From Bartender to QA Analyst: How I Pivoted Careers to Reach My Dreams and My Secrets to Success

Do you love where you work but are considering making a career pivot? Want to take charge of your professional journey? If so, Nat Aguiar, a QA Analyst at Squarespace, is here to help! 

During her five years (and counting!) at Squarespace, Aguiar has been able to pave her own career path, which has included making multiple career pivots. “Staying with one company for an extended period can offer incredible growth opportunities if approached correctly,” she reflects. But how can someone access these growth opportunities? Well, Aguiar’s four top tips are:

1. “Be proactive in your learning. Take advantage of any training or courses offered by your company. For instance, Squarespace has platforms with a variety of courses that are free for us to take, and Squarespace also funded my full-stack developer course — which was crucial to be where I am today. 

2. Network within the company. Building relationships across different departments can open doors for new roles and projects. I often requested to shadow people who worked on areas that I was interested in.

3. Stay adaptable. Be open to taking on new challenges and roles. My journey from Customer Support Advisor to QA Analyst involved several transitions that required me to adapt quickly.

4. Communicate your career goals. Make sure that your manager knows about your aspirations so they can help you reach them, either by introducing you to someone who is in that role or maybe suggesting courses that you can take to learn the necessary skills to reach your dreams.”

For even more great advice, we reached out to Aguiar to learn about her unique career journey from bartender to QA Analyst, how she excels in her current role, and why she loves working at Squarespace’s Dublin office.

Let’s begin by discussing your interesting career journey. How did you join Squarespace, and, since joining, how has Squarespace supported you transitioning between roles?

My background in customer service as a bartender provided me with strong communication and problem-solving skills, which I brought to my initial role as a Customer Support Advisor at Squarespace. 

From there, Squarespace's supportive culture and numerous growth opportunities facilitated my transition through various roles. One pivotal moment in my career was when Squarespace funded a full-stack development course for me. This educational opportunity was crucial in building my technical skills and laid the foundation for my subsequent roles. Additionally, I participated in the Help Wanted/Residency program which is designed to create hands-on experiences with other teams, coupled with feedback and career coaching. The program gave me the chance to work closely with different teams, gaining insights into their workflows and processes. This hands-on experience, combined with shadowing roles and actively seeking mentorship, enabled me to move from customer support to more specialized positions like Social Media Specialist, Product Specialist, and, ultimately, QA Analyst. Squarespace's commitment to employee growth and development has been instrumental in my career progression.

You’re now a QA Analyst at Squarespace. Could you tell us a bit about this role and what you find the most rewarding and challenging about your current work?

As a QA Analyst at Squarespace, I am embedded within the Engineering team, which means I work closely with a product/design/engineer team focused on specific product areas. Being embedded also means that I am fully integrated into the team's workflow and culture, participating in their communication channels, attending all their meetings, and bringing a critical testing perspective to the forefront of the development process.

One of the key aspects of this role is that testing is not merely the final step in development. Instead, it runs parallel to development, allowing for multiple iterations of testing throughout the project lifecycle. From the kickoff of a project, QA is an integral part of the conversation. This early involvement allows us to voice potential user concerns, highlight areas that may pose challenges, and start testing early versions of features while they are still in development.

In practice, this means that I am part of the project from its inception, providing insights and raising flags about potential issues that users might face. As development progresses, I execute comprehensive test plans, identify and report bugs, and work with developers to ensure these issues are resolved.

The most rewarding part of my role is knowing that my contributions directly enhance the user experience. It's fulfilling to see the impact of my work in the final product, knowing that our users are getting a high-quality, reliable service. The most challenging aspect is staying ahead of potential issues in an ever-evolving tech landscape. The fast pace of development and the complexity of new features require constant learning and adaptation.

Overall, being a QA Analyst allows me to leverage both my technical skills and my background in customer support to ensure that our products meet the highest standards of quality and usability.

Looking back on your journey, what is your top advice for other women who are pursuing a career as a QA Analyst? 

My journey from a non-technical background to becoming a QA Analyst has taught me several valuable lessons that I believe can help other women pursuing a career in this field:

• Build a strong foundation. Start by strengthening both your technical and soft skills. Understanding coding basics, software development life cycles, and testing methodologies is crucial. Equally important is developing soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, and attention to detail. These will help you collaborate effectively with your team and articulate your findings clearly.

• Stay curious and proactive. The tech landscape is always evolving, and staying updated with the latest trends, tools, and technologies is essential. Take initiative to learn new skills, attend workshops, webinars, and conferences, and continuously seek opportunities to grow. Being proactive also means taking the lead on projects and volunteering for tasks that can showcase your capabilities.

• Network and build relationships. Building a strong professional network can open doors to new opportunities and collaborations. Engage with peers, join industry groups, and participate in tech events. Networking not only helps in career growth but also provides a support system of like-minded professionals who can share experiences and advice.

• Develop resilience and confidence. The tech industry can be challenging, and there may be times when you face setbacks. Developing resilience is key to overcoming these obstacles. Believe in your skills and capabilities, and don’t let setbacks deter you. Confidence in your abilities will inspire others to have confidence in you as well.

Finally, what are your favorite parts about working from Squarespace’s Dublin office? Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing in the Dublin area?

Working from Squarespace’s Dublin office is an incredible experience due to its dynamic and collaborative atmosphere. The office fosters innovation and creativity, and the team spirit here is palpable. I appreciate the strong sense of community here, as well as the opportunities for cross-departmental interactions and learning. 

Outside of work, whether I'm enjoying the city's culinary delights, relaxing in its beautiful parks, or immersing myself in its rich cultural heritage, there's always something engaging to do right here in Dublin.

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