Diving into the Assessment Journey, From Novice to Expert

Crina Rotaru is an outstanding woman in tech, an aspiring professional and a wearer of many hats. She covers multiple roles as Business Analysis Team Lead, Resource Manager and Product Owner at EPAM in Romania. Ever since college, she met the fascinating challenge of merging technical skills with an understanding of business operations. This unique blend of competencies struck her as both challenging and intriguing. What inspired her to delve deeper into the world of business analysis is the potential of leveraging IT to enhance and add value to businesses. For her, this field offered the perfect platform to bridge the gap between technology and business, enabling her to uncover innovative solutions and strategies to optimize operations.  

As a result, Crina embarked on a journey to gain a deeper understanding of business analysis and harness its potential to drive positive change within organizations. And she didn’t stop just there. Crina has been with EPAM for more than two and a half years. With one milestone after another, she decided to join EPAM’s programs as an Assessment* Expert and Certified Technical Interviewer, among others.  

Can you please walk us through your career journey at EPAM? 

My journey at EPAM commenced when I joined as a senior business analyst, primarily assigned to a healthcare project. From the very beginning, my professional growth has been of paramount importance to me. As I delved into my role, I discovered the expansive infrastructure and multitude of opportunities that EPAM has to offer. These opportunities extended not only to personal development but also to contributing to the growth of others within the company. 

During my tenure, I actively participated in various company initiatives. This included involvement in assessment committees, resource management, participation in programs like Plus or CSR campaigns, conducting interviews and actively engaging in mentoring programs. In fact, I had the privilege of taking on the role of coordinator for the business analysis discipline mentoring program in Romania. 

When did you decide to take on a new opportunity and become an assessment expert? 

My motivation to take this step is the result of a combination of factors. Firstly, I am driven by my curiosity and appreciation for the transparency of the process within our company. Furthermore, I was propelled by the desire to actively take part in and contribute to the assessment process, going beyond the role of a mere participant to that of an expert. This unique role allowed me to gain profound insights into the challenges my colleagues encountered and the strategies they employed to overcome them, including the tools and techniques they used. In turn, it allowed me to provide valuable input and contribute to our collective growth. 

How difficult is it to be an assessment expert? 

Becoming an assessment expert can be a challenging yet rewarding endeavor. The level of difficulty hinges on your familiarity with the assessment process, the specific prerequisites of the role and your ability to conduct objective candidate evaluations. Excelling in this role needs meticulous preparation, including a deep understanding of the assessment process, a comprehensive grasp of the skills and attributes essential for the candidate's desired role and a thorough review of the candidate's pertinent experiences and submitted artifacts. It's important to note that this role extends beyond merely assessing candidates; it involves ensuring a fair and precise evaluation that aligns seamlessly with the company's requirements. 

How do you fit all these roles under the same umbrella and keep your work-life balance? 

What a great question! Indeed, sometimes managing multiple roles while maintaining a work-life balance can be quite challenging. I believe that effective time management and prioritization are key. I make it a point to set clear priorities for both my professional and personal commitments. 

Additionally, I seek support from my team and leverage tools to streamline tasks. This helps me ensure that my various responsibilities coexist harmoniously while allowing me to dedicate quality time to my personal life. 

What advice would you give to a younger version of yourself? 

Reflecting on my journey, the advice I would offer to my younger self is to embrace change with an open heart and mind. Change can be daunting, but it's where some of the most valuable growth happens. Don't fear it; instead, welcome it as an opportunity to learn, adapt and discover your resilience. 

Be bold in pursuing your passions and dreams, even if they seem ambitious. Trust in your abilities and the journey that lies ahead, for it's the challenges you face and the lessons you learn that will shape the remarkable person you are becoming. 

Lastly, never underestimate the power of patience and perseverance; success often unfolds gradually, and your unwavering commitment will see you through the toughest times. 

Learn more about #LifeAtEPAM in Romania at: www.epam.com/careers/epam-romania 


*Assessment is a process of employees’ skillset evaluation by Level Up requirements using international committees of experts to recommend candidates for promotion to a particular title and primary skill.

**Plus Digital Platform is an EPAM internal tool that helps EPAM employees grow by enhancing and developing new skills by investing time in different projects where contribution is needed and appreciated.