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Author: Zuzana Kocáková

At msg life Slovakia I take care of the company culture, events and I am part of the marketing team. I like a job where I can be creative and contribute to making my colleagues at msg feel good. I regularly prepare for you not only news and interesting things from the world of information technology and insurance, but also from behind the scenes events at msg life Slovakia.

How to successfully keep a New Year’s resolution?

Posted on by Zuzana Kocáková

What’s behind the failure of New Year’s resolutions and how to successfully keep them.A new year, a clean slate, another 12 months to improve your life. And just like every year, now it’s seriously going to happen. And you know what? It will! Especially if you approach resolutions rationally.

Why resolutions fail

Do you make a habit of going all out with resolutions and big life changes? You run the risk of failing. Not because having high ambitions and working towards them is bad. But this approach is less realistic and few people succeed in making too big a change on the first try.

Far more important is the consistency of your efforts. Instead of changing your bad habits in the first month of the year, try to make the change last for the long term. More importantly, don’t be discouraged by potential setbacks.

Behind the discouragement is the psychological effect of resignation. If you break a resolution, you may feel that the effort is “reset” and you have to start over. Perpetual starts are frustrating; no one wants to start all over again. But think about this: if you don’t brush your teeth once, are you going to neglect clean teeth for life? Or you don’t keep a party and you only sleep 6 hours instead of 8. Will you tell yourself that sleep is no longer important?

The phenomenon of resignation can be illustrated by the most common New Year’s resolution of both Slovaks and Czechs – to lose weight and eat healthier. According to the STEM/MARK survey:

  • For 26% of respondents, only a few days,
  • for 23% of respondents, 3 months,
  • for 22% of them, a month,
  • For only 7%, a year.

Lukáš Roubík, nutritional consultant, trainer, bodybuilder and co-founder of the Institute of Modern Nutrition, has been busting myths in nutrition for a long time and his recommendation is clear: it’s the effort all year round that counts, not a single rule-breaking.

 

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A post shared by Lukáš Roubík (@lukasroubik)

The psychological and biochemical effect of finishing things

Having too many things on your mind is neither good for your mental state nor for your work efficiency. It’s even one of the paths to burnout (read our article When it’s time to change jobs). The problem can arise with tasks, or in this case, resolutions, that we can’t complete anytime soon. In psychology, this is called completion bias, or task completion bias, and it affects us all.

Harvard Business School examined how completing work tasks affected the motivation and satisfaction of 500 employees from different segments. Employees who started their day with simple subtasks were the most satisfied and motivated.

Our brains are addicted to completing tasks. Every task we check off gives us a dose of dopamine, which we need much more than in the past when overwhelmed with sensory information from social networks. A good tip for keeping, or rather maintaining, your resolutions would be: break them down into sub-tasks and goals.

the hand holding the pen on the table writes to do list by the keyboard and the cup of tea
Break tasks into sub-goals so you can complete them more easily.

Try Kaizen

Kaizen, Japanese for “change for the better”, is a method, philosophy, or even a management technique of gradual improvement. You can apply it to your work and your personal life. As a Java programmer, for example, you want to do things more efficiently, procrastinate less, or have more order in your priorities. If you could increase your efficiency by 1% every day of the year, you’d be 365% more efficient at the end of the year.

The method originated in the 1950s as a form of lean approach to productivity management at Japan’s Toyota. It spread to the West, where the Kaizen Institute was later established to help companies adopt lean management best practices.

Kaizen is defined by continuous improvement, which is something you are no stranger to as a tester or developer thanks to continuous integration and delivery. Among its basic principles you will find:

  • Instant problem solving,
  • The realization that there is still room for improvement,
  • Take improvement as the goal, not perfection.

So before you decide to abandon your resolutions after the first burger and fries or the first missed deadline of the year, give yourself a break for a while. See things from a different perspective and try to find solutions. Next time, have a burger without fries and delegate some of the bag to a colleague with spare capacity. It may not be a 100% improvement, but you’ll still be better than you were yesterday. And that’s what counts.

If you’re looking for a job change in the new year and would like to go into IT, check out our vacancies, where you’ll also find jobs for people with no previous IT experience (e.g. IT tester consultant).

8 ways to make your new year better

Posted on by Zuzana Kocáková

Inspiration for a successful new year. Project 2023 begins. Enter it with positivity and determination to make it as successful as possible. We have some tips for you on what to focus on.

1. Choose your physical activity

The pandemic and lockdown have cut many of us off from physical activity. A normal day used to include so-called non-exercise activity, such as walking, climbing stairs, lifting and moving objects. With covid having caused a digital shift in the job market by more than five years, the situation may not change for the better at all, which is why it is important to indulge in movement. This does not mean work hard at the gym for six-pack and crying over romaine lettuce drizzled with pumpkin seed oil. Physical activity and movement are important for our physical and mental well-being. It can be varied and contributes to overall physical and mental well-being. It includes activities such as running, swimming, cycling, aerobic exercise, weight training. Treat yourself to a few long walks each week with (or without) the dog, gardening or other forms of physical activity. It is important for individuals to engage in regular physical activity as it has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, muscle mass, bones, metabolism and mental health and stress.

2. Approach mental health responsibly

When to go to a psychologist? You don’t have to be on the brink of depression or burnout. Nor do you go to the dentist when all your teeth are falling out, or to the doctor when your body hasn’t taken in nutrients from your diet for half a year. Some problems are dealt with preventively, by prophylaxis. At a meeting with a specialist, you will learn what to do for your mental well-being. It is very likely that most of the time you will be doing the talking. You may find that something is bothering you subconsciously or that you are neglecting something.

