Tatevik Bakaryan spent a decade building a career in the hospitality industry. Working her way up from a hotel receptionist to the head of a sales and marketing department, she was used to fast-paced environments and international clients. When she took a career break for maternity leave, she fully intended to return to her familiar routine. Then, a global pandemic shut down the tourism industry.
With two young children at home, Tatevik needed a role that offered flexibility and stability. While she previously thought the tech industry was too complex to enter, relatives working in IT encouraged her to explore government-sponsored coding courses. That small step sparked a major career transition to tech. Today, she is a Senior Software Testing Engineer and Resource Manager at EPAM Armenia.
Discovering a new culture and embracing the challenge
After completing introductory courses, Tatevik discovered the functional testing program at EPAM Campus. She was accepted into the cohort in late 2020 and immediately found value in the expert-led, hands-on approach.
These interactive sessions deepened her understanding of functional testing concepts and provided practical insights she could apply directly to her work. She credits the supportive, approachable instructors and well-structured materials as key drivers of her success in the program.
Visiting the office for the first time changed her perspective entirely. Coming from the hotel business, she was used to strict uniforms and rigid corporate hierarchies. At EPAM, she found an environment focused entirely on results, collaboration and flexibility. “You can have a coffee in front of your computer, go home or go to the beach, but the main thing is that you do your work,” Tatevik explains.
After successfully passing her course, Tatevik faced her next major hurdle. She was assigned to a highly complex, back-end-only project. As the only manual QA on a team of highly experienced developers and automation engineers, she felt entirely out of her depth.“I felt like a baby without any experience,” she recalls. “Sometimes I felt like I was not getting what they were talking about. But one of the senior developers told me that onboarding was hard even for him. He promised that if I waited three months, I would not be upset.”
He was right. By asking questions and refusing to quit, Tatevik mastered the project. Soon, she was proudly sharing her progress with her manager, handling complex tasks and leading API testing lectures for the next wave of QA students.
Applying hospitality skills to software testing
While manual testing and hotel management seem worlds apart, Tatevik quickly realized her background gave her a unique advantage. Years of communicating with international tourists and business partners taught her patience, empathy and clear communication — skills that are essential when acting as a QA Lead and collaborating with global clients.
Interestingly, she also had previous experience evaluating software. In her final hotel role, she acted as a business approver for a new hotel management system.
“I was approving what we wanted and what was not working,” she notes. “It was essentially a QA test for that program to ensure it met business needs. When my colleagues first explained testing to me, I thought, ‘I have some signs that I should be here.’”
The power of mentorship and persistence
Tatevik credits much of her accelerated growth to her first resource manager, who constantly pushed her out of her comfort zone. Even when she felt unready, he encouraged her to take assessment sessions and trust her capabilities.
“He would tell me, ‘You should try more and it will be good,’” Tatevik says. “If I tried again and it was not successful, it just meant one more try was needed.”
Now acting as a resource manager herself, she uses those same leadership techniques to motivate her team. When advising others looking to start a career in IT, she emphasizes three critical rules:
- Find real internal motivation: Do not pursue tech solely for the salary. You need a genuine interest in the work to sustain you through difficult learning curves.
- Never give up: The path is challenging, but persistence pays off. If you face a roadblock, try again.
- Run your own race: Do not compare your progress to others. Everyone faces different environments and challenges. Focus on your own efforts and growth.
Outside of leading QA projects, Tatevik dedicates her free time to her children. Whether they are visiting parks, watching movies or reading fairy tales together, she loves experiencing childhood joy alongside them while maintaining a career she is passionate about. Looking back on her five years at EPAM, she views her bold industry pivot as a massive success.
Ready for your next step? Explore training opportunities at EPAM Campus and take the first step toward your own career transition today.
