A inspiring story of Mastering Automation and Professional Growth in Software Testing
Let’s take a closer look into the world of software testing. What better way to understand the possibilities and challenges of a career in this field than by exploring the journey of Petros Plakogiannis, a software tester with over 15 years of experience and a key figure in the Ministry of Testing Athens Organizing Committee?
How it all begun
Petros Plakogiannis’ journey into the world of software testing is a story of curiosity, persistence, and continuous learning. His fascination with technology began as a child in the early '90s when he tinkered with his first computer, the Amstrad 6128 CPC.
Yet, despite his early interest in exploring how things worked, Petros had no idea of what software testing entailed. In fact, during one of his first job interviews at a renowned company, he rejected a testing role because he didn’t understand what it was. Ironically, just a month later, he found himself beginning his career as a software tester in another company—and that was the start of a 15-year-long journey.
“I still remember my first interview in one of the most famous companies in the world (with a 3-letter logo). I rejected a position because I thought, “Software Testing? What is it? No, thanks.” The next month I got my first job as a software tester in a different company.”
In his early days, Petros focused on exploratory testing, relying on manual techniques to find bugs and improve software quality. However, in the late 2000s, software testing was still a niche field in Greece. Information and resources for learning new testing techniques, especially in automation, were hard to come by. Despite these obstacles, Petros was determined to improve. He learned the value of collaboration when a colleague introduced him to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. This hands-on experience not only deepened his knowledge but also highlighted how crucial teamwork and shared learning are to becoming a better tester.
“A lesson that I learned is that teamwork and collaboration are essential. I recall the day when a software developer told me about cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. I injected a script into the login form of a web-page, and magically, the page crashed! It was enlightening to see it. When I went back home, I stayed up all night trying to crash all the pages with XSS attacks. I found so many bugs that the next day I received recognition from my manager for doing good work.”
Challenges and Opportunities
As technology evolved, so did Petros’ career. His first encounter with automation came through Selenium with Firefox. Back then, Chrome was at a very early stage with limited functionalities, and automation tools were just emerging. Starting with simple record-and-playback scripts, Petros gradually delved into coding, automating his day-to-day testing tasks to streamline his workflow. This sparked a deeper interest in automation, leading him to work with tools like Watir and QTP.
“My first tests were recorded tests using record and playback automation, without coding at all. I remember creating the scripts and then editing them to handle more scenarios. This was my first encounter with coding, primarily involving simple tasks such as tweaking keywords and names to align with my requirements. I started automating my daily testing tasks to make my work easier. Seeing how automation skills could help me sparked my interest, and I wanted to learn more about it.”
His passion for automation eventually took him across Europe, where he worked on various projects, setting up Selenium frameworks with Java, for high-profile organizations like Eurostat and the European Chemical Agency. In his career journey he had the opportunity to work with exceptional software testing professionals, front-end developers who taught him a lot about JavaScript and the DOM of websites. Many of his professional encounters back then are now leaders and senior level engineers across different industries.
“I had the opportunity to work with Watir (Web Application Testing in Ruby) at a small branch of a UK company in Greece. …. Now, many of its members have risen to become managers, leaders, and principal engineers across different companies. I'm deeply grateful to each one of them for the invaluable lessons I've learned.”
The learning curve
Petros started enhancing his automation skills by using QTP (Quick Test Professional) with VBScript and then moved on to Selenium with Java. With each project, his frameworks became more refined and efficient. Petros has developed a versatile skill set that allows him to use a wide range of Typescript and Javascript-based frameworks.
Throughout his career, Petros’ desire to continuously improve kept pushing him forward. He didn’t stop at automation. He also learned performance testing, mastering how to optimize systems under various loads, and collaborated with developers to understand Object-Oriented Programming. His ability to transition between Java-based and JavaScript frameworks, and his recognition as a Cypress Ambassador, exemplifies his versatility in the field.