3. Get enough sleep

Sleep is too often neglected – for work, for partying, but also for early workouts and late movies. Healthy sleep has a huge impact on your mental health and improves your physical fitness, which is a key factor in maintaining overall health and well-being. When asked about healthy sleep and how many hours of sleep is recommended, this can vary depending on age, an individual’s physiological need and lifestyle. Someone needs seven hours, another requires nine, and there is a certain percentage of people in the population who only need a few hours and can function almost unaffected. The rest of us, however, suffer from sleep deprivation and it can take a toll on our perception, coordination, and judgment. In essence, sleep deprivation is very similar to drunkenness. Some tips on how to sleep better:

  • Try not to look at the screen for at least an hour before bed, both because of the light and the dopamine.
  • Between 10PM and 3AM limit your exposure to strong light, which blocks the production of melatonin.
  • In the evening, use lighting below eye level, minimize using large chandelier lights.
  • Go to bed at the same hour. The body responds to a regular rhythm, and if you keep changing your bedtime, it gets confused.
  • Do not eat before bedtime. Not because it makes you fat, a calorie is a calorie at any hour of the day. More importantly, the body will work on digestion and get less rest.

Equally important are healthy sleeping positions, which can contribute significantly to a comfortable and good quality sleep, minimize the risk of neck or back pain and ensure that all parts of the body are adequately circulated. In addition, we definitely recommend you read Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep for even more tips on how to get your sleep routine right. However, you’d better not stay up too late because of it!

man sleeping in bed
Get enough healthy sleep – you will be feeling better.

4. Set aside time for conscious thinking

We all think – without it, we couldn’t do most things in our lives. However, the more often we do an activity, the faster it becomes automated. This phenomenon was described in Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman using System 1 and System 2. There are two types of thinking – one is precise, slow, cautious, the other is automated, abbreviated, efficient. Our brains try to save us time, but many times this effort is counterproductive – for example, when we have little information and the brain tries to cobble it together from previous (sometimes unrelated) experiences. So set aside time to think without sensory perceptions. Engage with your thoughts for at least half an hour a day and see where they take you. You can use this approach in work projects and personal challenges.

5. Change the job that is killing you

Going to work reluctantly is exhausting. Even the simplest tasks become difficult without motivation because it takes forever to start them. But before you decide to change jobs, check out the advice from the experts at Power Coaching. You may find that a change in mindset or reprogramming is needed to be satisfied. Mind reprogramming is the process of changing or modifying existing thought patterns, beliefs, and habits in order to bring about positive changes in behavior, performance, and quality of life. Mind programming is often used in the fields of personal development and psychology. However, if you can’t do it without changing your job, it’s time for a good dose of courage – not only to change your job, but also to change the field in which you work. Did you know that many people at msg life Slovakia had no previous experience of working in IT? Many of our colleagues first worked in logistics, finance, public administration, some even as scientists. But they decided to try their luck and it worked out, because every smart person gets a chance here. Check out our job offers and read stories about our team.

Job

Project Technical Lead

Young man in blue shirt IT technical project manager
Apply now

6. Learn a foreign language

Learning a new language develops your associative skills. You compare the new language with your native language or other languages you know. You find connections between them, your view of familiar objects, phenomena and situations changes. You discover new ways, because the beauty of language as a means of communication is that it offers multiple possibilities to convey one meaning. There are, of course, pragmatic reasons to learn a foreign language. One of them is work. By learning a foreign language, you increase your chances of finding a job in the job market. Many of our colleagues had no IT experience before joining us, but thanks to their knowledge of German, they quickly found a job. If you want to develop your language skills, there’s nothing easier than choosing one of the language courses available online:

Duolingo, a language learning app with gamified lessons and a rewards system, is a great way to get you started.

7. Expand your skills

New skills will enrich your life, broaden your scope, give you a competitive edge, new enthusiasm for work, opportunities to relax, explore, spend your free time… And we could go on forever. Learning something new is never a bad idea. There are plenty of online and offline courses, groups and associations or mentors available to help you develop skills in a new area or discover your hidden talents. When we write about skillsets, we don’t always think of the working. We also have a life skill set. Are you interested in coffee and want to be able to make it in a way that will “blow visitors’ minds”? Take a barista course and learn all about filter coffee or espresso and the highest quality coffee beans.

the barista pours milk into a cup of coffee in the kitchen and the barista in the background prepares the coffee in the coffee machine
Expand your skills with a barista course

8. Mind comfort zone and its consequences

The mental comfort zone refers to a psychological state in which a person feels comfortable and secure while avoiding situations that might be stressful or unfamiliar. It is the idea of living in the setting that everything will go smoothly and in order. Staying in a mental comfort zone can have a variety of consequences that affect an individual’s personal and professional development. Some of the possible consequences include limited personal growth, loss of opportunities, repetition of behavioural patterns, impaired mental health and stress. The challenge is to get out of our comfort zone and open ourselves up to new experiences and challenges. This doesn’t have to mean immediately throwing ourselves into new experiences or projects. It may also have to do with anticipating the challenges we are preparing for. Adapt Alan Watts’ idea of the law of opposites. By accepting a negative experience, you make it a positive experience. If you accept the negative, you can learn from the situation, analyze it, and take steps to prevent it from happening again. We hope that this year will be a successful one for you in both your work and personal life. Don’t be afraid of change, it’s usually worth it. If you’re thinking about working in IT, our employee benefits may also inspire you!

Christmas movies and Christmas series, the classics that will make your festive season more enjoyable

Posted on by Zuzana Kocáková

Here’s a list of Christmas-themed movies. If you’re not just skiing, cross-country skiing or sledding during Christmas, you’ll definitely spend some time in front of the TV screen. It’s nice to have a plan so your bing watching doesn’t end up with two hours of browsing streaming service offerings. That’s why we’ve created the perfect list of Christmas movie classics.

MOVIES FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

Home Alone

Available on Disney+ Kevin’s ingenuity would have made him an excellent tester if he hadn’t decided to fight crime in a very sophisticated way. If you’re used to Slovak dubbing, streaming via Disney+ will disappoint you, you’ll only find the Czech localization. But you can count on Slovak TV, you’ll definitely catch one of its many Christmas reruns.

Christmas Vacation

Available on Netflix (until November 30) Chevy Chase’s unreadable pouting face, ungrateful family members, and a Christmas when everything that can go wrong does go wrong. A Christmas movie classic for a weekend afternoon. Unfortunately, Netflix decided to remove it from its film offer for our country just before the season, so… VPN?

