LIFE AT XBOSOFT WITH WILL CHEN

Will

 

Will Chen is a seasoned project manager at XBOSoft and a true QA and testing expert. He’s looking forward to his 13th anniversary with XBOSoft and is a respected “uncle” within the XBO family.

 

XBOSoft Magazine recently sat down with Will to talk about his experiences at XBOSoft and what his thoughts are looking into the future.

 

XBOSoft Magazine: How did you get your start in tech?

I was born in the 20th century, but will be a worker in the 21st century. If anything spoke to me about the future, it was technology. I majored in Computer Science at the Inner Mongolia Normal University. I learned a lot of theories but little practical knowledge. I realized I like working with software, but not so much the coding behind its creation. It seemed to me that working in QA was the perfect match!

XBOSoft Magazine: What attracted you to XBOSoft?

When I graduated from college, most of my classmates’ idea of the “dream job” was to work for one of the Global 500 companies. IBM, Apple, and HP paid well and had lots of prestige. But for me, the idea of working for a small startup was more appealing. The work could be more challenging, interesting, and satisfying. And a successful career is not just about making lots of money. When I was looking for a job, I came across XBOSOFT who was just a small startup that specialized in software testing, but growing fast. I’ve been working with them ever since. It’s a very creative environment, open to sharing opinions and ideas. The company really promotes team work and a “family” culture.

XBOSoft Magazine: What are you currently working on?

After so many years at XBOSoft, I’ve now become very experienced at QA & testing. Now, my focus is on improving my project management skills and mastering the art of performance testing. Performance testing is not something you can just learn from a book. It takes a lot of time and effort to do well. You need to know the tools, the product, and user scenarios to get meaningful results!

XBOSoft Magazine: What has been your favorite project to work on?

CA Nimsoft partnership. This was a US based Fortune 500 company and I was responsible for managing the QA and testing from Beijing.  I had to coordinate with developers in the US who were working in an Agile environment. During this project, I was given project manager position to lead people for the first time. I had the responsibility to build up the team from the beginning and we grew into an amazing group of people. The partnership lasted many years and I learned many management and communication skills amongst tech.

XBOSoft Magazine: What is your favorite XBOSoft memory?

I have many happy XBO memories, so it’s hard to pick a favorite. Maybe when we had our company outing for team building in Inner Mongolia. We stayed out in the middle of the desert. It was a difficult environment, but we all pulled through by helping and working together as a team. It’s the type of experience that builds our company culture.

XBOSoft Magazine: Would you recommend XBOSoft to a friend?

Of course.

XBOSoft Magazine: What about XBOSoft do you recommend?

Software QA & testing is very satisfying work. Our clients really appreciate how we make their software better and knowing that we’ve had a positive impact on their product and business is a good thing.

XBOSoft Magazine: What sets XBOSoft apart?

We do only one thing — software testing, so we are 100% focused on making software quality better.