How can you master software testing skills in the current and future market?

?? Solid foundation of testing will help you to analyse or leverage the new tools ?? Learning new techniques is important but it should not be overwhelming ?? ?? Team discussion and guild session will help you to filter out only the relevant ones

Every tester should also understand how to estimate his/her work based on test preparation and test execution phases, understand metrics and KPI's around testing and be able to provide comprehensive updates on the progress of testing. In addition, every tester should be able to conduct static testing (requirements review, verification and validation).

Expand your knowledge of software testing. This includes learning about different software testing methodologies, tools, and techniques. You should also stay up-to-date on the latest trends in software testing, such as automation and AI. Software testers need to be able to identify and troubleshoot problems in software. They also need to be able to think critically and creatively to come up with effective test cases. This is especially important for software testers who want to automate their tests. Some of the most popular programming languages for software testing include Java, Python, and C#. The best way to learn software testing is by doing it. You can get hands-on experience by volunteering to test software for open source projects.

Master software testing skills by continuous learning, gaining practical experience, specializing, networking, staying adaptable, honing problem-solving abilities, improving communication, and considering relevant certifications.

Learning basics and implementing them is like establishing roots of your knowledge. Once your foundations are setup now you can decide or choose a path to learn more! Like for me I am really astonished to learn about functional & non functional integrations of software. I have started as a Android developer but now I am working as a QA Automation Engineer. Exploring and setting up your foundations are very important to decide what you want or like.

Embrace automation not a tool. Don’t think learning a particular will help you to get a job. These days people learn tools just to get a job, this is not a right approach. Learning the essence of that tool and need is really important and challenging at the same time.

Yes, agreed, if the product is stable enough to run the Automation , it is ok, but in manual testing , we can identify some uncover defects, which is not covered in automation script after any CR is implemented in the application.

As an tester, we need to understand the testing concepts in depth and then think how better it can be applied to automation. Then start identifying where the automation is really required , start automating critical flows , complete it up and keep updating your testcases from time to time. Never be addicted to any tools, as the tools might differ for each company/project , learn the automation concepts and implement them. Always maintain the source code in the GitHub/any SCM tools Paralellization, writing atomic tests ,writing assertions should nebver be an after thought in test automation.

I think QA teams should make Automation as a part of the QA process. Delegates the resources and time for Automation during each sprint. While Releasing the new features and changes, automated testcases should be the part of that release. Product Managers or Engineering managers should understand the importance of the Automation in testing.

Will just add a reference to the book - "The A word" by Alan Page. Provides some good insights towards automation and automated testing.

Automation is not the only future for testing. Also, functional testing is not the only testing. Get basics right. Grow your skills horizontally. I would suggest to learn and practice API testing, security testing, cloud security testing among others. Security, specially API security testing is very crucial for any organisation. It's required for your future

To expand software testing skills, go beyond basics by specializing in niche areas like security or automation, learn new tools and techniques, and stay updated with industry trends. Improve test design, communication, and domain knowledge, and gain practical experience with real projects. Attend workshops, obtain certifications, and embrace continuous learning to become a well-rounded tester adaptable to the evolving testing landscape.

Building connections within the community is a valuable strategy for advancing automation. Cultivating a community within your project or organization accelerates problem-solving and enhances the quality of solutions. Actively participating in meetups, webinars, and conferences not only expands our knowledge in testing and automation but also ensures us to stay attuned to the latest best practices, promoting a continuous improvement mindset.

Community is the best way to learn and extend one's network with like-minded people. Know your path and join respective communities to get knowledge from the experts and fellow people through workshops, webinars, offline/online meet-ups, and conferences.

Connecting with the community is a good way to enhance the automation. Forming an community inside your project/org helps you identify the problems quickly and get better solutions. Attending meetups,webinar, conferences helps to expand your testing and automation knowledge way far ahead and it also keeps one vigilant on best practices as well.

You can not learn everything from your own. I suggest my team members to be active in LinkedIn.It is great professional network. People are sharing their expert knowledge for free. They need to utilise it. There are lot of meet-ups and workshops happening online as well as offline. Do participate, network with experts in those meet-ups.

I like to share my rule here: I follow CURL rule. That is Continuously Unlearn ReLearn. Keep up skilling in latest technologies, cloud technology, security testing, automation etc. Unlearning helps you to free up your mind.

A few key factors to help you engage in your continuous learning path - Find your partner / Get connected with social media (LinkedIn/Twitter) - Do regular meetings with your partner/like-minded people - Select a topic during each meeting - Learn, unlearn, discuss, explore - Share your knowledge with the people - Stay updated with the latest trends - Join communities

- "Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist" as Pablo Picasso said - Connect to other testers and people with similar roles - Connect to groups of testers and read daily about their experiences - Learn about new technologies even if you don't use them or never will - Keep an open eye on bugs you encounter in everyday life and think how could they have been prevented

You have to assess yourself and understand whether you are good at being a QA engineer or a SDET. There are sublte differences. For example, a SDET generally tends to master BDD while a QA engineer generally tends to master TDD/ATDD.

Since software testing is directly related to software development, the deal with learning and evolving is pretty much the same: You got to keep up to date of the latest trends in the field, dive into new frameworks or methods, and get that the dev scene is always changing.

I believe that excelling in software testing today requires a strong grasp of the basics and a commitment to staying up-to-date with the latest developments. It's crucial to invest in continuous learning, including online courses and certifications like ISTQB, to keep your skills sharp. You should also focus on improving your programming abilities for automation, becoming proficient in relevant testing tools and frameworks, and gaining expertise in various testing areas, such as API, web services, mobile, and security testing. Soft skills are equally important, especially when it comes to effective communication and collaboration in Agile and DevOps settings. These approaches will ensure your readiness.

Following the trend might be sometimes overwhelming! So make sure to take it slow. Following the newsletters, press releases, conferences, magazines are some easy good examples!