Gremlins

Available on HBO Max Don’t expose them to light. Don’t soak them. And for the life of you, don’t let them eat meat after midnight. We don’t mean carollers, we mean gremlins! Although this is not really mutually exclusive. A Christmas horror comedy, or the perfect mix for a festive frosty night under the covers. If you give Gremlins a chance, take note of the backdrop of the town and city hall. Do they look familiar? It’s possible – because they’re the same as in Back to the Future!

The Nightmare before Christmas

Available on Disney+ A little bit Halloween, a little bit Christmas, 100 percent Selick-Burton. The Nightmare Before Christmas is a seasonal flexible cartoon that for some reason has become a cult thing, especially in emo culture. Whether you paint your nails black or not, it doesn’t stop you from watching. We’re pairing this pick with another Burton classic, Edward Scissorhands.

Deathtrap

Available on Disney+ A corporate party in a skyscraper, robbers faking a terrorist attack and a lone hero in a ventilation shaft. What could be more Christmassy than Bruce Willis lighting his lighter in the dark. Silent night, holy night, and popcorn to boot. Or gingerbread, we leave that up to you.

Batman Returns

Available on HBO Max It looks like Tim Burton is the most represented filmmaker on this list. He manages to blend dark settings with Christmas atmosphere. In the case of Batman, it’s the first and only comic book movie on this list. Feast your eyes on some dirty Gotham snow and Michael Keaton in a very uncomfortable costume.

Cosy Dens

Available on Netflix, HBO Max A modern classic with Czech “witty” catchphrases and a throwback to a past that most of our colleagues haven’t experienced. There’s comedy, there’s drama, there’s Christmas. So get your bed ready, turn on Cosy Dens and don’t forget the “pickled cucumbers”.

I Enjoy the World with You

Julo Satinsky is speaking to us from the ads this Christmas via AI and deep fake technology. But we can also remember him in other ways than by promoting banking products and services. I Enjoy the World with You is a cult comedy, with iconic catchphrases, lots of snow and romance in the form of a cottage with no water, electricity or flushing toilet. Old but gold.

CHRISTMAS SERIES

Black Books

3 series, 18 episodes For many people, and especially bookworms, this is the pinnacle of the Britcom scene (British comedy series). Comedian Dylan Moran stars in this short series as the misanthropic Bernard Black, a bookshop owner. He is complemented excellently by the characters of his companions, the relationally frustrated Fran and the life-challenged Manny. Prepare for increased consumption of mulled wine.

Sherlock

4 seasons, 15 episodes, available on HBO Max The phenomenal Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman have shown the world that even a remake of a historical classic, in a TV production, can turn out to be a AAA quality series. Be warned, the series may only have 15 episodes, but the runtime per episode is cinematic, approximately 90 minutes. That’s nearly 18 hours in total. We’ll leave it up to you to decide if this would be time well invested – but you definitely won’t be bored.

The IT Crowd

5 seasons, 25 episodes, available on Netflix A thematic classic you’re probably familiar with since you’re in the IT industry. The trio of Moss, Roy and Jen will entertain you with their British humour and accents over 25 episodes, if you decide to watch the series in the original language. It’s definitely worth it.

The Office

9 series, 188 episodes, available on Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video Mockumentary, the satirical “documentary” series The Office was originally created as a British mini-series under the direction of Ricky Gervais. The British original has 14 episodes split in 2 series, but we recommend you check out the American remake as well. The awkward humour of the unvarnished boss of a branch of a wholesale paper and stationery company is just… awkward. But once you get a taste of it, you won’t want any other kind of humour. “That’s what she said.”

The Office Christmas Special:

  • series, episode 10
  • series, episode 10
  • series, episode 11
  • series, episode 11
  • series, episode 13
  • series, episode 11
  • series, episode 12
  • series, episode 10
  • series, episode 9

Friends

10 seasons, 235 episodes, available on HBO Max You won’t be able to get through all the Friends episodes over the holidays (at least we hope not), but this selection might help. You probably know them by heart anyway, so the time jumps won’t be that much of a problem.

Friends Christmas Special:

  • series, episode 9
  • series, episode 10
  • series, episode 10
  • series, episode 10
  • series, episode 10
  • series, episode 10
  • series, episode 11
  • series, episode 10

Turn off the PC and the head

The motto of this holiday season will be to relax and try to at least do a partial digital detox. Take a break from work for a while, enjoy your time off and improve your work life balance. It’s good for the head and if you don’t increase your calorie intake, hopefully it’s good for the body too.

Selenium testing – a tool to automate web application testing

Posted on by Zuzana Kocáková

Selenium testing enables fast and repeatable testing of web applications. Currently, there are several tools for testing browser web applications, one of which is the Selenium test. What are its advantages and why should you know how to use it? Testing is definitely one of the most important parts of software and application development. An IT tester consultant or specialist, checks that everything is working as it should and that the user doesn’t accidentally run into an error that could limit their use of the application.

What is Selenium?

Selenium or Selenium testing is a free (open-source) framework for automated testing. Selenium is used for testing web applications in different browsers and on different platforms. Selenium testing has several tools designed for testing, each of which targets different specific needs. These include tools such as:

  • Selenium WebDriver. It’s an interface for writing instructions that work with each other in different browsers. This is implemented through a browser driver (browser-specific) that sends commands to the browser and gets results. Currently, Selenium WebDriver is merged with Selenium RC into a common framework and together they form Selenium 2.
  • Selenium IDE. It is a complete integrated development environment (IDE) for Selenium testing. It allows recording, editing and debugging functional tests. Scripts are recorded in Selenese, a special test scripting language for Selenium. Selenese provides commands to perform actions in the browser (click a link, select an option) and to retrieve data from the resulting pages.
  • Selenium Grid. It is a server that allows tests to use web browser instances running on remote machines. It acts as a center (or hub) that tests contact to access browser instances. The hub has a list of servers that provide access to browser instances (WebDriver nodes) and allows tests to use these instances. Selenium Grid allows tests to run in parallel on multiple machines and centrally manage different browser versions and browser configurations (instead of setting them up for each individual test). This is a useful solution in terms of spreading the test load over multiple computers and compatibility, i.e. the possibility of running tests in browsers running on different platforms or operating systems.