“In addition to mastering automation skills, I've also learned about performance testing. At first, it was tough to understand how to test and optimize system performance under different loads. But with practice and help from colleagues, I got better. I remember a project where we faced performance issues. We worked hard to fix them by balancing loads and optimizing databases. It was tough, but it taught me a lot.”
“Prove me wrong!”
However, Petros' journey was not without challenges. One memorable failure came early in his career when, while practicing with JMeter, he inadvertently sent 100,000 test requests to Google, resulting in his company's website being banned. This taught him the importance of responsible testing. But instead of being discouraged by setbacks, Petros used them as opportunities for growth.
"The first time that I set up an automation framework, my code was just ugly, what you would call spaghetti code. One memorable failure from my early career involves an attempt to practice with JMeter, a tool I hadn't used before. Naively, I added Google's site and set it to receive 100,000 hits. Little did I realize, being a junior software tester, that this would actually send 100,000 requests to Google. The consequence? Google promptly banned my company's site. The CEO's email asking, 'Who is this Petros?' swiftly followed. While it might sound amusing in hindsight, it was a serious lesson at the time."
One other memorable challenge Petros encountered in his very early career days was with a major UK broadcasting company, where he went for a job interview. The interviewer was a Greek Testing leader, asked him two questions about Selenium, which Petros back then couldn’t answer because he didn’t know much about these. Petros didn’t land the job, but he was determined to “prove them wrong.” He worked tirelessly to learn everything he could about software testing, gaining the experience that has made him one of the most active and knowledgeable software testers in Greece and beyond.
Why Teamwork and Continuous Learning Matter in Software Testing
Petros emphasizes that collaboration and continuous learning are essential in his career. He has refined his automation skills through various missions and projects with European organizations, allowing his frameworks to evolve and strengthen with each new challenge. A crucial part of his process involves engaging in discussions with developers, where he carefully examines their code and explores Object-Oriented Programming. Under this mindset he spends countless hours of effort to ensure high-quality results.
“My advice is simple: dive in, write code, seek guidance, and explore the best solutions available.”
Petros also actively seeks opportunities to broaden his knowledge by studying projects on GitHub and participating in online webinars. He has engaged in meaningful conversations with prominent developers behind widely used frameworks like Jenkins and Selenium, gaining invaluable insights from their expertise. He recalls memorable moments, such as having dinner in Ohio with Angie Jones and meeting Simon Stewart and Kohsuke Kawaguchi in Athens, which have enriched his professional journey.
Networking – the Ministry of Testing Athens
Beyond his technical skills, Petros saw a need for a supportive community for testers in Greece. After attending a Selenium conference in London, he was inspired to build such a community back home. His efforts led to the creation of Ministry of Testing Athens, a community of testers organizing software testing meetups, where testers share knowledge, learn from one another, and grow together.
“There is a Greek community where we all share knowledge and experience to teach and learn about software testing. If I have a question, I go to the Slack channel and ask.”
As a software tester and software enthusiast, find your testing community and actively participate in meetups. The Ministry of Testing Athens Meetups are all about people supporting one another. These meetups are opportunities for community members to learn together, seek out opportunities, and assist each other in their journeys. According to Petros, this is one of the most valuable pieces of advice anyone can offer. He notes that “85 to 90% of life is just showing up,” encouraging others to simply be present. By showing up, you open the door to new possibilities and experiences.
For those interested in software testing, this case study illustrates how dedication to continuous learning, openness to collaboration, resilience and participation in the community can lead to a fulfilling and successful career in software testing. Software testing is a promising career path, offering numerous opportunities for growth and advancement as technology continues to evolve.
If you are in the software development and web applications field and wish to explore this exciting journey further, we invite you to check out Hellenic American Union’s new software testing seminars, where you can gain valuable insights and skills to help you thrive in your career.
The Professional Development Team
of the Hellenic American Union
training@hau.gr