QualityWorks Calls for Companies to Fill Software Testing Companies with Qualified BIPOC Candidates
Stacy Kirk is a computer scientist, tech entrepreneur, agile coach, coder, international technology speaker, and Stanford University alumnae. She has championed quality and process innovation in software development for over 20 years. In 2010, Stacy founded QualityWorks Consulting Group, a quality-driven web and mobile application delivery firm. QualityWorks delivers value for clients like AT&T, Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, Fox, and Legacy.com.
In August of 2020, QualityWorks launched a software testing program in an effort to help close the testing skills gaps and increase representation and diversity in the technology industry. The decision to create the program was ignited by the increasing number of trained professionals being laid off due to the economic impact of the pandemic. The call for applicants from the BIPOC community attracted close to 200 university-trained professionals with up to 10 years of valuable professional experience in industries such as Banking and Finance, IT Support, Media and Entertainment, Engineering and Computer. Through rigorous screening, the top candidates were selected and have undergone an intensive bootcamp to build fundamental and practical skills in testing.
CEO of QualityWorks, Stacy Kirk is calling for companies to move beyond performative diversity and hire qualified diverse testers for their tech teams.
“I know how difficult it can be to fill testing positions with the right people. For the last 10 years, QualityWorks has been helping companies to build strong testing teams so we know the models and the gaps. We've taken everything that is painful about finding great diverse testing talent and built a program to address those pain points. We have built a brilliant group of testers from diverse backgrounds - the kind of testers needed to move organizations forward. Now it’s up to companies to take action” - Stacy Kirk
The initiative promises to provide project ready testers that have not only built core testing skills but also the fundamentals of agile, communication, collaboration. Candidates will also receive 6 months of customised technical mentorship by senior testers to meet the specific project needs of each company that joins the initiative. This eliminates the hassle of onboarding and significantly reduces the headache and high costs of a lengthy recruitment process.
The Hire Diverse Testers Initiative, brainchild of QualityWorks’ Consulting Group, an LA-Based Software Firm, is dedicated to addressing the tech “pipeline problem” by identifying, upskilling and placing diverse candidates in testing jobs. Through the first bootcamp program, the Hire Diverse Testers project has created a team of talented and diverse individuals ready to put their newfound testing skills to work with a makeup of over 80% Black, 75% women and 12% Latinx testers. QualityWorks is now calling for companies to actively participate in the diversification of tech by filling their software testing roles with candidates from the program.