One of Selenium benefits is that it supports multiple programming languages which include Java programming language, C#, Python, PHP and many more.

Did you know that…

… The name ‘Selenium’ was initially just a joke that the founder, Jason Huggins, told his team. While Selenium was being developed, Mercury Interactive was developing another popular automated testing tool. Since selenium is a known antidote for mercury poisoning, Jason suggested that their tool be called Selenium. His team liked the name and started using it.

Selenium IDE – the ideal tool for simple tests

Selenium IDE is the simplest tool in the Selenium package, making it ideal for beginners. It is a plug-in for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox that you can easily install along with other add-ons. However, Selenium IDE is only used for simple tests. If you want to do advanced tests, you’ll need to download Selenium WebDriver. Among browsers, the IDE supports the aforementioned Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, and among operating systems, Windows, Mac OS and Linux.

Group of Selenium testers working with Selenium IDE
Selenium IDE is suitable for simple tests

How Selenium IDE works?

First you need to download the Selenium tester. Then open one of the browsers, for example Firefox, click on the menu in the top right corner and then click on Add-ons. Select Find more add-ons, where you type Selenium IDE. Finally, just click Add to Firefox and you’re done. Once installed, the Selenium IDE icon will appear in the top right corner of your browser. When you click on it, you will see a welcome message. After closing it, create a new test for a new project. First, enter a project name and a valid URL. Once you have entered it, you can run the test. When the test is finished, don’t forget to save your work. Click on the small floppy disk in the upper right corner of the tool. Once clicked, you will be presented with a choice of where you can save the project. Select a location and save the file. You should have a file with the extension .side on your desktop or in the folder where you saved the test. Selenium IDE is a tool that does not require any complicated installation. For other tools, the whole process is a bit more complicated. Summary:

Selenium IDE is great for creating simple test cases and packages with little or no prior programming knowledge that can be exported to RC or WebDriver in a variety of formats.

Selenium WebDriver – a more stable testing approach

Selenium WebDriver provides a more modern and robust approach to test automation. Unlike RC, it does not rely on JavaScript for testing. It controls the browser by interacting with it directly. It supports the same programming languages as RC. Of the browsers it supports:

  • Internet Explorer, versions 6 to 11,
  • Microsoft Edge, version 12.10240 and above,
  • Firefox 3.0 and above,
  • Google Chrome 12.0 and above,
  • Opera 11.5 and above,
  • Android 2.3 and above,
  • iOS 3.0 and above for phones and 3.2 and above for tablets,
  • HtmlUnit 2.9 and above.

Of the operating systems, it supports all the browsers listed above.

How to use Selenium WebDriver?

First you need to download and install Java 8 or newer version. Then install the latest version of Eclipse IDE. Double click to open the downloaded file, which should be in zip format. Of all the files that are in the zip file, click on Eclipse. After clicking on Eclipse, select the directory where you want to save all your projects and click on the Launch icon. Then download the Selenium WebDriver Java Client consisting of the JAR files you will need to configure with the Eclipse IDE. In Eclipse, create a new project, enter a name and select the JRE you want to use. Then select the Project layout and click Finish. In the next step, right-click on the newly created project. Select New and Package. When you click, a popup window will appear where you enter the package name and click Finish. Then right click on the new package you made, select New and Class. A new window will pop up where you enter the name of the class and click Finish. Next, you need to solve what’s called the Java Build Path. Right-click on your project and select Properties. In the window that opens, click on Java Build Path, select Libraries and Add External JARs. When you click this option, a new window will open. Select the folder where you saved the JAR files. First, select the ones that should start with the name client. Then open the window again and click on the folder called libs. There you will find several files with the .jar extension. Select them all. When you’re done, just click the Apply and Close button. You have now successfully configured WebDriver with the Eclipse IDE. Now you can go ahead and create your first test. Summary:

To create customized test results, to test applications that are rich in AJAX-based features.

When designing a test case, use requires some knowledge of the programming language.

Selenium RC – also suitable for complicated tests

Selenium RC was for a long time the flagship of the entire Selenium range. It was the first automated web-based testing tool that allowed users to apply a programming language to their needs. As of version 2.25.0, RC supports the following programming languages:

  • Java,
  • C#,
  • PHP,
  • Python,
  • Perl,
  • Ruby.

What is the purpose of the Selenium Python tool combination?

The implementation of Selenium using Python programming language is designed to automate web application testing. This approach allows the creation of automation scripts in Python that drive a web browser and perform various test scenarios or website interaction tasks. The “Selenium Python” use case allows you to combine the power of Selenium automation testing for web test automation with the flexibility and simplicity of Python. Selenium testing enables the creation of automated tests that can be run repeatedly, allowing automated verification that a web application is working properly. It creates test scripts that perform various actions such as clicks, filling out forms, navigating between pages and verifying expected web application behavior. This way, you can create robust and flexible tests, simplify repeatable testing tasks and increase the efficiency of the development process for the aforementioned web applications.

What do we use the Selenium Java tool combination for?

Using the popular combination of Java with Selenium programming language to program and test web applications can be easy, but it depends on several factors such as experience with Java programming and being familiar with web browser automation concepts. The powerful combination of “Selenium using Java” represents a significant purposeful combination of tools that is widely used and multi-purpose for the following purposes:

  • Test frameworks,
  • Page Object Model (POM),
  • Integration into the CI/CD Pipeline process,
  • Web Application Development and Debugging.

It is also possible to use Selenium Jenkins with an open-source tool for automated downloading (continuous integration), the process of merging code changes, automatically testing and compiling them from multiple contributors into a single software project. Likewise, in combination with other tools such as Selenium Maven, Selenium Kubernetes, Selenium Kotlin and many others used for specific testing purposes. Summary:

Selenium Grid can be used to create more complex tests using Selenese language, then to test web applications that are based on AJAX technology. Selenium Grid is also used to deploy tests in a variety of environments.

