Building a career in software testing is a great choice if you’re interested in the tech industry. As a software tester, you’ll be responsible for ensuring that products and systems are of high quality and function as intended.
It’s important to understand the different types of testing, such as unit, integration and acceptance testing.
Keeping up with the latest tools and technologies, networking and having a passion for continuous learning are also key to success in the field.
You can also boost your chances of success by having basic coding skills. With the right mindset, a career in software testing can be challenging and rewarding.
A Closer Look of A Software Tester
The field of software testing is one that is in high demand and continues to grow as technology advances.
As a software tester, you play a crucial role in ensuring that the products and systems that we rely on in our daily lives are of the highest quality and function as intended.
Building a career in software testing can be challenging, but with the right skills and knowledge, it can also be incredibly rewarding.
To start, it’s important to understand the different types of software testing, such as unit testing, integration testing, and acceptance testing. Each of these types of testing serves a specific purpose and requires a different set of skills.
For example, unit testing focuses on testing individual units or components of a system, while acceptance testing focuses on testing the system as a whole to ensure that it meets the needs of the end-user.
Technical Skills
1.Knowledge of STLC Phases
If you’re interested in building a career in software testing, it’s essential to have a deep understanding of the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) phases.
This will give you a comprehensive understanding of the software testing process and provide a solid foundation for becoming a software tester.
Similar to the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), the STLC also includes several phases, such as requirement analysis, test planning, test case development, test environment setup, test execution, and test closure.
Each of these phases is focused on specific steps that are critical to the testing process. These phases are repeated multiple times throughout the project’s development to ensure that project requirements are met without any bugs or other issues.
2. Fundamentals of Programming Language
As a software tester, it’s important to have a solid understanding of programming languages to review codes or programs for bugs and analyze technical documentation during the project development.
Having a strong foundation in programming is also essential for automation testing. Some popular programming languages to learn include JAVA, C#, Python, and Ruby.
Additionally, many companies require some knowledge of programming languages when hiring software testers, so developing these skills will open up more career opportunities.
It’s worth to note that, the more programming languages you know, the more versatile and valuable you are as a software tester.
3.Understanding of Linux & Other OS Fundamentals
A deep understanding of operating systems is crucial for software testers. As a software tester, you’ll be responsible for setting up the test environment and executing test cases.
Having knowledge of OS tools and commands makes this task easier and more efficient. Furthermore, many projects and applications are hosted in a Linux environment, so it’s highly recommended to become familiar with Linux commands and operations.
Additionally, several testing processes, such as installation testing and performance testing, require a fundamental understanding of operating systems.
Hence, if you’re interested in software testing, it’s important to have a good grasp of operating systems to be successful in this field.
4. Knowledge of SQL Queries & Databases
Ensuring the security of user data and information is a top priority for any software application, website, or system.
As software systems, even small ones, often store a large amount of data, it’s crucial for software testers to validate and authenticate this data and identify any bugs or defects.
To be a proficient software tester, it’s important to have a good understanding of databases such as Oracle and MySQL.
Additionally, learning Structured Query Language (SQL) Queries can enable you to interact and analyze data stored in databases.
Having knowledge of databases and SQL is essential for software testers, to ensure the safety and security of user data and information.
5. Familiarity with Test Management, Defect Tracking & Automation Tools
Having knowledge of software testing tools is a crucial aspect of becoming a software tester. Test management tools, such as Testlink and TestRail, are used for managing testing artifacts like test case planning and tracking, and test strategies.
Defect tracking tools, like QC, BugHerd, and Bugzilla, help to track and manage defects in a project in an organized way.
Automation tools like Selenium and Appium allow you to transition from manual testing to automation testing.
Gaining hands-on experience with these tools will provide you with a deep understanding of the software testing process in an efficient manner.
Roles and Responsibilities
Let’s take a look at several major roles & responsibilities of a Software Tester in an organization:
- Design & implement various Test scenarios and Test Cases
- Interact with the clients to better understand the project requirements.
- Prepare the documentation related to the software testing process
- Collaborate with Developers & other team members and conduct review meetings, etc.
Certification
When it comes to building a career in software testing, certifications can be valuable. These certifications not only validate your knowledge and skills, but they also help to catch the attention of hiring professionals.
There are various software testing certifications available that you can choose from, depending on your needs and goals. Here are the recommendations:
1. ISTQB Foundation Level Certification
2. Certified Software Tester (CSTE) from QAI
3. Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) from the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB)
4. Certified Manager of Software Testing (CMST) from the International Institute for Software Testing (IIST)
5. Certified Scrum Tester (CST) from Scrum Alliance
Career Path
Furthermore, let’s take a brief look at the career graph of a Software Testing Professional. Although the career growth of Software Testing professional varies from organization to organization, still there is a general roadmap that you can keep in mind for your future goals:
- Test Analyst / Quality Analyst (Entry-Level)
- Senior Test Analyst / Quality Analyst (2-3 Years’ Experience)
- Team Coordinator (5-6 &ears’ experience)
- Testing Manager (7-10 Years’ Experience)
- Senior Test Manager (>10 Years’ Experience)