How can you balance technical and non-technical aspects of automation testing roles?

1 Know your tools and frameworks

One of the technical aspects of automation testing roles is to master the tools and frameworks that you use to design, develop, and run your automated tests. You should be familiar with the features, capabilities, and limitations of your chosen tools and frameworks, and how to use them effectively and efficiently. For example, you should know how to write clear, concise, and maintainable code, how to use version control and debugging tools, how to select and apply appropriate testing methodologies and techniques, and how to generate and analyze test reports and metrics.

2 Understand the business and user needs

Another technical aspect of automation testing roles is to understand the business and user needs that your automated tests are meant to fulfill. You should be able to translate the requirements, specifications, and expectations of your stakeholders into test scenarios, cases, and scripts that cover the functionality, performance, usability, security, and compatibility of your automated workflows. You should also be able to communicate and validate your test results and findings with your stakeholders, and provide feedback and recommendations for improvement.

3 Collaborate with your team and peers

One of the non-technical aspects of automation testing roles is to collaborate with your team and peers who are involved in the process automation project. You should be able to work well with other automation testers, developers, analysts, designers, managers, and end-users, and share your knowledge, skills, and experiences. You should also be able to coordinate your testing activities with the project schedule, scope, and budget, and follow the best practices and standards of your organization and industry.

4 Learn and adapt to new challenges

Another non-technical aspect of automation testing roles is to learn and adapt to new challenges that arise in the process automation domain. You should be able to keep up with the latest trends, technologies, and innovations that affect your automation testing tools, frameworks, and workflows. You should also be able to cope with changing requirements, expectations, and environments that may impact your automation testing goals and outcomes. You should be open to new ideas, feedback, and opportunities to improve your automation testing skills and performance.

5 Balance technical and non-technical aspects of automation testing roles

As you can see, automation testing roles require a balance of technical and non-technical skills that complement each other. To achieve this balance, you should focus on developing both your hard and soft skills, and applying them in your automation testing projects. You should also seek feedback, guidance, and support from your mentors, managers, and peers, and learn from your successes and failures. By balancing technical and non-technical aspects of automation testing roles, you can enhance your value, credibility, and satisfaction as a process automation professional.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?