Selenium tester uses Selenium RC for more demanding tests
Selenium RC is faster than IDE

Selenium Grid – the best for parallel testing

Selenium Grid is used to run parallel tests on different computers and browsers at the same time. This is all done thanks to the Selenium standalone server application that runs on Java, which saves time and speeds up the whole process. It’s not complicated to use, but you do need some programming experience to use it.

How to use Selenium Grid?

Before using Selenium Grid, you must download the Selenium Server Standalone package. This package contains the Hub, WebDriver and RC that is required to run the Grid. In addition, remember that you need to have Java installed and configured to run Selenium Grid. In the next step, you need to set up the Selenium Hub, which is the central point in the Selenium Grid. It receives requests from the client and is used to route JSON test commands. You start the Hub by opening a command prompt and using the command java -jar selenium-server-standalone-<version>.jar -role hub to navigate to the directory where the Standalone Selenium Server JAR file is stored. This will start the Hub by default. Then you just need to configure the Selenium Grid and start using it in browsers. Summary:

Run Selenium RC scripts in multiple browsers and operating systems at the same time.

Also suitable for running test suites in parallel that need to be completed in the shortest possible time.

Why use Selenium testing for automated software testing?

A tester of software like Selenium has many advantages for any programmer. By automatically testing applications, it saves you a lot of work that you would have to do manually. Another big plus of Selenium IT tester compared to other testers is that it provides some interesting tools. You can use these according to your experience, for example as a Java developer or depending on what you are currently working on.

Job

Tosca Tester

Mladá žena tosca testerka v žltej košeli pracuje za počítačom
Apply now

Who is behind the creation of Selenium?

Selenium is an instrument with a rather long history. It was created in 2004 by Jason Huggins. He was working on a web application that required frequent testing. After a short time, he realized that repeated manual testing was inefficient, so he created a Javascript program that automatically controlled browser actions. He called this program JavaScript Test Runner. Huggins saw the potential in this tool, so he made it an open-source tool, which he later renamed Selenium Core. However, Selenium doesn’t have just one founder. Since it is a collection of multiple tools, there are other people associated with their creation.

  • Selenium RC. The tool was initially called Selenium Remote Control or Selenium 1 and was developed by Paul Hammant. It was later merged with Selenium WebDriver to form Selenium 2.
  • Selenium Grid. The tool was developed by Patrick Lightbody, who addressed the need to minimize test execution times as much as possible. His first system was called Hosted QA and was able to capture screenshots of the browser during significant phases of testing.
  • Selenium IDE. The tool was created by Shinya Kasatani as a Firefox extension that can automate the browser and speed up the entire testing process.
  • Selenium WebDriver. The tool was created by Simon Stewart in 2006. It was the first cross-platform framework that could control the browser at the OS level.

Try Selenium testing too

Selenium testing is a great tool that helps you automate web application testing. If you don’t have much experience, start with Selenium IDE tool that just needs to be installed in your browser. When that’s not enough, move on to other versions suitable for experienced programmers. Controlling an automated testing tool like Selenium opens the door to interesting job offers. Learn how to use it and kick-start your career in the IT world!

The 5 best Christmas IT gifts you can give

Posted on by Zuzana Kocáková

It can be challenging to choose the right christmas gift for developers. What do you think is the best gift for programmers or someone with a passion for IT? We’ve got some tips for Christmas IT gifts to make your Christmas shopping easier. From a certain time – usually early October – it’s almost impossible to avoid the Christmas ads and offers for Christmas presents. Most of them are, of course, completely irrelevant. Luckily, we’ve got better recommendations for you.

Get inspired by our list of Christmas IT gifts!

Give a voucher for your PC service

Get over it. If you work as a Java Programmer, DevOps Engineer, or simply a nitpicker, to most people in your family you’re a computer engineer. Someone who knows their way around computers can install operating systems and apps or flip contacts from one smartphone to another. Possibly erase registries, fix libraries, swap a ram here and there.

Give a subscription to dTest magazine

The dTest magazine is a valuable periodical that is particularly popular with older people. A wide range of tested products, debunking some myths based on advertisements, recommending more suitable products and services. In a time of hoaxes, half-truths and unethical advertising, which particularly affect the older generation, relying on a trustworthy consumer test is an option.

Give IT courses

Many people are worried that AI will steal our jobs. But artificial intelligence and machine learning don’t come about on their own. They still need to be corrected, given inputs, boundaries, and sometimes simply shut down because they don’t work properly. However, this is not what the layman understands. If computer literacy grows, so will employment. And sentiment towards the technology that makes our lives (and testing) easier will change. That’s why investing in education is always a good idea.

Happy programmer does IT course on laptop
For IT enthusiasts, IT courses are good gifts.

What gifts for Christmas for loved ones and friends with a passion for IT can be a great addition to pre-Christmas shopping? Motivational gifts are one option. For example, if you decide to buy something, an IT course chosen according to the interests of the recipient can be a great idea. Motivational courses can be like the best gifts, they can not only develop their skills but also provide inspiration and support for new challenges and goals. Among our Slovak courses, it is worth mentioning Skillmea (former Learn2Code), where you can also find courses by the well-known programmer Yablek (Roman Hraška) – from the basics like HTML, CSS or JavaScript through Python to SQL databases. In addition, Skillmea also includes creative courses focused on social networks, graphic programs or marketing basics. If a foreign language is not a barrier, you can also donate courses on Domestika. This Spanish platform mainly offers a portfolio of creative courses, but among them you will also find creative and visual programming, WordPress courses, or the interconnection between programming and marketing. Give the gift of an experience in virtual reality!

