I’ve made a series of test stories from my favorite test runs. During this test run I used the method of user experience mapping to show how a target groups satisfaction with a product changed as they interacted with it, thereby finding problem areas for redesign.
I see it as my duty to make test documentation. I’m a consultant, the only current tester on my project, and can leave (or be asked to leave) whenever. In
Stage 7. Started up side-projects. I’d learned that I need daily social contact, and a project of sorts. And since there wasn’t any for me, I had to make them myself. Thus I started up small, weird side-projects. Most of them only exist in my head to this date, but it felt good planning and making things. Most of them only exist in my head to this date, but it felt good planning and making things.
Stage 6. Got to know myself. With at least some surplus of energy, but no upcoming project, I did a free Myers-Briggs test. And another. I took other free tests, and even if they are nowhere near a holy grail, it got me thinking about who I am and how I work.
Stage 5. Got fit! I decided that I had to get that stress out of my body. And the best way to do that, is to exercise. I would also benefit from having a daily goal, something I had to do, now that I couldn’t go to work every day.
Stage 4. Despaired some more. I began to worry that I was heading towards stress… As in, medical stress, not the everyday “Oh my god I’m so stressed”. I had problems sleeping at night, I never made it to an interview even though several people confirmed that my CV was great. My colleagues were great at supporting me and told me that a new project would come any day now. Some days it helped, most days it didn’t. I felt horrible..
Stage 3: Renovated my entire flat. This stage lasted for quite some time. At this point it became pretty clear to me that I needed some kind of project at home. I did not get any interviews, but I was still pretty confident that something would happen soon. Maybe not super-soon, but soon enough.
Stage 2: Got better at testing. And waiting. Even though I had no gigs, I didn’t have to hang around in an office and pretend to be busy. Instead I started improving some test related skills. I signed up for the BBST online class, joined different test networks on Twitter, Slack and Facebook, read a lot of test-related material.. and waited. And waited. And then I waited some more.
