Software Testing.
Would you consider this as a career? Since I started in this profession I have encouraged and motivated other people to be involved in this industry as I know that it can be stimulating and more importantly financially rewarding.
Testing itself is a very transferable skill with many job opportunities available.
Check out a recruitment site and look for software tester / System Tester / User Application Tester
Salaries look reasonable? Pretty much, plenty of jobs? Pretty much, Of course like any industry the job market goes through peaks and troughs but IT or ICT rarely has a slump that lasts for long and in all my time in this industry I have rarely saw the job market for testers dip.
Stuff always needs tested. To not do so introduces risk and companies do not like risk
So What is it?
We make sure that stuff just works
Have you used buggy software? I bet you have and its infuriating. Whether its an app on your phone which keeps crashing or something that causes your pc or laptop to run like a dog because it starts consuming all the memory.
We have all been there. Its a pain.
So what can be done to prevent buggy software getting into the wild? -
Software Testing that's what.
Making sure that the end user doesn't have to have a sh!tty experience when using something.
An example.
You go to an ATM and put in your PIN and request to withdraw some money. Well providing its the correct PIN and there were sufficient funds then you would expect the money to be dispensed. If it didnt then the
software would probably not be working correctly
Thats what us software testers do. On a fundamental level we test things to make sure that they operate correctly.
Is that it?
Well, obviously there are more aspects to the job than that but ultimately we check for bugs in a software application and help decide when the software is ready to be released in the wild.
One thing I will stress right now to any who have ever considered this as a career is this.
You do not necessarily have to come from a technical background to be a good Software tester
So lets say you fancy a career change or you are looking for a new challenge? What qualities make a good tester? Here are a few that stand out
Attention To Detail Great testers have an eye for detail. Making sure that all scenarios are covered and that things arent missed.
Curiosity Curious software testers like to think out of the box, attacking a system in a way that the developers or business would not expect the system to be used.
Analytical Skills A biggy. The ability to absorb documentation or take feedback on a system and convert that to tests that can be executed.
Patience/Tenacity A good tester will doggedly attack a problem or refuse to give up when investigating an issue.
Good communication skills A tester has to engage with many distinct parties on a project. Often working in a high pressured team delivering software to tight timescales. Its vital that they are confident enough to communicate well verbally or via reports and documents.
So to wind this post up...
So this is something that appeals to you? What to do next? Well if you have any sort of IT or ICT experience you can often just start to apply for
these roles after having tailored your cv toward the job spec remember, no lying though!
If you do not have any experience in the IT/ICT industry then do not fret. Look for trainee or junior tester roles. If you are currently working in an organisation approach the IT department and explain you are looking for experience in this field as it is something that greatly appeals to you.
Once you get your foot in the door you will be able to quote your experience if looking elsewhere.
If either of these options are not available try volunteering. There are many software companies or apps that advertise for beta testers. Anything you can do to gain experience which you can then build on will help.
There are a wealth of articles out there on the qualities required to be a good tester. Google is your friend.
There is a great infographic on the following site about different types of test personalities which is worth checking out.
http://reqtest.com/testing-blog/what-makes-a-great-tester-infographic/
Depending on the response I might write some slightly more detailed articles on this subject. Let me know if you fancy seeing any.
I am often on chat, feel free to pm me if you want any more detail or even just to discuss testing in general..
This actually interests me, let's definitely chat soon!
Nice post
I heartily agree!!
This. You will be testing software/games at times (especially if you are new to the testing industry) that will infuriate you with how buggy it is. Constant crashes, blue screens etc., but your job is to continue working through them no matter how horrible the experience.
Absolutely, the horror of new untried code!!. But that feeling when you see something you have had a hand in hit the public. It's quite a buzz!
What about that site User Testing worth a look? I think the idea is you test websites and record your experience. Pay doesn't seem great tho
Will check this out. Pay might be rubbish but if a means to gain experience then great
it sounds interesting and incredibly frustrating at the same time.
That's a very good summing up of it!!
Thank you for the article. Everything is painted in detail!