nFocus proudly celebrates Jess Ward’s 10-year anniversary with the company. Starting as a fresh-faced apprentice, Jess has evolved into a seasoned automation tester, excelling in various testing roles. Her enthusiasm for learning new technologies and tackling complex problems has made her a key player in our team, highlighting the importance of dedication and perseverance in professional growth.
nFocus Talent Manager, Gary Kingsmill, reflects on Jess Ward’s decade-long journey with admiration: “Those 10 years have flown by! From a work standpoint, Jess has always received excellent feedback from the customers she has worked with. As an apprentice fresh from college, she got stuck in her workload, and this has only increased as her skills and experience have grown.
Her diligence and testing ability, along with her happy and friendly personality, mean that she has provided excellent consultancy for all of her projects over the years. As I mentioned, she has consistently grown her skill set, relishing working on a very diverse range of projects, and has taken on every challenge that nFocus has handed her with a smile.
Gary also shared a personal note: “Personally, I always enjoy catching up with Jess at our socials. She’s really funny, a surprisingly good shot, and could always be relied upon to come up with the answers to obscure questions in the COVID Christmas Quizzes, where she dug our team out of trouble for two years on the trot!
It’s been fantastic watching Jess’ personality and skills flourish over the last 10 years, and I’m looking forward to seeing how much she achieves in the next 10 years. Well done, Jess!”
Q1: Can you briefly describe your role and background?
I began my journey with nFocus as an apprentice software tester immediately after leaving college at 18. Over the past 10 years, I have grown with the company and advanced into the role of an automation tester. My responsibilities vary from project to project, encompassing automation, manual, API, and performance testing, depending on the needs of the assignment. I am always eager to learn new technologies as they continue to evolve.
Q2: Do you remember your first day?
My grandad kindly drove me to work in the morning, ensuring I had my packed lunch in tow. As we chatted during the drive, I felt grateful for his support and company. Upon arriving at the office, I quickly settled in and prepared for the day ahead. My first assignment from Ben Beardsmore was to practice writing test steps by documenting my journey from home to work. The assignment was to detail my journey from home to work, step by step. I found the exercise quite engaging, as it required me to think critically about each part of my commute, from leaving the house to arriving at the office. Later in the day, to my surprise, my grandad arrived at the office an hour earlier than expected, ready to pick me up.
Q3: What is your favourite part of this job?
I thoroughly enjoy solving problems, which is a significant aspect of this job and something I’m passionate about. Each challenge presents an opportunity to think creatively and finding effective solutions is really rewarding. Additionally, I love the flexibility of working from home, as it allows me to spend quality time with my fluffy companion, Temmie.
Q4: What was your favourite work outing?
I really enjoyed my first work Christmas party at the Rio Carnival. The atmosphere and the entertainment were amazing. It was so fun to watch aerial artists dance preforming rope dances in the air, the fire breathers displaying their daring skills, and the limbo dancers bending impossibly low under the limbo stick! Later in the evening, I had a blast playing on the bumper cars with my coworkers, which added an extra layer of fun to the night.
Q5: If you could not work in this industry, what profession would you pursue?
I love decorating, and I would pursue a career as an interior decorator. If I were to come into a substantial amount of money, I would also love to become an alpaca farmer with a couple of ducks. This wouldn’t be for profit, but rather for the enjoyment and tranquility of living alongside these charming animals.
Q6: What do you like to do for fun outside work?
On nice days, I love going for walks and exploring new places. However, when the weather turns rainy, I shift gears and indulge in cozy gaming sessions on my computer and consoles. There’s a comforting appeal to being indoors, wrapped in a blanket, and getting lost in immersive game worlds.
Q7: What is your most used emoji when using Teams?
I use the smile emoji a lot as I want my messages to come across as friendly. 😊
As we celebrate this remarkable 10-year journey, we look forward to many more years of Jess’ invaluable contributions. Congratulations, Jess, on this incredible achievement!
