Edward Vuyisile Tshuma is a Junior Automation Engineer at Dynamic Technologies group company Inspired Testing. His story from internship to employment is one of inspiration – proof that when you are determined to succeed, you will flourish. Part of that journey to success is the support and development that companies like Inspired Testing invest in their interns. Edward completed his 2022 Internship and was promoted to Junior Automation Engineer at the beginning of 2023.
After completing his Business Information Technology degree at the University of Johannesburg in 2021, Edward knew he needed to find an internship placement. Competition is fierce amongst new graduates, but as luck would have it, Edward mentioned his predicament to a friend who worked at Inspired Testing, and they referred him to their internship programme.
Edwards says, “It was a wonderful learning experience. I have gained both soft and hard skills that have allowed me to thrive not only as an individual but in a team setting as well. I have enjoyed working in an open environment and I am appreciative of everyone who has contributed to my growth. I will forever be grateful to Inspired Testing for giving me the opportunity to be part of the family.” It is evident that Edward’s enthusiasm and eagerness to learn from the people around him helped him achieve his goals.
Inspired Testing’s Training Manager Louise Gilbert was Edward’s mentor for the duration of the programme. He says her guidance was key to his success. “She was patient and understanding. She allowed us to make mistakes and learn from them. She valued our opinions and understood our reasoning. I have learnt most of what I apply to my work today from her. Overall, she was and still is a great teacher. I am where I am today because of her.”
Edward describes his position as a junior automation engineer, saying, “In simple terms I am a faster and more efficient manual tester. As an automation engineer my main task is to write code or scripts that automate specified test cases. The main tools I interact with are IntelliJ, which is the Development Environment I use to write my code, and Selenium, a tool I use that allows my script to be able to automate the web browser. Maven is a very important tool as well, as it helps manage the different dependencies I use in order to build and run my project.”
In addition to the essential technical skills and real-world applications and problem solving that the interns are exposed to, indispensable soft skills are also part of the learnings. Things like the importance of communication, networking, and interacting with respect and enthusiasm, and how these affect team productivity, project goals and growth, are vital components of success in any job.
For Edward, entering the internship programme was a life-changing event and he would encourage others to follow in his footsteps. “It is the opportunity of a lifetime. Yes, it is an internship, meaning that there is going to be a lot of learning, so one must be prepared for that. Make use of every resource offered, and most importantly, ask questions. Be hungry for knowledge. Reach out to the senior team members and leadership and learn as much as you can from them.”
It's true what they say, success is no accident. Companies such as Inspired Testing know that with effective support and encouragement, their people can achieve their dreams, and that’s a success story for everyone.