Give a virtual reality experience

Whether you are an IT tester or another IT enthusiast, you can also introduce your loved ones to your “IT world”. No, you don’t have to explain to them how to find bugs in code. Just spend an evening with them in virtual reality. We at msg life Slovakia have tried it many times and it’s really fun. We believe that this is how you show your friends that IT can be interesting and that thanks to ordinary code, sci-fi ideas can turn into (virtual) reality.

young man looking into virtual reality goggles
Relax with virtual reality with msg life Slovakia colleagues

Give audiobooks

In the 5AM club (the crazies who get up at five in the morning and are jogging five minutes later), audiobooks are very popular. Even a die-hard advocate of paper books will find himself in a situation where an audiobook comes in handy. When cooking, for example, it’s a seriously invaluable format; there’s no danger of charred or tomato-sauce-splattered pages.

IT Tester is listening to an audiobook and taking notes in his chair.
You can listen to audiobooks not only in your armchair, but also while playing sports, cooking or driving.

A big plus of the audiobooks is the performance of the actors who read them. The Witcher in the Czech version, either in the voice of Martin Finger or Jiří Dvořák and Jiří Plachý, are gems that give the books a completely different dimension. You can search for audiobooks almost anywhere on the web, even Martinus offers them, but if you want to support specialist portals, we recommend Audiolibrix or Audiotek, for example.

The best Christmas gifts that cost nothing

Have you noticed that you don’t have to leave the office for even one gift on the list? That’s called an effective solution to pre-Christmas consumerism! The last tip for a Christmas gift, however, costs nothing. It’s your time. We’ve written quite a bit about wellbeing, burnout and the phenomenon known as work-life balance, and the topic hasn’t stopped being relevant. Give the gift to your loved ones and to yourself. Spend quality time together without thoughts of work. We are surrounded by things we rarely need as much as an understanding person by our side.

Mental health takes a beating at Christmas. How not to go crazy at work in the Christmas run-up?

Posted on by Zuzana Kocáková

Holidays of peace and tranquility? Rather holidays of missed deadlines, reports and postponed project releases. Don’t let your spirits slip, we’ve got some tips for you to enjoy the Christmas season without unnecessary stress. How to approach the three stressful weeks in December as pragmatically as possible and get everything done?

Set boundaries and deadlines with your clients

In some cases, this recommendation may be more for team or department leaders. Not every programmer communicates directly with the client or has the ability to suggest a process change. However, it is always possible to arrange a meeting with the manager, at least at msg life Slovakia. Every project should have its own time protection zone or so-called “cushion”, which prevents it from slipping into the red area in the calendar. Of course, this happens often, but Christmas holidays are specific in this. Two to three weeks off can slow down a project considerably. Ideally, don’t schedule key milestones for the end of the year unless the product or service strategy is related. A similar solution will be appreciated by clients who also want to take a break over Christmastime.

IT project manager is checking the project timeline on a laptop
Keep a time margin in projects for the Christmas period.

Time management techniques

December is a great time to learn the basic principles of time management. If this is a busy time for you and you are working for example as a Java Developer Senior, IT Tester Consultant Medior, or Business IT konzultant on various projects, it’s a great time to get started:

  • Handle emails quickly, ideally in the morning.
  • If the only tasks that land on your desk are those labeled “high-priority, lead, traffic,” or if project manager ‘s own priorities are messy, bring it to their attention.
  • Don’t procrastinate on social media, try to relax with monotonous, quick, lower-priority tasks. You’ll put off more important work until later, but you won’t feel bad about procrastinating and you’ll leave the office earlier.
  • It is not always necessary to work on a project until the evening. If you work late into the night on something, efficiency decreases with each passing hour. Save the problem for the morning, you’ll be surprised how quickly you solve it once you’ve had a good night’s sleep.

Set your own deadlines

Your project deadlines are set by your project manager. A good guide is to set your own internal deadlines that take into account all projects and work and non-work activities. This will help you put tasks in context and evaluate how much time you have left to complete them. You can use a traditional diary or create a simple board through the Trello app. Throughout the year, only a detail-oriented person – or a very busy person – would probably do this, but it comes in handy for everybody before Christmas.

Some things you won’t get done. Don’t be afraid to say it

There are tasks that landed on your desk late, or branched out and require more time, testing, procedures. If by chance it’s not clear from the project status, communicate it transparently. Your own time management and setting internal deadlines have helped you better estimate what you have time for and what you can get done. Knowing ahead of time that something can’t be done on time is actually an advantage. Tasks can be rescheduled, delegated to other colleagues, and more time can be allocated in the next period. But first, the manager needs to know about it.

IT manager looking at her laptop by the Christmas tree
Set deadlines and don’t be afraid to say no

Shut down the PC

The aim of all the previous points is this: when you leave the office or turn off the computer in your office before Christmas, you will know that you have done everything you can. You’ve handed over what you needed to. The things that weren’t done were well communicated. Now it’s time to rest and recharge.

Xenia got her IT job with no previous work experience. Today she is testing software for a German insurance company

Posted on by Zuzana Kocáková

The IT tester junior job can currently do without previous work experience. Because you can learn everything you need in a company that offers such an opportunity, just like our Xenia. She joined the company while still in secondary school and has steadily progressed thanks to her personal passion for IT. Read more about working in IT without experience in msg life Slovakia

How long have you been with msg life Slovakia?

I have been with msg life Slovakia since the beginning of 2022.

What job were you recruited for?

I started as an IT tester. At that time I didn’t know that I was going to be an automated and not a manual tester, which was really good news for me. The work on automation is much more interesting and complex.

How did you get into IT?

After high school I went to Germany for half a year to improve my language skills. Thanks to them I got a job at msg life Slovakia. I had no direct experience with IT before, other than what I had taught myself to create in a couple of programming languages. So I started as an IT tester with no experience.

What attracted you to working at msg life Slovakia? Why did you choose us?

The first thing that attracted me was the opportunity to work in IT without previous experience. Work without experience is not welcome everywhere. I was also impressed by the range and quality of company benefits, as well as the salary of the tester.

How is working for us different from previous work experience?

As this is my first permanent work experience, I can’t compare too much, but as a junior tester with no experience, I find it positive that if one wants to, one can learn a lot even in a technical field with no previous experience.

What does your normal working day look like?

