I am Kevin, I am a Business Systems Tester, and I am FDM

Follow along Kevin’s journey from labour-intensive jobs to working with one of Canada’s largest financial firms.

My name is Kevin D’Costa and I’m a Business Systems Tester for FDM. Currently, I’m placed onsite with a division of Intact Financial Corporation at Intact Insurance. I graduated with a Bachelors of Information Systems from Saint Francis Xavier’s University.

Shortly after graduation, I moved to Toronto but wasn’t quite sure how to start my career in IT. While trying to keep my passion for technology and break into the IT world, I spent a few months working in the labour-intensive roles of manufacturing. During this time, I would read tech blogs while on my breaks just to keep up. I knew that I wanted to work in tech, but I also wanted to understand the business while playing an active role in the organisations functions.

I was very apprehensive about my ability to perform due to my lack of transferable experience.  Eleven months on from my first day at FDM, and I can confidently say that I have gained a wealth of knowledge and experience in my field. I owe this all to the guidance and coaching I’ve received from the FDM team and training program.

I have had an incredible experience so far. Having the opportunity to work for Canada’s second largest bank, Toronto Dominion (TD) and now with one of Canada’s largest insurance firms, Intact Financial Corporation.

I started my career onsite as a Quality Assurance Analyst at TD. It was interesting to see the amount of work that goes on behind-the-scenes to create applications. There are several moving parts and it takes a lot of collaboration and efficiency within the team to build these complex systems. Little did I know at the time I was also learning to become a better communicator, while testing for defects in the application. I was also cultivating meticulous attention to detail and a strong ability to analyse information.

Towards the end of 2016, my term at TD was coming to a close and I was preparing to begin a new chapter with Intact Financial. My new role as a Business Systems Tester intrigued me because it gave me the opportunity to think critically and understand business requirements, build on what I already know, and challenge myself to focus on the intricacies of the project.

Throughout my time at FDM there has been continuous  learning – I am challenged every day. I’m also improving my soft skills as well as expanding my technical skills (testing applications, insurance/financial knowledge). I have experienced significant improvements in areas where I once struggled.

If you are honest with yourself and decide to work hard, FDM will be a tremendous source of inspiration and opportunity to grow as an individual. They have a wealth of resources to help develop your skill set. Also, the ever growing community allows you to extend your network with other like-minded and talented members. Chances are you’ll make friends, have fun and be engaged in the work you do, all while starting your career.

If you’re located in the Toronto area and looking to break into the IT industry, FDM is here to help.  Our Academy Program is your opportunity to launch your career in IT and business. So what are you waiting for? Apply online today https://www.fdmgroup.com/ca/apply/ and get your career started with FDM.

Featured image credit: Photo by Nadine Shaabana on Unsplash 

Updated 26 April, 2017