Getting bored is never an option for Alexandru when he can be a Senior Test Consultant, a trainer, a technical excellence driver, a father of two and a DJ. He first set foot in our Bucharest office 6 years ago, and it was love at the first interview. He describes himself as energetic, so there’s no surprise that not even one day looks the same. We thought it would almost be impossible to draw the outer edge of his personal and professional achievements until we sat down with him and listen to his whole story. Let’s see what we’ve managed to discover! 

What is your field of expertise?

I have a master’s degree in Computer Security and more than 10 years of experience as a Tester. To this, I can add more than 5 years as a testing trainer for both manual and automated courses, and another couple of years as a Cisco Trainer for CCNA and CCNA Security. As a Sr. Test Consultant, I am primarily specialised in Performance and Security Testing, but occasionally I help with Automation, regardless of the programming language. I currently manage both Security Testing and Blockchain communities and a member of the Testing leadership team in the technical excellence area.
 
When and how did your story at Endava start? 

I joined Endava more than 6 years ago, in February 2015, in a Performance Testing role. From the first moment, Mihai and Ovidiu, my interviewers, gave me the confidence to be the perfect fit for Endava. Looking back, I think it was the best choice for my career so far. I quickly started working on my first project for a pension portal in .NET stack within a professional and warmhearted team. Many of my colleagues exhibited so much knowledge on different technologies that the entire environment seemed ideal to grow both personally and professionally, a place that I belonged to. No wonder I gained a lot of technical and soft skills while moving forward and being exposed to various technologies, clients and circumstances.

Can you tell us more about your career path in Endava?

I started as a Senior Tester, conducting security and performance tests, presenting the client with the results, and creating test plans, test reports, defects etc. Then, I became Security Community Lead, organising the community’s activities such as presentations and workshops. I shortly started to create client proposals as a core member of the Bid Squad and revived the blockchain community. To offer you some behind the scenes details, we are currently working on something exciting on the Ethereum blockchain. Last but not least, alongside my colleagues, I drive technical excellence inside our Testing Discipline by leading multiple internal and external programs like School for Automation, Security Incubator, Fresh Grads and many others.

What drives your career?

The eagerness to learn more, share my knowledge, and ultimately be better at what I do every day, little by little. I really believe that my work will eventually make a great deal of difference.

What do you like about your job, and what would you change? 

I really like the people I am working with. It is quite important to have someone you can learn from, people who empower and encourage you to strive for more. Luckily, due to the nature of the business, I never get bored, as there are various projects that I can work on using my pen-testers skills. „Find a job that you enjoy, and you will not work for a day in your entire life!” I think it was a quote that perfectly describes my current situation. 

Who were the people who had the most impact on your career over time? 

I can start with Stefan Radulescu, as he was one of the firsts to believe in my potential and provide me with challenges that helped me grow. Eoin Woods, our Chief Technology Officer, with whom I had several discussions that changed my perception of the whole technology industry, is another important person that shaped my career journey. I also learnt a lot about our TEAM practices from Elena Plop, as we’ve worked together on my first project. My last mention would be Mihai Roman, my first Career Coach, the person that gave me the best career advice! 

How would you describe yourself? 

Curious, energetic, impatient, sociable, motivated, overthinker, DJ.

Tell us a bit about yourself outside work. What do you like to do, and what are your passions? 

I used to be a gamer, and I loved playing RPGs and strategies, but recently, I switched to other activities. I am playing with my two kids and engaging in various indoor and outdoor activities with them. I love very much DJing and mixing music. It is how I earned my first paycheck back in high school – by playing music at parties. I also have a deep affection for the sea, as I was born near the coast, so I enjoy the warmth of the summer. On Saturdays, I am a trainer at the „Informal School” here in Bucharest, where I help people find their career paths and improve their testing skills. Another thing people should know about me is that I am a banknote collector, as I believe that these will become history at a certain point in the future due to digitalisation. 

What is the most valuable lesson you learned in life?

Fail until you succeed. Trust, but verify.

What would you tell a person who just graduated and wants to join our industry?

Come to our internship programmes, as the things taught in faculty might be different from the practices and challenges raised by different projects. It is the reason I engaged in extracurricular activities while being a student. Giving you professional development a head start by experiencing various learning opportunities could prove extremely valuable in the long run.