TEELE LÕHMUS
How did your career in the IT field begin?
I was often among the first to complete computer assignments in high school. After graduation, I wasn’t quite sure about what to do next, so I went to Sweden and became an au pair. Almost a year later, I applied to some Estonian universities, but nothing clicked. That’s when I talked to Sander (Laadi). Since he had already been studying IT, I asked him about his experiences, and he highly recommended it. I applied to the IT College and got accepted.
A fun fact: Teele has been studying alongside three Tuumsters — Sander in elementary school, Rain in middle school, and Rivo and Sander during university.
How did you find Tuum, or how did Tuum find you?
My first job in IT involved testing mobile applications for Nokia. At that time, they still held a significant market share. However, as technology evolved, opportunities shifted, and I found myself exploring new paths. Transitioning from my first job to Tuum wasn’t immediate — it took some time to find the right fit here.
The first time, I was invited to join Icefire (a company also founded by Tuum’s co-founders), but nothing materialised at that time since I had already signed a contract for a new job elsewhere. A year later, my friend reached out to me and invited me to join Tuum. However, they were seeking an automation specialist, and since it didn’t resonate with me, I respectfully declined. On the third occasion, I proactively reached out to myself. There was an opening, and now I’m thrilled to be a part of Tuum.
You are a QA in the Loans team, but could you tell us about your role as a Quality Assurance Lead?
I also had a managerial role in my previous job, and I really loved it. I enjoy being in the QA lead role. I ensure that all QAs have a common understanding of our processes. So that they know how we should test different things, solve problems, mitigate risks, set priorities, and improve product quality. I support them so they can do their job well. When bigger tasks are in testing that involve multiple teams, I also help with communication, and I keep an eye on the process so that nothing falls between the cracks.
I really appreciate the QA role in the loans team as well. Working inside the team and helping with testing has given me a better understanding of the pain points and places and what we should improve. There can be some challenges, but overall, I think there is a solution to every problem and pain point. You just have to find it.
In your opinion, what are the most crucial qualities or skills needed to excel in quality assurance?
Many things :) Diplomacy — since you need to communicate with many people. Good communication skills play a vital role not only in the QA position but everywhere. They will prevent many problems and misunderstandings, saving a lot of time for all the parties involved. Problem-solving skills — there’s never a reason to panic. Analytical thinking and time management are important because there can be many tasks on the table simultaneously. The ability to ask questions and the courage to doubt systems that are already in place. When it comes to courage, it is learnable, as is self-assertiveness.
If you could create a mascot for the quality assurance team, what would it be and why?
I’m torn between two animals and couldn’t decide — an ant or a dolphin. Originally, I thought of a chameleon because QA must be able to adapt to any situation, but chameleons are not team players. They operate alone, so that was scrapped. Ants can handle both solo and teamwork. They are very hardworking, have an eye for detail and can optimise. With dolphins, I immediately thought of teamwork, and when they surf the seas, we surf in the systems and try to find bugs. So, it’s an antdolphin with a touch of a chameleon.
What’s the most memorable vacation you’ve ever taken, and what made it special?
I love to travel, but I haven’t counted how many countries I have visited—definitely not as many as some other people at Tuum. The most memorable one that came to my mind was during the first wave of COVID-19, when I decided to go to Gran Canaria with a friend for two weeks. We worked in the morning and enjoyed free time in the evening. The time difference was perfect, and the infection rate was much lower there, so I’m really glad we had the opportunity to go.
If you could magically learn any (programming) language overnight, which one would you choose and why?
Latvian, it flows so beautifully. But I haven’t taken any steps towards learning it, it’s just a nice dream.
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