How to become a QA Tester and why?
Let’s admit, a 10-year-old kid won’t tell you his dream is to grow up and make a career as a software tester. It is usually a choice of an adult person, but there is always a question: how does one start? Today we are talking about the benefits of being an engineer in such a peculiar IT field and how to become a QA Tester.
QA Testers are in a great demand these days because 500-600 websites are created every minute. The number of software, digital products, games, and web-platforms is insane, and they all need to be thoroughly checked before release. Hence, many young people wonder how to become a videogame tester or a product tester, and what the general QA tester requirements are.
What does a software tester do?
Software testing engineers may have different roles depending on the project that needs to be tested. The first thing to choose is the type of testing: manual or automated. We have already written about the real and emulated device testing, which is also a topic of interest for those who begin their IT career as QA engineers.
Testing experts are usually involved in lots of communication with developers and other teams to ensure that the requirements are clear before starting the testing process itself. There are different types of testing, and highly-qualified QA Tester knows how to perform all of them:
- Functional
- Load
- Security
- Regression
- Usability
- Performance
- Compatibility
However, beginners may be unfamiliar with all of these types of testing. They work for totally different purposes, yet together, they aim for increasing app or software performance and make it work properly (without bugs and errors), which brings the end product to a higher quality level.
The best way to learn software testing
How to become a QA tester? Entering IT sphere can be difficult, unless you are eager to learn, ready to constantly improve your initial skillset, and have the desire to become an expert at your job. In case you have it all — testing will become a great choice for you. This is not the easiest career path, but it is very much worth it.
It is possible to learn testing on your own, by taking a QA course, or by learning how to test right in the working process. A professional QA Tester is usually required to perform web, mobile, and desktop application quality assurance. Learning theory is good, but practicing acquired knowledge is better. You no longer have to possess a diploma or a specific certificate to start a career as a software tester. Thanks to free educational programs for tech enthusiasts without experience and education, there is a possibility to start a career from a QA Trainee position.
[We have a QA Trainee Educational Program for people, who want to build an outstanding IT career. Check out and apply now!]
Software tester job requirements
Technical skills are the first and most important point on the list of software tester job requirements. Of course, professional QA engineers will have an extensive working background along with an advanced skillset. Still, it doesn’t mean QA Juniors are not in demand. They are usually very motivated to learn, and their ability to craft clear testing scenarios may be more than enough to enter this career. Understanding different testing approaches, writing clear bug reports, as well as working with various testing tools (like sniffers) present a basic knowledge package of a good QA engineer.
Other than knowledge of technical peculiarities, one of the major QA tester requirements is to have good Soft Skills to productively communicate with other employees both verbally and in written form. A QA engineer has to accurately and clearly convey the message to their teammates, whether they are a developer, a designer, a tech lead, or a client.
To become a software tester knowing how to perform software tests is not enough. Understanding the peculiarities of the business niche is crucial. Every business has different target users, hence their demands can also vary, which defines the type of testing that you must focus on.
A good QA engineer always has the urge to know more. Self-learning is one of the defining personal qualities employers pay attention to while choosing a potential employee. The best way to learn software testing is through dedication to this activity, even in your free time.
Benefits of career as software tester
Software testers have extensive and very flexible career paths that they may change according to their needs. They can become Project Managers if they have a good understanding of the numerous industries. QA Testers sometimes become DevOps because of their working approach. While developers have an in-depth, detailed way of thinking, testing engineers see the product as a whole, integral object. Therefore, they are able to rule the development process on the higher levels. A User Experience designer is also a profession that may be acquired by more creative QAs. They test products not only in terms of bugs and errors but also in terms of appearance.
The list of possibilities can be extended even more, yet the main career path that QA may pave — is a QA engineer. Strategic thinking, business-oriented approach, and solid knowledge of testing tools and techniques are the major factors for building a successful career. Nowadays QAs can prove their skills by passing the test of ISTQB and receiving the according software tester certification.
Testing engineers of TestFort QA Lab are certified, award-winning professionals with 17 years of experience in their field. We aim for IT field prosperity, and this is the reason we welcome every tech enthusiast to join our free QA Educational Program in Cherkasy, and grow from Trainee to an expert with us. Starting your IT career with a QA Trainee position is great, because you will learn all the peculiarities of this business in action, guided by mentors with extensive and valuable experience.
