From Workday to Digital Services: moving roles
"Becoming a Business Analyst was always something that interested me. I knew that at some stage in my career, I would explore moving into the role."
I’m Emma and I have been at Kainos for 3 years. Until recently, I worked as a Test Consultant within the Smart Onboarding team. My key role was to automate testing of our client’s Workday configuration using the Smart tool. As I progressed in my role, I also became a Technical Lead for security testing within Smart.
What motivated you to make the move to Product?
Before joining Kainos, I worked as a Software Engineer. During this time, I got to work closely with Business Analysts, and I was always intrigued by their role in project delivery. I liked the idea of being involved in the project from the start and seeing it through to the end.
One of the main things that attracted me to the BA role was getting the opportunity to build relationships with stakeholders and various internal teams within the project. This would give me the chance to have diverse conversations at each stage of the project with different people.
No two days ever seemed to be the same in a product role. I liked the idea of being able to explore new skills, tools, and techniques on a daily basis.
I knew that to be a strong BA, effective stakeholder management skills were essential. This was an area where I needed some improvement. In my previous role, I was responsible for leading projects independently. This also meant managing stakeholders and their expectations. After realising that I was capable of this, it confirmed that the Business Analyst role would be a natural next step for me.
Thanks to the flexibility at Kainos, I was able to explore opportunities within the Product capability and I joined the BA Academy in March 2022.
What do you enjoy most about your new role?
My favourite thing about my role is seeing the product come to life - from collaborating with stakeholders about their vision to the final product. It is really satisfying to see the concept come full circle. I am proud to play a role in delivering products that will benefit so many people.
How was the transition between Business Units?
The move was very seamless. The Product capability have been great at helping to kick start my new career.
Before starting any project work, I received 4 weeks training in the BA Academy. The Academy was great as it gave me an introduction to the role. It also provided training on the essential skills and techniques required to be a strong Business Analyst.
Having made the move from Workday, I did not know anyone within the Digital Services BU. The BA Academy allowed me to form relationships with my colleagues (who also joined the Academy) and with senior product people within the capability.
I have a great support system to help me in my new venture. Not only do I have a people manager, but I also have a buddy, and senior Product Consultants on my project that I can reach out to for guidance.
When I made the decision to move business units, everyone within Workday and Smart were supportive of my choice to change roles. It was great knowing that I had their encouragement and that there were no hard feelings about moving on.
Kainos is a wonderful place to work. I am very thankful that I had the opportunity to remain in the company and pursue a new career path.
What advice would you give to someone considering a move to or within Kainos?
If you are thinking about moving to a new role within Kainos, take a look at the internal opportunities posted on Workday. If you think another role within the business is best suited to you, you can reach out to the recruitment team for more information.
If you are thinking about joining Kainos, I could not recommend the company more. You will be surrounded by great people and have great opportunities, both professionally and personally. Keep an eye on the Kainos careers website and LinkedIn page for roles, and feel free to reach out to Kainos employees with any questions.