Do you like to solve problems and think critically? If so, software testing might be a good fit for you.
The software development industry is one significant area where the transition to hybrid teams is now taking place. Businesses are increasingly looking for independent talent to supplement or grow their technological expertise. Similarly, independent software quality assurance testers have evolved into extremely useful members of any software development team.
This article will provide you with an overview of the roles of quality assurance (QA) testers, as well as numerous practical recommendations on how to get a job as a QA.
What is a quality assurance tester?
Quality assurance testers are usually in charge of inspecting new software products for defects or issues. Quality assurance testers perform a variety of software tests to ensure that it complies with standards and guidelines before it is introduced to the market and consumers. They diagnose issues and run debugging programmes as needed, as well as generate reports, collaborate with software developers to solve problems, and upgrade databases as required. Quality assurance testers perform various tests on new software products in order to identify problems and run debugging programmes to resolve them.
Quality assurance testers document all defect specifics and create and distribute reports outlining the defects discovered and the steps taken to resolve the issues. They keep this documentation up to date by using changelogs to track software and application defects, recognising similar issues and providing quick resolutions. They help software developers with the design process, identify, assess and resolve issues prior to the release of new software. A bachelor’s degree in computer information science or computer science is required for quality assurance testers.
What is the role of QA testers?
There are around 1.8 billion websites, with more being established every day. This has also resulted in developing software, digital products, games, and online platforms that must be thoroughly tested before deployment. This is why QA testers are critical components of the software development life cycle.
Depending on the project, QA testers do a variety of functions. There are two forms of testing throughout the process: manual testing and automated testing. And to mention a few, there are several forms of testing, such as functional testing, configuration testing, and system testing.
As a competent QA tester, you must be knowledgeable about the various testing types and how they influence the performance of the software. You will also be responsible for the quality assurance of online, mobile, and desktop applications.
Furthermore, because the process requires a great deal of communication with developers and other team members, independent QA testers must have outstanding communication skills to accept instructions and submit the review findings.
Some of the roles or duties a QA tester may conduct are listed below:
- Examine and evaluate system specifications: As a QA tester, you will perform various tests on new software products to ensure that they meet all specifications and criteria. Basic operations testing, investigating the limitations of a system, and confirming that functionality works in the intended environment are examples of tests (development computer, real-time simulator, or embedded microprocessor).
- Identifying functional bugs: QA testers assist in identifying any faults with the product and running debugging tools to resolve difficulties. When the issues have been fixed, you will be required to conduct additional testing before the items are issued to the market.
- Record defects and report bugs and mistakes to development teams: QA testers must also record all defect details and write bug reports explaining the types of defects discovered and the measures needed to remedy these issues. You may also need to upgrade databases related to document testing phases and problems.
- Work with QA engineers to create effective strategies and test plans: As a QA tester, you’ll work with cross-functional teams from the beginning of a project to assure quality throughout the software development life cycle. You will collaborate with developers to analyze risks, identify possible operational concerns, and address them until the new software product is finished.
What should you know to do the job well?
Let’s start with computer languages and other technological tools that every novice should be familiar with. Don’t be put off by the lengthy list; your own qualities are sometimes more vital when joining the industry. However, knowing where the journey goes is beneficial.
First, you need to get yourself familiar with a few computer languages and be willing to learn others. C, C#, Go, HTML (for web processing), Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, and Unix scripting are some of my sources’ recommendations. Not all of them, by any means, but none at all.
Learn to program in an object-oriented language like Java, C#, or Python. Most modern apps, as well as the software tools needed to evaluate them, are developed in C++.
Many frequent programs assist testers in their task. Begin by becoming acquainted with the common technical tools used by testers. Here are some testing-related software recommendations:
- Automated testing frameworks may include continuous integration (CI), code management, and other features. Bamboo, Bitbucket, GitLab, Jenkins, JUnit, QMetry, Robot Framework, Appium (for testing mobile platforms), and Selenium are a few examples.
- Project management software with a bug and event-tracking capabilities, such as Atlassian Jira or Bugzilla
- Browser and cross-browser testing tools, such as BrowserStack;
- Web load testing tools, such as Jmeter or Wapt;
- And, without a doubt, Functionalize deserves some consideration.
Of course, depending on what/how you are testing, you may need to be familiar with more tools.
You should understand the fundamentals of additional subject knowledge in addition to programming and testing technologies. That’s domain in the non-Internet meaning (not dot-com architecture) — particular, frequently specialized fields of expertise. Relevant domain areas for QA testers include:
- Guidelines for accessibility, such as the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
- The Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) provides standard rules and procedures
- Fundamental statistics in the context of comprehending QA metrics
- Quality management, such as ISO 9001 certification
A QA tester’s average salary
Salaries for quality assurance testers vary depending on several criteria, including education and experience. Your wage rate may also be affected by the location of the company and the industry you work in. For example, Security software QA testers earn more than video game QA testers.
According to Indeed, the typical annual income for a manual quality assurance tester is around $62,000, while senior QA testers make over $90,000.
In the United States, the national average income for quality assurance testers is $58,699 per year. In this role, you may also receive health insurance, paid time off, remote work choices, referral programs, visa sponsorships, in-office quality-of-life bonuses, and a 401(k) retirement plan.
How can I get a job in Quality Assurance Testing?
Finding a QA testing job without prior expertise appears to be a difficult task. Nonetheless, most users are unaware that they already have some testing experience with everyday apps.