I choose a test scenario from our database that I want to reproduce in an automated form. This means that in our internal tool for writing and running tests, I start writing an xml script corresponding to the instructions of the test scenario. So I write different commands and insert the necessary values. It’s not full-blown programming, but it’s far from it.

What is your job? What are you currently working on?

Testing. Tests are run at certain intervals. The point is that when a program is being developed, especially if a large team of people is working on it, it often happens that when new functionality is added, it can disrupt functionality, a process that previously worked without problems. This happens very often in larger projects. That’s why it makes sense, especially in long-term software development, to re-run such tests. Compared to manual testing, this speeds up the process a lot and ensures better bug detection. So we are currently working on this automation, writing scripts and optimizing the processes. In doing so, we often run into new problems, which I personally take as small challenges. This makes the work more varied and not monotonous. (Ed. note: In our company we are looking for a manual tester in addition to a automated tester – specialist.)

Who all are you communicating with to solve any problems?

Most of my communication is with people from a smaller team, I communicate mainly with Slovak colleagues, but when I sometimes need to solve something related to technical issues, regarding a project or development, I also turn to my German colleagues. They are also part of development, testing or management. An IT tester with no experience always welcomes help from colleagues.

IT testers with a good mood take their turn at the computer
The working atmosphere is pleasant and relaxed.

What project are you working on right now?

I’m working on the Debeka project. It is a software for employees of the insurance company that bears the same name. Debeka is therefore also the largest private health insurer in Germany, which until recently used solutions that ran on the very outdated KOBOL software. In spite of the great competition, they decided to create a new program in cooperation with msg life, which is certainly one of the company’s other achievements.

Do you have experience with other projects within msg life Slovakia as a tester?

I have only been working at msg life Slovakia for half a year, so not yet. However, I have also used advice, tips and tricks from colleagues working on other projects. Moreover, the Debeka project is still very new, so many things don’t work as well as on older projects. However, this is helped by very good communication within the team and the willingness of colleagues from other projects to help us.

What apps do you use at work?

I work mainly with SeTAK, or Selenium Test Automation Kit. It is an internal tool created by our developers. We write scripts and call tests in it. SeTak uses Eclipse, an integrated development environment that is used just as a space for writing xml files. Other programs include Git, Jira and Jenkins.

What skills are important for your job as an IT tester?

What is important is the willingness to continuously learn and improve your skills. Especially if someone is a tester with no experience. Independence is also an advantage, as is the ability to keep a cool head when things don’t go as planned. IT people know this very well. Technical knowledge is also useful.

What do you like best about your IT job?

What I love most is that I don’t see the work as monotonous. This is very important to me. Next, clearly the freedom that working remotely offers. For example, in May I went to the World Championships in Helsinki for two weeks and worked from there. Next, certainly colleagues.

Who are your colleagues? What qualities should your new colleague have to fit in?

Friendly, helpful and always accommodate requests. The whole team tries to be run in a very friendly spirit. We all chat, whether with Slovak or foreign colleagues. I don’t think it’s difficult to fit in. They all try to be very united, and as long as you share similar values, it’s not a problem for either an extrovert or an introvert.

IT tester xenia smiles behind the computer in the office of msg life slovakia
Experience our good mood and pleasant atmosphere

Which benefit do you like to use the most?

There are massages, shared lunches and breakfasts, team building events, which are organised really often, several times a month, and also two hours a week of German language courses.

Three words that come to mind when you hear msg life Slovakia?

Friendliness, growth, diversity.

How to write a salary increase letter

Posted on by Zuzana Kocáková

Request for a pay raise requires proper preparation or arguments. In this article we bring you effective tips. It is important that everyone is rewarded appropriately for their work. Asking for and negotiating for a pay rise is not usually an easy conversation to have with a supervisor. It’s just that what you don’t ask for, you usually don’t get. So how to ask for a pay rise and succed?

Map the current situation

Most companies tend to increase salary regularly along with employee reviews at the end of the year. This is especially true in a corporate environment. If you’ve achieved your desired annual goals, this is the perfect time for pay rise negotiation. If you want to apply your salary increase letter outside of this period, find out first:

  • how the company is doing financially,
  • what is the mood of the managers,
  • how you’re doing with your direct supervisor
  • what the job market is like in your field.

All of these circumstances have a major influence on whether it is appropriate to make a request for a pay raise at all. At msg life Slovakia, we value the quality work and commitment of our employees. We offer not only an attractive salary, but also Christmas, performance and special bonuses, a generous meal allowance or language courses and professional training. Take a look at our latest job offers, join us and take your career further!

Have compelling arguments when making a request for a pay raise

Fortune favours the prepared mind. This is doubly true when making request for a pay raise. Prepare a stockpile of arguments around which to build your request. You can use the principles of effective communication to negotiate. Don’t forget to rehearse the whole conversation too. For example, mention your achievements so far, an improvement in job responsibility and expertise that makes you more efficient and saves the company money. Also outline projects and other work that awaits you in the future. Don’t be afraid to share positive feedback on your work from colleagues or your strengths with your manager, too. Generally, the higher the pay rise you ask for, the stronger your arguments should be. Back them up with real numbers. Did the completed contract make a profit for your company? People with high-demand and scarce skills (e.g. IT or technical fields) have a stronger bargaining position.

Female applicant for pay rise shows charts to boss
Concrete arguments will help you when writing a salary increase letter.

Do a comparison of salaries that are common in your field and for roughly the same position. You can then argue that you would like to continue working for the company, but you are below the average salary level, which doesn’t seem fair.

Choose an appropriate amount

You may wonder how much pay rise should I ask for, as a rule, it is common to ask for a 10% pay increase. But of course it depends on the circumstances. Consider both your experience and how long you have worked for the company.

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Use an overblown mental anchor in the negotiation. Want a 10% pay rise? Ask for 15%. You’re more likely to reach your goal that way.

A salary increase letter with the right timing

The best time to do pay rise negotiation is when a major change has come. For example:

  • the expiry of the probationary period,
  • successful completion of the project,
  • acquiring a new customer or order,
  • promotion
  • extension of existing competences.

