Kin + Carta Create’s approach to testing is very unique and different to my previous testing roles. Testing here truly focuses on building quality in and across the whole software lifecycle, rather than just an afterthought or something considered just before release. It spans the whole breadth of what we do. Testers are involved in all the considerations across a product lifecycle. We help ask key questions in the process like - are we building products that our users are going to use?, ‘are we building it with the right tools’, ‘is it going to be fast?’. The majority of companies have a perception that testing is a quality check at the end of software changes. However, we know it is much cheaper to fix a bug on a piece of paper when you are coming up with an idea, than it is to fix a bug when it is already in production and being used daily.
As a tester I’ve often felt a bit of an afterthought where your value can often be overlooked, but at Kin + Carta Create you become an intrinsic part of the project team where you are able to make meaningful contributions.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Every morning begins with a daily standup with the whole product team to identify any potential blockers and set priorities for the day ahead. Aside from that routine, my typical role day to day is very diverse. It can range from reviewing documentation we’ve built, refinemening what stories to build today, defining our acceptance criteria, or reviewing user stories that would go into building a piece of functionality or a feature. Fortnightly retrospectives are another key part, helping us make continuous improvements in our ways of working to ensure we are working as effectively as possible. Aside from that, my days are also peppered with 1-1’s with the team that I manage. These typically take place over a walk as I find they give me an excellent opportunity to hear how people are progressing, find out how I can best support their career development and goals, and allow us to share learnings and experiences with each other in an informal way.
What is it like to work at Kin + Carta Create?
It’s definitely the people that make it so special for me. I’ve worked at a lot of places where the product is the only focus but I’ve found Kin + Carta Create has a unique ability to balance hiring great people, with creating great products without compromising quality. From a more personal perspective, if you want to learn, or try your hand at something new, there is always someone who can help and support you until you get to where you want to be. It’s the simple things such as feeling comfortable to approach anyone, regardless of their position, and ask them for support, to beat ideas up with you, or even just someone to go for a quick 5 minute walk with to clear your head. It’s an extremely difficult culture to maintain, especially as we scale at such a fast pace. However, during my time here I’ve seen the business grow rapidly and I continue to be impressed at how they have been able to scale that culture so well and so organically. It really is why I love working here.
