How Three U Krewers in India Found Career Growth with UKG

Are you in pursuit of a workplace that values not just who you are today, but who you can become tomorrow? Join us as we share stories of employees who have found career growth and development opportunities at UKG. These three U Krewers share their experiences with UKG’s continuous learning opportunities, innovation-driven programs and supportive environment for professional growth. 

Reshu Goel, Sr. Software Engineer

What initially attracted you to a career at UKG? 

UKG came to our college to hire freshers. When I attended a session with UKG, I got to know about UKG’s culture, work environment and opportunities. The tagline ‘Our Purpose is People’ was something which attracted me to start a career here. 

Describe your career path with UKG.  

I joined UKG as a Software Engineer after graduation; it was my first job. It’s been more than three years now, and I am still a part of this wonderful organization.  

Upon joining UKG, being new to the industry, I was given ample time and opportunity to showcase my technical skills and understand more about UKG’s products. Whenever I got stuck, my colleagues were always there to guide and support me. My first year at UKG was what I would call a learning year, until I was gradually contributing towards deliverables.  

After that, the following years were about putting my skills and learning to use. I worked on several key deliverables with the team. I started owning some modules which my team works on. I also got promoted to Senior Software Engineer in my second year.  

How would you describe a typical day as a software engineer? 

A typical day in my role involves learning new technologies, exploring new ideas and identifying areas which can be improved. Besides that, there are feature development and bug fixes which need to be delivered for better customer experience. I collaborate with various stakeholders to understand requirements and with other product teams to understand other areas of the suite. 

Every so often, fun in-office activities are planned for better collaboration and team bonding.  

How would you describe the advancement opportunities at UKG? 

UKG has great opportunities for everyone. With advancement in AI, UKG is also giving opportunities for U Krewers to learn Generative AI and incorporate it in our product suite. UKG conducts innovation-fueled programs like 48 Hours and Spark[Tank] to nurture new ideas and gives freedom to work on proof of concepts for the best ideas to be added.

How has UKG helped you develop as an employee?

UKG has encouraged me to learn new technologies by providing resources and time. They have also nurtured my innovation and provided me opportunities to showcase my skills and potential. UKG has given me autonomy in my work life, and a focus on work-life balance.

Vaishali Singh, Lead Software QA Engineer 

What initially attracted you to a career at UKG?

I believe that a strong team plays a pivotal role in the success of any software project, and I saw UKG as a place where I could contribute my skills and expertise, while working alongside talented professionals who share a similar commitment to quality.

I was also drawn to the cutting-edge technology and solutions that UKG offers. As someone passionate about staying at the forefront of advancements in our field, the opportunity to contribute to and learn from a company driving innovation was appealing.

Describe your career path with UKG.  

I initially joined UKG as a Senior Software QA Engineer, and then received a promotion to Lead Software QA Engineer. In this capacity, I took on additional leadership responsibilities, overseeing the QA team and contributing to the strategic planning of quality assurance processes.

More recently, I seized an exciting opportunity in Product Management and am excited to start in my new role soon. 

How would you describe a typical day as a software QA engineer?

As a Lead Software QA Engineer, each day is dynamic and involves a mix of strategic planning, hands-on testing and collaboration with cross-functional teams. My mornings often begin with reviewing the status of ongoing projects and checking for new developments. 

Throughout the day, I engage in reviewing the project requirements, developing test plans, and defining test cases to ensure comprehensive coverage. I spend a significant portion of the day executing test cases, identifying defects and working closely with the development team to ensure timely bug resolution. 

My role at UKG is both challenging and rewarding, requiring a combination of technical expertise, leadership skills and a proactive approach to quality assurance.

How would you describe the advancement opportunities at UKG? 

The company places a strong emphasis on recognizing and nurturing talent from within. The well-defined career path for engineers allows individuals to progress through different levels of responsibility and expertise. There are clear opportunities for promotions and career development, evident in my own journey from a Senior Software QA Engineer to a Lead QA in less than two years.

UKG also offers employees the chance to transition between different divisions. Personally, I applied for and achieved a position in Product Management, a transition that speaks to the flexibility and encouragement here.

How has UKG helped you develop as an employee?

UKG offers training programs, including platforms like LinkedIn Learning, Pluralsight, workshops, hackathons, Spark[Tank] and resources to help employees stay current with industry trends and technologies. 

My management team and senior leadership have actively supported my career path plan. Their guidance on potential roles, encouragement of mentorship programs and open discussions about my career goals have helped me shift from Engineering to Product Management.

Regular feedback and performance reviews provided me with valuable insights into my strengths and areas for improvement, offering a clear roadmap for ongoing professional development.  

Manisha Tomar, Engineering Product Manager 

What initially attracted you to a career at UKG? 

When I was considering a career at UKG, I was initially attracted to the organization's stellar reputation for innovation. The company's values align very closely with my own, and I was drawn to the prospect of contributing to a team that consistently pushes the boundaries in workforce management. The opportunities for professional growth, the emphasis on collaboration, and the challenging yet rewarding nature of the work were additional factors that made UKG an appealing choice for my career. 

Describe your career path with UKG. 

I joined UKG as a Lead QA Engineer. I went from an engineer to a leader, then took a hands-on approach leading experience on SRE and Resiliency and swift transformation into Product management, which helped me grow as an individual and a professional. 

How would you describe a typical day as an engineering product manager? 

A day in the life of a product manager can be dynamic and diverse, as responsibilities often span various aspects of product development and management. Typically, I start the day by checking and responding to emails, addressing any urgent matters or inquiries. I join our daily stand-up meeting with the engineering teams and discuss progress, challenges and priorities with developers and designers. I collaborate on problem-solving and decision-making and review analytics and metrics to assess the performance of the product.

My job also includes engaging in meetings with cross-functional teams such as pre-sales, cloud engineering, UX/UI and customer support. Together, we align on product goals and upcoming releases. I refine the product roadmap based on changing priorities, market trends and business goals.