TestLion Pride Meet a Tester: Nataliia Ozirianska Kristel Kruustük , Kristel is Testlio's co-founder. February 21st, 2018 In Meet a Tester, we feature QA experts from our community who share their love for quality and Testlio. Nataliia is an outstanding tester from Ternopil, Ukraine who has been with us since 2015. How did you end up testing for Testlio? I joined Testlio 3 years ago. Before that, I was freelancing on various sites but was looking into the possibility of full-time remote work. Eventually, I found Testlio and signed up. At that moment I didn’t know anything about the platform. I remember my first steps at Testlio and my first test cycle – I was really excited that I could speak with other community members. They helped me solve the questions I had and improve myself. After a year, I found that I didn’t need to work on other platforms anymore as Testlio provided me with a full-time workload. I feel satisfied with the job I do, the emotions I get from it, and the free time it leaves me. Nataliia What was your testing experience before joining Testlio? My educational background has nothing to do with testing but since my school years I’ve always had a strong interest in computer science. I learned about testing and started working on freelance platforms when I was on child leave. Before joining Testlio, I had about 6 months worth of experience but I definitely have gained most of my knowledge while working with the community here. What motivates you professionally? In general, I want to be a better tester and am always open to constructive feedback. I’m happy that I found myself in this field as I’ve never enjoyed any other work the way I enjoy testing. I believe that if you do what you like, you do it professionally and always give 100%. I set myself different goals that keep me motivated: at first, I just wanted to learn as much as possible from other testers and be generally better; from then on I wanted to become a test lead, which I’ve accomplished. I want to continue developing my skills even further because my main motivators are really my children – I want to show them that it’s never too late to learn something new and develop yourself. Nataliia with her kids What are the pros and cons of remote work? For me there is only one con – not being able to speak with people face to face. A computer can never replace in-person communication. But I always try to find a positive side to everything and in this case, it’s that I get to speak with different people around the world even if it’s only through an online chat 🙂 As for the pros, there are too many to list. But mainly: having a flexible schedule, not having to waste time in commuting, taking vacations and days off as I want, being able to easily manage my day and having more time for myself and my family. I feel free even if I work. How do you manage the balance between testing and personal life? I’ve never really thought about it – working at home allows me to have a balance naturally. Since I have a flexible schedule, I always have time for my family and my personal affairs. Nataliia How to become a good freelance tester? Freelance means self-organizing – you have to manage your time yourself as no one can force you to do it. You have to enjoy what you do, and remember that you’re not just working, but creating value. You’re a part of a team and are accountable for your work, so do your best and respect others. Don’t stagnate – continue to develop yourself, improve your skills and learn new things. Testing is not a static field, it evolves every day. How would you convince a friend to join Testlio? If you find that remote work is for you, then Testlio is a perfect place to grow as a tester. You’ll learn something new and get more experience. The variety of projects guarantees that you won’t get bored. The testing community is the best, always willing to help with any questions or issues. Testlio’s staff is friendly and communicative. Working at Testlio gives you the possibility to manage your life the way you want to. I’m happy that Testlio is a part of my life, it’s not just a job, it’s freedom. Want to join Testlio a a freelance tester? Sign up here.