In this inspiring interview, we sit down with Soumita Paul, who recently transformed her career from manual testing to SDET, landing a position at Fidelity Investments with an impressive 120% salary hike. Let’s hear about her journey, challenges, and success.
Q: Tell us about your background before joining the SDET Master Class.
Soumita: I was working as a manual tester, and like many others in the field, I could see how the industry was shifting towards automation. I knew I needed to upgrade my skills to stay relevant in the market.
Q: What made you choose the SDET Master Class for your upskilling journey?
Soumita: I was looking for a comprehensive program that would not just teach automation tools but help me understand the complete SDET role. The SDET Master Class offered both theoretical knowledge and practical implementation, which was exactly what I needed.
Q: How did you find the SDET learning experience?
Soumita: What really worked for me was the combination of live classes and the Learning Management System (LMS). I’ll be honest – I actually found the LMS more helpful because I could learn at my own pace. In live classes, sometimes I would miss things in the middle and get lost, but with the LMS, I could revisit concepts until I fully understood them.
Q: What were some of the key skills you learned during the course?
Soumita: The course covered a lot of ground, but some key areas included:
- Building automation frameworks from scratch
- Implementing GitHub Actions for CI/CD
- Working with parallel test execution
- Setting up headless testing
- Creating and maintaining test automation frameworks
The best part was that everything we learned, we implemented in real projects.
Q: Could you tell us about your interview journey?
Soumita: Initially, I got calls from companies like Oracle and Infosys, but my 90-day notice period was a challenge. However, as I continued improving my skills, I started getting more opportunities. I interviewed with Telit Communications and Fidelity Investments, and both were very impressed with my practical knowledge, especially my understanding of GitHub Actions and automation frameworks.
Q: What was the most challenging part of the transition?
Soumita: Moving from manual to automation testing requires a mindset shift. You need to think not just about testing scenarios but also about how to create efficient, maintainable automation solutions. The continuous support from Jatin sir during this transition was invaluable.
Q: Tell us about the job offers you received.
Soumita: I received offers from both Telit Communications and Fidelity Investments. After careful consideration, I chose Fidelity Investments. The role offered exactly what I was looking for, and the salary hike was incredible – 120%! It really validated all the hard work I put into learning and upgrading my skills.
Q: How did the SDET course prepare you for your new role?
Soumita: The practical approach of the course was crucial. We worked on real projects like Phoenix Automation, which helped me understand how actual automation frameworks are built and maintained. During interviews, I could speak confidently about my experience because I had actually implemented these concepts, not just learned about them theoretically.
Q: What advice would you give to manual testers who want to make a similar transition?
Soumita: Don’t be intimidated by automation. Your manual testing background is actually an advantage because you already understand testing concepts. Focus on learning one thing at a time, practice regularly, and build real projects. Most importantly, don’t just learn tools – understand the concepts behind them.
Q: How important was mentorship in your journey?
Soumita: It was crucial. Having someone guide you through the learning process, help you understand where you’re making mistakes, and support you during interview preparation makes a huge difference. The continuous guidance during the interview process gave me the confidence to face technical rounds effectively.
Q: What’s next for you in your SDET journey?
Soumita: This is just the beginning! I’m excited to apply everything I’ve learned in my new role at Fidelity Investments. The field is constantly evolving, and I plan to keep learning and growing. The confidence I’ve gained through this transformation has shown me that with the right mindset and guidance, anything is possible.
Q: Any final words for those considering a similar career transition?
Soumita: Yes! If you’re currently in manual testing and feeling uncertain about making the switch to automation, know that it’s absolutely achievable. The market for SDETs is growing, and companies are actively looking for testers who can automate. Take that first step – trust me, the journey is worth it!
Soumita Paul is now working as an SDET at Fidelity Investments. You can connect with her on LinkedIn to learn more about her journey.
Want to start your own SDET journey? Learn more about the SDET Master Class and join thousands of successful graduates who have transformed their careers.