Today, hardly anyone doubts the need for rigorous software testing. In fact, the experts agree: in 2015, a military airplane crashed into the ground, killing those on board. The evidence later showed that an error in the programming caused the crash. Without extensive tests to check every line of code, could this tragedy have been prevented? The experts seem to think so.
Most bugs are not tragic. However, when a company tries to save money on testing, maintenance costs usually skyrocket later on. In many countries, more and more software development companies realize this because the demand for both manual and automation QA testers is growing steadily.
Unfortunately, there is one problem with being a tester, and it is a big one: there just aren’t enough of them. With all the successful game franchises and new, exciting products constantly in development, more and more people are considering QA as a career choice, which means that the competition for jobs is getting fiercer. At the same time, more and more companies are offering premium wages for testers with proper skills; this creates an even greater incentive to learn how to test. And yet, before you quit your current job to become a full-time tester, you have to ask yourself, “what do I need to be a successful tester?”
Codoid, one of the best automation testing companies, answers this question:
Excellent Communication Skills
Although it may seem strange for a tester, communication is one of the essential skills for any software tester. After all, what would be the point of testing a product if no one told you whether it passed? If a tester cannot properly communicate what they have found to their team, that tester is of no use to the company. They will be of even less use if they cannot communicate what needs to be done. A tester who cannot write professional bug reports and clearly explain how to fix the bugs will cause endless frustration on the programmer’s part and messy, confusing code on the programmer’s output.
Curiosity
Programmers are too familiar with their code and too eager to move on to the next thing to look for bugs. Testers, however, have a more objective methodology: they know that even the tiniest slip-up can have disastrous consequences. This is why it is invaluable for testers to be curious. They need to be able to ask “what if?” and test every possible outcome, no matter how unlikely it might be.
Analytical Thinking
A tester needs to find errors in that sequence and infer how the test should be carried out to meet the desired results. A tester needs to see the big picture, not just the individual lines.
Attention to Detail
Testers are finders of small, seemingly trivial errors. To them, every detail matters. They will notice if a word is misspelled, a button is positioned in the wrong place, or a graphic is out of place. Although it is not very glamorous, it is an essential part of the job.
End-User Perspective
To effectively test a program, a tester needs to have an end-user perspective. What is the feature supposed to do? How does it work? And, more importantly, how is it supposed to make the users feel? A tester needs to imagine himself as a regular user and think like one. The whole point of testing is to ensure that the end-user is getting what he wants and needs.
Conclusion
It is not easy to become a tester, but it is hardly impossible. The only thing you need to do is ask yourself this: do I meet all the requirements? If yes, you’re on your way to a successful career. If not, maybe it’s time to start. Whether you decide to learn how to test on your own or at a school, numerous free resources are available online. You can begin with the basics: go over testing terms and definitions, perfect your test planning skills and learn how to use test scripts. As you get more comfortable with the material, start testing yourself: play a game and think about how to test it, and when you’re ready, you can start looking for work in QA companies.
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