From Campaign Manager to Test Automation: A Career Journey to IT through EPAM Campus

From Campaign Manager to Test Automation: A Career Journey to IT through EPAM Campus

Sometimes the best way to move your career forward is to start from scratch.  

When you already have years of experience and a senior position, leaving it behind to start over is a major decision. But when you realize that continuous professional growth with complex challenges to solve daily keeps you motivated, the path to a career in IT becomes a clear move. At least it was for Szandra Bagyanszki, a Software Test Automation Engineer at EPAM Hungary. We sat down with Szandra to talk about her career journey. She shared how the EPAM Campus program helped her transition from a successful background in media to a new role in software testing. 

Finding the Right Path for Your Career Journey in IT 

Before joining EPAM, Szandra worked at a media company. Starting as a campaign manager, she handled advertising campaigns from start to finish. This involved checking submitted materials, configuring systems, monitoring progress and completing administrative tasks. Eventually, she advanced to a senior role that required deeper technical involvement and regular collaboration with sales teams, developers and editorial staff. 

"I really loved this job, and I am grateful for the relationships and experiences I gained there, but after a while, I felt that I wanted to head in a new direction. That's why, alongside my job, I started learning programming. I wanted to better understand technical processes and expand my knowledge. This experience confirmed that IT might be my path," Szandra said. 

Kickstarting with EPAM Campus 

Searching for opportunities for career switchers led Szandra to the EPAM Campus program. Designed for anyone transitioning into tech, the program offered what she needed: a well-structured and clear learning path. 

While Szandra had already started learning programming and software testing independently, the EPAM Campus program organized this knowledge and filled in the gaps. Her most valuable experience was building a test automation framework from scratch and enhancing it as the training progressed. Even as a foundational exercise, it taught the specific mindset and concepts required for daily project work. Because of this foundation, she felt capable when she started to work on complex codebases later on. 

Support was a constant throughout her journey. “The feedback I received from my mentor on my final assignments was incredibly useful,” Szandra says. “The program organizers were also very helpful. They regularly checked on my progress and even stayed in touch after the program ended.” 

The Reality of Starting Over 

Transitioning into a new industry means facing the reality of starting over. Going from a confident senior professional in a familiar environment to a junior tester was a significant shift. 

To manage this, Szandra used her previous experience. “I prepared for this transition consciously. Since I worked a lot with junior colleagues in my previous position, I collected the attitudes and approaches that I found effective in them, and I incorporated these into my own approach as a junior.” 

Her first project at EPAM involved manual testing with a highly cohesive team. It was an ideal environment for a beginner. From the first week, she received meaningful tasks alongside ample guidance. A few months later, she transitioned to an international team focused on .NET test automation. The physical distance and time zones required much more independence, which was challenging at first but the continuous support from colleagues helped her rise to the occasion. 

Building Confidence for Your Career in IT 

Building confidence takes time, as IT is a fast-paced industry where new tools and technologies often emerge. In technology, you can never truly say you know everything. 

“I tend to notice my mistakes more than my successes, which is why I keep a work journal. At the end of each day, I spend a few minutes summarizing what went well, what didn’t, and I also note the feedback I received. This helps me evaluate myself more objectively. 

Building self-confidence can be challenging, but I feel that I have found my place both in my team and at EPAM. I am doing the kind of work I have always wanted, and I am glad that I can learn from my colleagues.” 

Advice for Future Career Switchers 

For those thinking about applying to the EPAM Campus program, Szandra's advice is simple: if you have the time and motivation, take the first step. Even completing one or two levels of the program provides useful knowledge. 

However, success requires commitment. Time management is an essential skill because there is a lot to learn. Dedicate plenty of time to the hands-on project tasks, as they offer the most valuable knowledge.  

But remember: it is equally important to schedule time to disconnect and recharge. 

Changing your profession is never easy, but finding a supportive environment makes all the difference. If you are ready to challenge yourself and build new skills, your next chapter starts here. Explore our EPAM Campus programs.