A friend invited me to apply as a software developer, so I did. When I got the results from the assessment test – the examiner informed me that I failed the exam but suggested me a QA position. I immediately jumped on the opportunity without knowing what QA was. The manager offered me that opportunity in the company as he knew my learnability. Nokia provided training, coaching, and mentoring, and I enjoyed the work. As I developed my knowledge, an architecture and specification position opened, and I was excited about it. But I thought I was not yet ready for the role. I consulted my manager about it and asked for his opinion, and he encouraged me to go for it and to try it out. Fast forward to hardship and several leaps of faith, and I am excited to grow and try new things. This year I started my new position. Looking back, I am grateful to mention three key points: 1. Don’t be afraid to try new things. There’s no additional knowledge if you already know it – what is QA? 2. Develop your knowledge. Learning is a never-ending process: if you don’t know – study! 3. How will you know if you don’t try? You might regret it one day if you haven't tried.

Ask Questions!! I know this seems quite obvious, but I have been in many situations where I was in a group with colleagues, talking about a specific technical topic and using all kinds of abbreviations that I didn't know yet. I was afraid to ask, because I didn't want to seem like the dumb one. But it is not like that. All of us started somewhere and our colleagues at Nokia know that as well. If I just had asked questions right away, it would have helped me immensely.

If you are seeking a career that will be memorable and impactful, sometimes you may need to step outside of your comfort zone and take a leap into unknown waters. I took the leap twice - once when changing my role function (from accounting to recruiting), and secondly, industry-wise when joining Nokia. I did not regret either of those decisions and I feel this is where I belong. Don't be afraid to pursue your passion, with dedication and consistency your career aspirations can become a reality.