Here are some pointers to bear in mind as you go on your path of learning “how to get a job in QA Testing.”
Show Your Interest
While many of us make fun of people who are seen as enthusiastic at work, this trait is highly valuable when attempting to advance in the QA field. While working in this field usually indicates you aren’t the company’s rock star, you have the potential to be the company’s hidden jewel.
It is critical to be detail-oriented and knowledgeable about the product. When it comes to introducing a new product or service, a company cannot do so without the ability to evaluate the pros and cons. Demonstrate enthusiasm and concern for minor details.
If the company recognizes your excitement for the product, they will expect you to work hard to ensure that it is error-free and on time.
Keep pursuing high-quality technical education
Even though the majority of your potential clients may prefer QA testers with a bachelor’s degree in engineering or computer science, it is not usually required. Team members are generally needed to go through an interview and technical testing as part of the team recruitment process, which is where you need to prepare.
Start preparing to learn more computer languages by becoming acquainted with a few. Begin with the most widely used programming languages in applications and software tools, such as and Python. C, Java, C#, Go, HTML, Ruby, JavaScript, and Unix scripting are among the other languages.
Opt for an online course or tutorial to get a better understanding of operational and usability testing.
Learn more about the SDLC
Gaining knowledge of the entire software development life cycle is not a necessity for your first job, but it is a great bonus to have on your first application. For example, if you discover that the company you are applying to employs the Agile methodology, learning the fundamentals of it will not only improve your chances of being hired but will also make your life easier.
Context is critical in situations like this, so comparing the differences between Agile and Waterfall will assist you to answer questions like, “Why do we use this approach instead of that one when developing software?” So, before applying, read a few blogs on these topics.
Obtain Certificates
Software QA testers should consider obtaining at least one software quality assurance certification to showcase their commitment and gain the attention of hiring managers. The majority of software tester confirmations are vendor-neutral, with information and abilities applicable to all aspects of software testing
To become a quality assurance tester, you should complete the following two popular software testing certifications:
- ISTQB Certified Tester: At the Foundation and Expert levels, the American Software Testing Qualifications Board (ASTQB) offers the vendor-neutral ISTQB Certified Tester certification. ASTQB also provides certifications for Advanced Test Analyst, Agile Tester, Advanced Security Tester, and Advanced Technical Test Analyst, among others, aimed at mobile application testing, test automation engineers, test managers, and business analysts.
- Certified Software Tester (CSTE): The International Software Certification Board (ISCB) supports eight software testing, business investigation, and quality assurance certifications. Regardless of whether or not a certification exam is taken, the CSTE requires (1) four-year college education and two years of experience in data administration, (2) a two-year degree and four years of experience, or (3) six years of experience. Moreover, you must prove that you have worked in software testing for the last year and a half. If you don’t fulfill the CSTE work experience prerequisites, consider the Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST) as a starting point.
Update your resume (of course!)
OK, let’s get the obvious stuff out of the way first. We’ve all heard that the first step in looking for a new job is to refresh your resume. However, don’t just update it for five minutes and call it a day. Spend some time showcasing all of your work experiences over the last ten years. If you have excellent performance reviews from prior employees, use them to gain relevant data from them as needed. Spend some time with this procedure, and ensure you’re using language you’d use in person. Make no attempt to sound “smart.”
Remember that hiring managers are extremely busy and do not have time to decode your resume in order to find the necessary details. Make it simple for them to find the most important information. Restructure your resume as needed based on the position you’re applying for.
Experiment with various styles to see which one gets the most responses.
Emphasis on networking
It comes as no surprise that you need a professional, up-to-date LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is the most popular way to be approached for jobs that may be related to the QA job you’re searching for. LinkedIn also has a general job board and job boards within groups dedicated to QA experts. Analyze the LinkedIn profiles of other QA professionals for ideas on how to present your skills and experience.
Connect with the people you meet. You’ll be surprised at how often you can strike up a conversation with a hiring manager. That could help you establish trust with the hiring manager straight away.
Make a list of possible employers and businesses.
Do you have any favorite companies? Perhaps a product or product segment about which you are genuinely enthusiastic. Make a list of all the companies you’d like to work for. Search into some of their rivals to broaden your list. This exercise will assist you in understanding the types of companies for which you wish to work and why.
Maybe you’d like to move on to a smaller company where your efforts will have a more instantaneous and visible impact. Alternatively, you could be looking to join an organization with mature quality assurance and testing practices.
Begin your job search
Start your job search by looking for entry-level or internship opportunities. After you’ve acquired some experience, it’s much easier to find work as a QA engineer. Some students work internships while attending college. Before graduating, many coding boot camps provide students with hands-on experience in QA engineering.
Conclusion
There are numerous reasons to become a QA engineer, including the high demand, higher pay, and stability. This high-level tech position does not necessitate a degree, and many people obtain it after attending a coding Bootcamp or other QA engineering courses.
If you found our article intriguing and are considering a career as a tester, we recommend that you visit QuantoKnack to learn more about our QA testing course!
In summary, our QA testing course is simply a few lessons long and is designed particularly to prepare you for and get your first job in the testing profession. We will assist you with preparing a CV, developing a good LinkedIn profile, and practicing interview questions with you. Furthermore, all of the information on our course is up to date and is verified regularly. Finally, even after the course has concluded, our instructors are available to you if you want assistance.
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