You're stuck in a manual testing rut. How can you level up with automation through continuing education?

Embrace the shift from manual to automated testing as an enhancement, not a replacement. Automation handles repetitive tasks, allowing you to focus on complex and creative scenarios. Identify repetitive tasks to automate and consider how this transition can improve efficiency and accuracy. Recognizing these benefits will motivate you to learn and adapt.

Embracing the change is not enough, if your current employer does not. If they believe that manual testing is enough, then automation will be hard sell. It all starts at the top. Does the company value QA? If yes, then a case can be made for automated testing.

Transitioning from Manual to Automated Testing, in my experience, requires a coordinated effort from a Test Architect to involve all the QA personnel. The first step means identifying a minimal set of smoke tests that serve as entry criteria for Functional testing, be it exploratory or a checklist of the current feature. In my experience, leveraging test automation through Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) has been incredibly effective. Even the least technical engineers can contribute by defining 'Given-When-Then' features with a robust set of expected input data. With this foundation, more technically inclined engineers can step in to create other artifacts such as step definitions and Page Objects. I will be elaborating on this soon

To level up from manual to automated testing, start by embracing automation as a tool to enhance your testing capabilities, allowing you to focus on more complex tasks. Utilize online learning resources like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning to gain knowledge in automation testing. Practice by working on real projects, starting with small tasks and gradually tackling more complex ones using tools like Selenium, Appium, and Cypress. Engage with professional communities on LinkedIn, Stack Overflow, and Reddit to gain support and insights.

Embracing change means accepting and adapting to new circumstances or methods with a positive attitude. It involves being open to new ideas, technologies, or processes, and viewing change as an opportunity for growth rather than a threat. By staying flexible and proactive, you can navigate transitions smoothly, learn from new experiences, and continuously improve both personally and professionally. Embracing change helps you stay relevant and resilient in an ever-evolving environment.

There are plenty of youtube videos, and low cost online courses which one can learn about automation testing. Also, many websites like StackOverflow that deal with scripting for automated testing, can be very helpful in learning.

Start by exploring learning resources specifically designed for software testing automation. Many online courses, webinars, and tutorials are available to guide you through the basics of automated testing tools and scripting languages. Choose resources that begin with fundamental concepts and progressively cover more advanced topics, allowing you to build a strong foundation without feeling overwhelmed. Commit to dedicating time each week to study and practice these new concepts, and you'll steadily enhance your skills and proficiency.

In my experience, instead of focusing on the readily available learning resources, I build a network of support within my team. As a test architect, it's a priority to create an environment where senior engineers support junior engineers through mentorship and daily pair programming sessions. These sessions are opportunities to absorb ideas and best practices in a natural, hands-on way, favoring continuous learning over formal lectures, encouraging knowledge sharing and skill development across all levels, and ensuring that your team becomes more cohesive, proficient, and agile. By embedding learning within everyday tasks, we create a culture where growth is part of the workflow, not a separate chore.

Seek out learning resources for software testing automation, such as online courses, webinars, and tutorials. Start with basics and progress to advanced topics to build a solid foundation without feeling overwhelmed. Dedicate weekly time to learning and practicing new concepts to steadily increase your proficiency.

???Focus on both front-end & back-end automation together. ??Prioritize hands-on practice for real-world experience. ?Dedicate 30 minutes to 1 hour daily to learning. ???Stay consistent with your study routine. ??Regularly track progress and adjust as needed.

The first hurdle of getting the first tests written is exciting and usually has lots of support. The second hurdle of fixing the now broken tests can be demoralizing and make the effort seem less worthwhile. Testers involved in the automation should also train on identifying maintenance issues. Make tests more specific and simple. Utilize a consistent testing paradigm. Perform code reviews on the automation to identify issues before they arise.

Hands-on practice is crucial for developing automation skills. Start by automating simple test cases with a familiar framework or tool. Write and debug scripts to reinforce learning and experience the benefits of automation. The more you experiment and troubleshoot, the more skilled you'll become.

Expanding on the pair programming portion of the last post, it is of crucial importance that the team adopts this practice, since it drives skill development through collaboration. By working closely with a more experienced engineer, junior members can directly observe and apply advanced test automation techniques. This hands-on interaction encourages them to explore and research further, building confidence and competence, and minimizing constant "babysitting". Simple everyday activities, like automating simple test cases and debugging in real-time with a partner solidifies understanding of the automation workflow. Pair programming turns every session into an opportunity for growth.

Explore open source frameworks like Ansible, Jenkins, or Selenium to practice automating workflows, testing, and deployments.

Once engaged in the company's software testing community, it is necessary to look out for more resources outside the organization. This step usually comes naturally as the technical skill evolves, through the use of resources not limited to online forums, but enhanced with meetups and conferences. I am always happy to see how today's junior automation engineer later becomes a speaker in some of these conferences, sharing their valuable experience and practical advice. At the same time, they gain insight into the latest trends by networking, accessing diverse perspectives, stay updated on emerging tools, and can even find mentors to guide them through challenges.

Engage with the software testing community for support and insights. Join online forums, attend meetups, or participate in conferences to connect with peers and experts. These platforms offer opportunities to share experiences, ask questions, and stay updated on trends. Networking can also provide valuable mentorship as you learn automation.

Engaging with online forums or local user groups can help you share knowledge and learn from others. Communities focused on automation tools, AI, or even DevOps can be very helpful.

While certifications can offer validation, I don't consider them necessary from the start. In my humble opinion, what truly matters is focused, practical learning tailored to your organization's specific needs, and an environment of collaboration which fosters independent learning, instead of chasing a certificate. In my book, it's more useful to invest time in mastering the tools, frameworks, and techniques that directly impact our team's success, because real-world experience and the ability to solve actual problems are more valuable than any credential. There will be time to explore other topics which will eventually lead to an industry standard certification.

Certifications are a good idea - but the ones which employers value and actually want to hire people who have those, is a completely different question. If employers don't value the certification, there's no point in getting it. For example, the Certified Tester – Test Automation Engineer (CT-TAE) certification is well known - but only has one job in the entire United States that even asks for it, and it is only a preferred qualification, not required. (source: Indeed.com 8/21/2024)