Employee Profile - Yan Levasseur, Quality Assurance (QA) Analyst

Shortly after graduating in multimedia integration from Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne, Yan Levasseur saw the doors of Tink open before him in early 2023, thanks in part to strong references from his former professor (and current Tinker), Mathieu Grenon. Yan thus joined the ranks of our team of analysts, where he actively contributes to pushing the boundaries of quality assurance in our projects.

In a few words, how would you describe your position and daily routine?

My daily routine as a Quality Assurance Analyst is never the same, and there are often surprises throughout my days! In fact, I don't always know what I'll be working on when I turn on my computer in the morning. Usually, my supervisor will let me know, except for long-term or large-scale projects. Generally, my quality assurance process involves the following tasks:

• When I receive a new version of the site from the developers, I check for any defects. If there are any, I inform the developers so they can fix them.
• I then perform another check after the corrections to ensure that the defects have been properly resolved and that nothing is "broken."
• I also test the stories of newly developed features. Provided by the product managers, these stories contain all the requirements for the feature to be developed as desired. I make sure these stories are complete and that all necessary information is included. And in the event of a change, I check again to ensure nothing is "broken."

As a QA Analyst, I must verify both the functional and accessibility aspects of the solutions developed for our clients. My goal is to ensure that all features can be used by all users. To do this, I conduct tests with screen readers in my testing environments. I am also responsible for ensuring that the visual aspects are accessible to everyone.

According to you, what are the skills and qualities that a person must demonstrate to occupy a position like yours?

First and foremost, I would say that a good QA analyst must always be on the lookout for new knowledge and continuously seek to broaden their skills, as there are numerous methods available to test products or solutions. I would also add that it's essential to constantly outpace machines to bring added value to our work, which is especially true with the rise of artificial intelligence! Working in this field necessarily involves the ability to adapt and evolve in an ever-changing environment.

It's also important to be autonomous, to manage your energy well, and to have a good sense of organization, especially when handling multiple projects simultaneously. The ability to align with the client’s perspective in analyzing the solution is also a valuable asset.

Of course, managing unexpected events, priorities, and schedules is also crucial. For instance, there may be times when I need to start earlier in the morning to adequately respond to urgent client requests. In short, I would sum it up in two words: adaptability and flexibility!

Finally, I want to emphasize the importance of being meticulous in our work, as QA analysts are the last line of defence before delivering the final product to our clients, which gives us a heightened level of responsibility.

What have you learned during your years at Tink?

I would say that I’ve learned about 80% of what I know now, both personally and professionally. I’ve particularly learned to be more flexible and to proactively help my colleagues when necessary. I’ve also realized the importance of developing a peripheral vision of all projects, in addition to acquiring new knowledge and work methods to adapt to multiple projects, interfaces, software, and programming languages.

Lastly, my role at Tink has also taught me to manage my stress better and to assert myself more. At first, I tended to follow others, setting aside my ideas rather than valuing myself and taking my place by making my suggestions. Today, I know that my ideas can interest our clients!

What do you like about Tink, and what makes you stay?

I really appreciate that all Tink employees are first and foremost considered members of a big supportive team rather than just numbers that add up to form a whole. There’s a genuine team spirit within the company, and everyone’s personality is valued. As a Tinker, I always feel that my well-being comes before results and performance, and that’s truly something precious!

I also enjoy being able to learn from everyone and having open discussions with people from diverse backgrounds. There are always opportunities to learn and excel with stimulating challenges at Tink!

What is your proudest professional accomplishment?

I would say that the most rewarding part of my work as a QA analyst is seeing projects come to fruition, especially the most significant ones, and having the satisfaction of knowing that I contributed to their deployment and success. These are the kinds of small victories that motivate me to keep pushing myself!

How would you describe the work atmosphere at Tink?

It's a positive and warm environment where it's easy to interact with people and take breaks to enjoy time with colleagues. You always feel welcome, and it's not uncommon to see a director chatting with you as an equal. And you don't just come to the office to work but also to participate in the many activities regularly organized by Tink's social committee!

For you, working at Tink means having the opportunity to...?

It's having the chance to work on exciting projects for major Canadian companies alongside people who are passionate about what they do and eager to share their knowledge! It's also about growing in a very flexible environment that always gives us the option to choose between remote work and working in the office.

What advice would you give to future employees in your field?

From a professional standpoint, I would tell them to always stay informed about the best tools to use for detecting accessibility errors on a website (this is the most important aspect of our work!). I would also recommend that future QA analysts focus only on testing the facets of a feature that have been defined by the product manager, to avoid overstepping the established boundaries of a project.

On a more personal level, I would advise them to stay authentic because by being themselves, they will naturally showcase their skills and abilities.

And above all, I would end with my most important advice: never be afraid to take your place and reach out to others for help when needed. Don’t keep your questions to yourself—share them instead! It's the best way to continuously learn by getting varied answers with different perspectives.