Internal Mobility: Reece Wakefield

Career development can take many different forms, from building new skills and confidence to discovering opportunities you may not have originally considered.

At Tracsis, we want people to feel supported in shaping a career that works for them. That means encouraging internal mobility, creating opportunities to grow, and helping colleagues take on new challenges as their skills and ambitions develop.

For Reece Wakefield, Senior Test Engineer, that support has helped shape a career journey that looks very different from the one he first imagined. More than eight years after joining Tracsis as an Apprentice Software Developer, Reece reflects on his move into software testing, the people who supported him along the way and the experiences that have helped him progress.

1. How has your career evolved since joining Tracsis?

I joined Tracsis over eight years ago as an Apprentice Software Developer, and since then my career has evolved in a direction I didn’t initially expect. Over the past 8 years and 2 months, I’ve progressed from Apprentice Software Developer to Junior Software Tester, then Software Tester, and now Senior Test Engineer.

Each move has given me the opportunity to learn new skills, take on different challenges and broaden my understanding of the business and the software development lifecycle. I’ve always been attracted to opportunities where I can continue learning, work alongside a strong team and add value to the organisation.

2. What made you realise you were ready for your next challenge?

A big turning point for me was working on P4D in 2021 when I was still a Junior Tester. It was a massive project that required a lot of time, commitment and hard work. Getting it over the line was a huge achievement and gave me a lot of confidence in my abilities. It also helped me progress from junior to mid-level relatively quickly.

My previous manager also played an important role in my development. She helped me get into software testing when I was struggling to find my way into software development and gave me the confidence to recognise that testing was an area where I could really contribute and develop.

As I looked towards my next challenge, I was excited by the opportunity to develop my leadership skills, take on greater responsibility and have a bigger impact on the quality of our product. I’m particularly keen to continue developing my automation skills and am currently learning more in my spare time.

3. What support did you receive during your transition?

The support I’ve received from the people around me has been a huge part of my development.  The managers I’ve worked under in test, have been crucial in helping me progress. They’ve pushed me to reach my potential while giving me opportunities to take on greater responsibility and challenge myself.

I’ve also had a lot of support from colleagues throughout my career. When I was struggling with my software development apprenticeship, several of my Tracsis colleagues took the time to help and guide me through it. Their support made a real difference and helped me complete my apprenticeship.

It’s difficult to pick out names because I’ve had support from people across Tracsis throughout my career. Everyone I’ve worked with has contributed in some way to my learning and development, and I’m really grateful for the opportunities, guidance and encouragement I’ve received.

Most of my development has come through practical experience rather than formal training. Moving into testing allowed me to learn in a way that suited me better by taking on new challenges, gaining hands-on experience and learning from mistakes.

4. What are you most proud of achieving in your new role so far?

One of the things I’m most proud of is helping to get several large and challenging projects over the line, including P4D, APS and SWPV4 (Supply Chain). Each project brought its own challenges and required a lot of commitment, collaboration and perseverance, so seeing them through to successful delivery has been a really rewarding part of my career.

I’m also proud of passing my ISTQB Foundation exam, which I completed in my spare time. It was something I wanted to achieve to strengthen my knowledge as a tester, so passing it was particularly rewarding.

One thing I’ve learned through taking on more responsibility is that I handle pressure much better than I ever thought I could. The most rewarding part of the role is ultimately delivering quality products. I genuinely enjoy finding issues and working closely with developers to understand and resolve them.

5. Why would you encourage someone to explore opportunities internally?

I’d encourage anyone considering an internal move not to be afraid to put themselves forward. Believe in what you’re capable of achieving and be willing to take on opportunities that allow you to build your skills and experience, even if they feel outside your comfort zone.

Changing roles within the business has helped me develop both professionally and personally. It’s increased my confidence, helped me understand my strengths and given me a much greater appreciation of the importance of teamwork and supporting the people around you.

For anyone nervous about applying for a new role, I’d say that stepping outside your comfort zone can be daunting, but it can also be where some of the best career development happens. You don’t always have to feel completely ready before taking the next step. Sometimes taking the opportunity is what gives you the chance to learn.

Grow your career with Tracsis

Reece’s journey is a great example of how careers can grow and evolve when people are given the opportunity and support to explore new directions.

At Tracsis, we always strive for colleagues to feel encouraged, develop their skills, take on new challenges and consider opportunities across the business. Experiences like Reece’s show the value of having supportive people around you, being open to change and having the confidence to take the next step when the right opportunity comes along.

Take a look at our current opportunities.