How do you identify critical Quality Assurance skills for hiring and promotion?

1 Assess the core QA skills

Having core QA skills is essential for any QA professional, regardless of their role or level. These include knowledge of software development methodologies, such as Agile, Scrum, or Waterfall, and the ability to design, execute, and document test cases. Additionally, understanding software quality standards like ISO, IEEE, or CMMI is important for ensuring compliance. Proficiency in using common QA tools and software is also necessary. Finally, communication and collaboration skills such as listening, questioning, reporting, presenting, or giving and receiving feedback are essential. Assessing these core QA skills can be done through resumes, interviews, tests, portfolios, or a scoring system or rubric to rate the candidates or employees on each skill and compare them with the expectations and benchmarks for the position.

2 Identify the specific QA skills

In QA teams, specific skills relevant to a particular role or project may vary depending on the nature, scope, and complexity of the software product, customer needs, or industry regulations. Examples include expertise in a domain such as finance or healthcare; familiarity with a technology such as Java or Python; experience in an area of testing such as security or usability; and certification or qualification in a QA discipline. To identify these specific skills, analyze the job description, project specifications, or customer feedback. Additionally, consult with developers, project managers, or stakeholders to understand expectations and requirements. Finally, use targeted questions, scenarios, or tasks to evaluate candidates on these skills and see how they match with the role or project.

3 Evaluate the soft QA skills

Soft QA skills are often overlooked or undervalued, but they can have a significant impact on the quality of work and team dynamics. Examples of soft QA skills include critical thinking and problem-solving, creativity and innovation, adaptability and flexibility, and leadership and management. To evaluate these skills, you can observe, interview, or survey candidates or employees on how they handle different quality assurance situations. You can also use behavioral or situational questions to get a better understanding of their responses and reactions. By doing so, you can gain insight into their ability to think critically, innovate, adjust to changes, and lead others.

4 Develop a QA skills matrix

A QA skills matrix is a tool that helps you visualize and compare the QA skills of your current and potential employees. It can also help you identify the gaps, strengths, and opportunities for improvement and development in your QA team. A QA skills matrix typically consists of a list of core, specific, and soft QA skills that are relevant and important for your QA team, based on your assessment, identification, and evaluation processes. There is also a rating scale or a level system that indicates the proficiency or competence of each skill, such as beginner, intermediate, or advanced, or 1 to 5 stars. Finally, there is a grid or a table that shows the ratings or levels of each skill for each employee or candidate, based on their resumes, interviews, tests, or portfolios. You can develop a QA skills matrix by using a spreadsheet, a software, or a template; you can customize it to suit your needs and preferences. The QA skills matrix can be used to make informed and objective decisions about hiring and promotion in your QA team.

5 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?