Meet Bermet | Test Automation Engineer
“That was my goal from the beginning. To change people’s mindset and to show the benefits of cooperation and collaboration.”
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Bermet Michajlidis’ motto in life is to try out as much as possible. That’s why, although she was afraid of taking this step, she decided to start studying IT after many years of working in completely different fields. Today she doesn’t regret this step, in fact she volunteers to teach people in her home country Kyrgyzstan more about IT and change their mindset. How she manages to do that, what she considers to be her most important skills in her job at diconium as Test Automation Engineer and Team Lead, and much more, you’ll find out in our new digital champions interview.
Nice to meet you, Bermet! Would you like to introduce yourself?
Hi, I’m Bermet and I’ve been with diconium for more than five years. In 2017, I joined as a working student and was then hired in Quality Assurance as a Software Test Manager. Today, I work as a Test Automation Engineer and Team Lead.
Which diconium location do you work at?
In Berlin. I studied Business Administration and IT Technology at HTW Berlin and heard about diconium through an acquaintance. Originally, I’m from Kyrgyzstan but came to Germany in 2011 to do my master’s degree in European Culture History.
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Oh, that’s quite a change, from history to IT!
There have been a few changes in my professional career. In my first job I worked as a journalist, then for years as a PR manager in a large corporation.
When I started doing my master’s degree, I was a bit surprised because I had imagined it differently. Then I made the decision to switch to IT. I always wanted to do that, but I wasn’t “brave” enough. I had certain preconceptions: I thought to study IT, you have to be good at math, for example. I was never good at math and still am not. But I still managed to pass my exams.
Do you want to become a colleague of Bermet at diconium? Take a look at our open positions! 💜🚀 Testing & QA / All vacancies
In hindsight, would you say you would have preferred to start with IT directly?
Not necessarily. I learned a lot in journalism and acquired new skills. My experience then helped me not to give up, even though IT was really new territory for me.
What attracted you to the field of IT? What made you decide to switch?
I think it was less about the appeal and more about the interest. I asked myself the question: What is the future? Sure, digitization. Then I asked myself: Okay, I’ve always wanted to try this out, why don’t I do it? The answer was: I was afraid. Afraid of making mistakes, for example. At some point I thought to myself that if I never try it out, I’ll never find out whether it works or doesn’t work. Then I just took the risk and started.
“I asked myself the question: What is the future? Sure, digitization. Then I asked myself: Okay, I’ve always wanted to try this out, why don’t I do it?”
So, would you recommend others to switch to IT as well?
I would put it more cautiously: try it out. My attitude in life is to try as much as possible. If you have the desire and interest and the field offers you more opportunities, I recommend giving it a try. If you study IT for a year and realize it’s not for you, at least you’ve tried it.
“If you have the desire and interest and the field offers you more opportunities, I recommend giving it a try.”
What does a “normal” working day look like for you today?
Every day is different and always depends on what my focus is at the moment. At the end of the day, I’m happy when I’ve checked off everything on my ‘to do list’ — depending on the priorities.
As Team Lead, I naturally not only take care of my own tasks, but also of my team members, making sure they feel well advised and comfortable. It’s important to find out where there’s a need to talk.
“As Team Lead, I naturally not only take care of my own tasks, but also of my team members, making sure they feel well advised and comfortable.”
How do you figure that out as a team lead?
It’s a question of trust. It’s a very time-consuming task and you really have to work for it.
That means, an important skill in your position is to be able to build trust. What else?
To communicate openly, honestly, and concretely with other people. I like to communicate openly and solve problems instead of keeping secrets and leaving a room for interpretation. It’s not just what you say, but how you say it. That’s an art in itself.
“It’s not just what you say, but how you say it. That’s an art in itself.”
You’ve known diconium for more than five years now. What has changed in the course of time?
diconium has grown immensely over time. This growth has been accompanied by new personalities, cultures, perceptions, perspectives, and challenges, which is great.
Do you want to become a colleague of Bermet at diconium? Take a look at our open positions! 💜🚀 Testing & QA / All vacancies
Our slogan is ”creating digital champions”. What does that mean to you?
When I first heard this slogan, I thought it was about who’s faster, who’s better, who’s cooler? But it has a different meaning: for me, a digital champion produces or implements valuable and high-quality software. That is very important to me. This software must have a positive impact on people’s lives and on society. That’s how I understand this slogan.
“…for me, a digital champion produces or implements valuable and high-quality software. That is very important to me. This software must have a positive impact on people’s lives and on society.”
So, you would also be reluctant to work on projects that don’t have a positive impact?
Yes! I really need to find meaning in my projects and see what the impact is.
Now we’ve talked a lot about professional topics, what do you like to do in your free time?
That always changes over time. Last year, I produced a podcast with a friend on topics like “What does discipline mean to me?”. Right now, I’m involved in a volunteer project in Kyrgyzstan, which is about teaching IT knowledge to people with little previous experience in this area: how to use WordPress, for example. We see technical progress on the one hand, but also progress in terms of mindset.
That was my goal from the beginning. To change people’s mindset and to show the benefits of cooperation and collaboration.
“Right now, I’m involved in a volunteer project in Kyrgyzstan, which is about teaching IT knowledge to people with little previous experience in this area: how to use WordPress, for example.”
Which of the four values at diconium do you find most important?
I think collaboration, courage, impact, and mindfulness are very important. We have already touched on most of these values. But I would like to add something. I saw an interview with Denzel Washington a few months ago. I fell in love with the following statement from him: “Without commitment you will never start. But without consistency you will never finish.” So, I would like to add commitment and consistency to those four values.
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