Another good time might be when you have interviewed with another employer and have received a specific offer from them. You can then use it as one of your arguments. However, do not threaten your employer with it.

Salary increase letter after probationary period

The question in the right place is also after what period of time can I make a request for a pay raise?

Salary increases after the probationary period are agreed before you start work and are usually part of the acceptance letter or employment contract.

Unless agreed in advance or supported in writing in an employment contract, it is not uncommon in the workplace to receive a salary increase before the end of the probationary period or before moving to permanent employment.

Schedule a meeting

Does your supervisor have an important presentation coming up? Then postpone the meeting. After all, you want them to be in a good mood and not stressed. You’ll reduce the likelihood of them rejecting you. Make an appointment with them in advance. Book a meeting room and set aside plenty of time on your calendar. Definitely don’t try to catch your boss during the day between meetings or when you go home.

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Prepare for your meeting with your supervisor in advance. For example, you could send them an email to request a meeting to review your work so far and discuss a pay rise.

Avoid these 3 mistakes

Don’t threaten to leave. Unless you really want to do it. Remember, this is not a fight, it’s a debate. So don’t get on the offensive, it could backfire on you. Don’t play on emotions. Unfortunately, your employer doesn’t care that you want a pay rise because you would like to take your family on holiday or that you have a sick dog at home. Communicate factually, concisely, decisively and specifically. Don’t take rejection personally. The outcome of salary increase negotiations depends on a number of circumstances, some of which are beyond your control. It’s possible that your boss simply doesn’t have the budget to give you a raise.

Failed? Want a clear plan!

The interview didn’t go as you expected? Don’t hang your head. Ask your boss what needs to be done to get the requested pay rise and how you can get it. Ask for a timetable after which you and your supervisor will revisit the issue of your pay raise.

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Plan for alternatives such as other benefits, training courses or bonuses.

Find an employer who will look after you

Your supervisor didn’t meet your demands? Then maybe it’s time to change employers. If you’re in IT, working at msg life Slovakia allows you to participate in interesting projects. You get attractive employee benefits including flexible working hours, further training and last but not least you get the opportunity to learn from the best in their field. At msg life Slovakia we value quality people. Join us!

msg News: the beginning of autumn is marked by exercise and healthy food

Posted on by Zuzana Kocáková

In this article you will learn how we take care of the health of our employees during the autumn months.

With the arrival of autumn and cold weather, our immunity takes a beating.That is why at msg life Slovakia, in addition to regular fruit days, we have prepared healthy breakfasts and physical activities for our employees. Read about what it looks like in our company during autumn.

Sedentary work at the computer (read about tips on back pain from sitting at a computer all day) and long hours without moving can be hard on anyone who spends most of their day like this. IT specialist, testers, Java developers, Scrum masters, integration architects or business IT consultants are no exception. Over time, a similar regime can translate into stiff muscles and aches and pains. That’s why we regularly treat our colleagues to various types of massages on the premises. Especially after many colleagues have spent long months on Home Office where their working conditions were not always ideal. Reduced movement can also contribute to higher weight, which is often linked to cardiovascular problems. For this reason, we also celebrated Heart Day on September 26 and organized a number of events.

Healthy exercises and relaxing massages

The “Heart Day at msg” activity included morning yoga and pilates in the Bratislava, Zilina and Kosice offices. Afterwards, our colleagues enjoyed a healthy breakfast. Those who were interested could also attend an online lecture entitled “Nutrition for a healthy heart”. Following positive feedback from colleagues, we are planning a similar event in October for World Spine Day. During the “Spine Week at msg” event, we will highlight exercises for a healthy back, which are mainly aimed at exercising and strengthening stiff muscles. We are also preparing an online lecture for colleagues to learn how to avoid back and cervical spine pain while working on the computer. Tips forhealthy back can also be found on our blog. “It’s nice to come up with different activities and events for employees, especially when we see that there is interest in them and we get positive feedback. We are constantly trying to expand and update our list of company benefits so that it always brings something new and is tailored directly for our colleagues. We try to create an atmosphere that is not only work-related, but also relaxed and, above all, friendly. Many colleagues also have the opportunity to renew old working relationships after a long Home Office regime or to get to know new colleagues who have accepted a job offer during the pandemic,” explains our office manager Zuzka. In addition to exercise and lectures, we also support colleagues who are active in sports. This year, the msg life Slovakia team took part in several running events during the autumn. Our company supports the recreational runners by paying the entry fee, and a small get-together after the sports performance is not to be missed, which our tenacious runners certainly deserve. Several runners from the Bratislava and Kosice offices successfully ran 99th International Peace Marathon in Kosice. In addition, our athletes are preparing for the traditional Devin-Bratislava run and the pleasant forest ‘Raciansky kros’, which take place during October. We keep our fingers crossed for our colleagues and wish them many sporting successes without injuries.

msg life Slovakia running team
Dedicated athletes will always find their place with us.

msg life nominated in the prestigious poll Best Employer 2022

Not only because we offer our employees a rich benefits program, msg life Slovakia had the opportunity to be nominated in the eleventh year of the prestigious Best Employer 2022. “We are very honoured that we have been nominated in the IT and Telecommunications category, where leading Slovak technology companies are represented. The results of the poll will be published in January and until then employees can vote for their favourite company. Even if we don’t win the competition, it is a sign to us that we are doing our HR service well and competitively,” adds HR manager Dominika.

What awaits us at the end of 2022?

We are far from finished with movement activities during autumn. In October, our colleagues can look forward to corporate bowling and a more intimate version of the traditional German Oktoberfest, where they will enjoy classic German cuisine. At msg life Slovakia, we are already actively preparing Christmas gifts according to colleagues’ preferences. Thanks to our long tradition, we already know exactly what will please our colleagues the most. There will also be the traditional St. Nicholas for children or mini Christmas markets, which will create the right festive atmosphere among colleagues already in early December. After two pandemic years, we are finally planning to hold a Christmas party to thank our employees for their high level of commitment, effort and loyalty to our company. We believe that this will gradually bring us back to our old ways and that this will provide an opportunity for more and more shared activities and parties.