works in June 2023, ed. note), but at the same time, I’ve achieved what I wanted to and what I dreamed of when I first started at Level. I feel that in my current role as a PO, I’m never bored and every day enriches my knowledge and experience. This is something I crave professionally, and if it weren’t there, I wouldn’t enjoy the work as much or be as passionate about it. I’m confident that I won’t be bored in the coming years either.

Thank you for your time!