If there’s one thing Lenka has learned after five years at GoHealth Slovakia, it’s that no two days as a QA Analyst are ever the same. One moment you’re sipping your morning coffee, the next you’re knee-deep in test results that failed overnight — and somehow, she still manages to laugh through it all. 😄 Her quick thinking, calm energy, and witty humor keep her team (and her tests) in great shape. Let’s take a look at what a typical “not-so-typical” day looks like for Lenka, our Senior QA Analyst.
Hi, I’m Lenka
I’ve been working at GoHealth for about five years now. I’d love to say my days always go as planned, but honestly… It’s quite a miracle if they do! 😄 For example, as I’m writing this, I just got an unexpected call from my teammate, and my carefully planned day went completely off track. Thanks to the universe, I’m pretty good at working in chaos and not too attached to having everything perfectly planned – which definitely helps in this kind of job.
What I enjoy the most about working here as a QA Analyst is seeing how much I’ve learned over the years and how I can use that knowledge to help my team and the people around me. It’s really rewarding to know that our work directly helps our users. Their appreciation makes all the effort worth it. Seeing the positive outcomes and the success we’ve made makes me want to share it with my family and friends… which usually turns into a bit of a comedy show. 😄
Since no one in my family or close circle is really tech-oriented, I’ve learned to explain my job in simple, relatable terms. I often use examples from everyday life or school to make it easier to understand. And trust me – explaining QA to my parents or my best friend can be a real challenge!
Morning Routine
I usually wake up around 6 a.m., go to the gym, make myself a healthy breakfast, and tidy up the kitchen… Just kidding! I’m definitely not a morning person. 😅
In reality, when I open my eyes, the first thing I do is scroll through Teams to see what’s new. I usually wake up very quickly if I spot my name tagged somewhere or notice something urgent happening – that’s my version of a morning coffee!
After that, I brush my teeth, grab my headphones, and join the first meeting of the day. Most mornings, the first thing I check is the results of automated tests. It’s a quick way to see how stable our applications are and whether any new issues have popped up overnight. And trust me, sometimes those test results can give you a mini heart attack when most of them suddenly fail – that’s like having a second coffee or an unexpected cold shower. 🚿
Starting the Workday
Once I log in, I usually start by diving into the results of the automated tests – they’re my first checkpoint for the day. Then I check the QA board in Jira to see what’s currently in progress or waiting for testing. I also keep an eye on team messages in case something urgent pops up.
My day can vary a lot – sometimes it’s calm, other times it feels like chaos everywhere. I try to plan my tasks in the morning, but I’m used to adjusting on the fly when new issues or priorities come in. I mostly work remotely, but I love going to the office once or twice a week to catch up with colleagues and soak up a bit of that team energy.
Mid-Morning / Afternoon Work
By midday, I usually have a clearer picture of how the day will unfold and can really focus. Most often, I’m either fixing specs that failed during the morning regression run or reviewing the current work on the board. Sometimes I peek into the backlog to prep for what’s coming next. It’s my little way of staying ahead of the game.
My main focus is on tickets currently in QA. For each one, I do manual verification, document everything carefully, and update specs when needed. I’m really thankful to my team – they’re proactive and often suggest spec updates themselves, which I truly appreciate 🙏.
I’ll admit, I’m a bit thorough when it comes to specs. 😅 I’m not the type of tester who enjoys repeating the same manual steps over and over – I prefer having proper automated tests in place to make regression testing efficient. That’s why I often dive deep into the specs, tidying things up and improving coverage. Sometimes I get so absorbed that I lose track of time and keep working even after hours – it’s just genuinely fascinating for me (and yes, I sometimes surprise myself with how long I can sit there).
Lunch Break
Lunch is my little daily reset – a chance to step away from the screen and recharge. On the days I’m in the office, I usually eat with colleagues. We end up chatting about everything from work stuff to totally random topics, which is always fun and gives me a fresh perspective (and sometimes a few laughs 😄). On remote days, I take a quieter break – maybe stretch, take a short walk, or just enjoy some peace and quiet. Either way, lunch helps me hit the afternoon tasks feeling refreshed and ready to tackle whatever comes next. 🍎
Evening Wrap-Up
I usually stay a bit later to finish what I started during the day – I don’t like leaving work unfinished because I find it easier to fully complete a task while I’m in the zone. On especially hectic days, I jot down notes and to-dos so I can pick up exactly where I left off the next day (otherwise my brain might explode trying to remember everything 😅).
After work, I like to unwind and recharge. That usually means watching a good series or movie, reading a book, or once a month having a tabletop gaming session with colleagues – it’s such a fun way to spend time together. We also have online gaming sessions in the evenings to blow off steam after a day of testing. One of my favorites is Deep Rock Galactic, where I get to dig some minerals and kill some bugs – it’s surprisingly therapeutic, and I highly recommend both the PC and tabletop versions! 🎮
Challenges & Rewards
I think being a QA can sometimes be more challenging than being a developer. Not that I’m saying being a developer is easy – but sometimes they focus only on “their part” and don’t think about what could be affected elsewhere. Part of being QA is also taking care to consider the bigger picture, gently nudge developers if something is missing, and remind the team of the importance of specifications. It can be demanding at times, but seeing the results of my work – or catching that tricky bug before it reaches production – is surprisingly satisfying.
One of the most rewarding parts of my work comes from both personal recognition and team success. For example, receiving the ICARE award for Resilience was such a surprise, and even better, realizing that I had been nominated by both of my leaders at the time. That felt amazing.
I also love celebrating team wins. Good chemistry and trust make challenges much easier. Recently, our team, along with a few others, delivered a really complex application in a short timeframe. Completing that project felt so good – a mix of pride, relief, and maybe a tiny happy dance behind my laptop. 💃
Some days bring breakthroughs, others bring broken tests — and that’s okay. For Lenka, what matters most is learning something new, sharing a laugh with her team, and leaving the day knowing she gave it her best. No drama, no perfection — just real work, real people, and the occasional happy dance when everything finally passes.
