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If you are wondering how you can start your journey towards becoming a software tester, you have come to the right place. Software testing at first might seem like a daunting career choice for some people since it’s a field that early-stage companies deem not essential and leave out the entire field altogether. In this guide, I will give you some tips that I learned along my journey in becoming a tester.
We’ll be talking about what software testers do, how to get started as a software tester, and the different types of career paths available.
We’ll also include some advice on how you can change careers from other IT sectors into testing or ramp up your skills if you already work in IT.
Who is a software tester?
Software testers are individuals who have the skills to break down business requirements into test cases and check that your application or website does what it should. They provide key feedback that shapes the development of your product, giving you confidence that your product will be successful. Software testing gives the stakeholders confidence that their product has met the right standards and can be used by the target users.
What skills do I need?
To become a tester all you need is an inquisitive mind and the desire to learn about software and how it works. In order to be a good tester you also need patience as well as the ability to evaluate and analyze situations logically and effectively.
Software testing is a highly technical job, so it’s important to remember that your ability to think and learn quickly will help you gain your qualifications. In addition, you need to be patient to develop the testing skills that are required.
How do I get started as a software tester?
There are several different routes into software testing that include:
- Getting an entry-level role: this is probably the easiest way to get started. It’s also one of the most common ways of moving into the testing profession. It’s important to take time out to gain some years of experience to fully grasp all the responsibilities. Most entry-level roles will involve manual functional testing, and you could start by applying your development skills differently. You may also be asked to perform some manual regression testing tasks too.This is probably the easiest way to get started. It’s also one of the most common ways of moving into the testing profession. It’s important to take time out to gain some years of experience to fully grasp all the responsibilities. Most entry-level roles will involve manual functional testing, and you could start by applying your development skills differently. You may also be asked to perform some manual regression testing tasks too.
- Apprenticeship : Apprenticeships are ideal for people who have a technical background or those getting into IT from an unrelated sector such as retail or marketing. Apprenticeships are ideal for people who have a technical background or those getting into IT from an unrelated sector such as retail or marketing. IT degree: the majority of employers will look for you to have a degree, however, some entry-level roles may also look for experience rather than a degree.
- Gain certifications: there are several different types of certifications you can gain that relate to software testing.
Several different routes lead on to more senior testing positions, which include:
Software testing career path
Software Tester I: the entry-level role for software testers that require experience in manual functional or non-functional (also known as black-box) testing roles. You may carry out tasks such as user acceptance testing, exploratory testing, help desk support, and peer reviews.
This entry-level role for software testers that require experience in manual functional or non-functional (also known as black-box) testing roles. You may carry out tasks such as user acceptance testing, exploratory testing, help desk support and peer reviews.
Software Tester II: this is a progression in your career to Software Tester I or other more senior roles. It’s ideal if you have experience of helping others and are ready to move into a team-based role. You will be required to use more advanced test tools, manual regression testing techniques and have experience auditing the quality of applications or websites. You will be required to use more advanced test tools, manual regression testing techniques and have experience auditing the quality of applications or websites.
Senior Tester: this is the next step up from software tester II and you should have gained several years of testing experience in a variety of different teams. You should be familiar with different types of testing tools and techniques as well as various scripting languages such as C#, Java or Python. You should also have experience in auditing the quality of applications or websites.
Test Manager: this role is ideal if you’ve gained experience within an IT team and are ready for more responsibility. You will be responsible for the planning, execution and delivery of testing activities within your organization. This could involve setting the scope for test activities, developing plans for projects and coordinating multiple levels of testing activity.
Key skills for software testing
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Testers need to be able to spot where things could go wrong and provide solutions. Critical thinking also helps testers to see how the product could be improved. In addition, testers will often have to use these skills in order to evaluate possible solutions to problems that arise when testing a product. For you to spot problems you’ll need good analytical skills, so it’s essential that you are able of breaking down complex systems into simpler parts.
- Effective and flexible communication skills. Testers will need to be able to work closely with people from other departments. You also need fluency in written and spoken English so that you can communicate effectively with your team.
- Skilled problem-solving skills. Software testers will often be faced with several problems at once, which they’ll have to solve quickly to test a product efficiently. These might include preparing the product for testing, matching a script or test plan against the requirements of the requirements document, identifying defects and interpreting results from various tests (manual or automated).
- The ability to think on your feet. Software testing is all about thinking outside the box and being able to use your initiative when faced with a problem. While you may not be required to work at great speed (particularly in an entry-level role), there will come a time when you may need to solve a problem quickly, before moving on to tackle the next one.
- The ability to think on your feet. Software testing is all about thinking outside the box and being able to use your initiative when faced with a problem. While you may not be required to work at great speed (particularly in an entry-level role), there will come a time when you may need to solve a problem quickly, before moving on to tackle the next one.
- Strong analytical skills. Testers will be required to evaluate the quality of a product and possible solutions as well as keeping up with industry trends. Professional testers will also be expected to draw conclusions from test results and identify how software can be improved.
Conclusion
Software testing is a rewarding career for people who are good at problem-solving, can work as part of a team and are willing to learn new skills continuously.
Working in this industry requires a number of essential skills including the ability to think on your feet and be flexible. Teamwork is also very important because testers often work closely with other members of the development team.
To read more about manual testing, read this article.