10 Things Every New Software Tester Should Learn
Suneth Sandaruwan
Senior Automation QA Engineer at Mediwave | Selenium | Cypress | SoapUI | Appium | API | Cucumber BDD
In today’s digital world, software quality is key to the success of every organization ?? Customers keep coming back for quality products and services that work seamlessly without issues.?Testers are the unsung heroes of software development who enable organizations to deliver high-quality software at a rapid pace.
Therefore, it’s no wonder that software testers are in great demand, and that demand will only increase in the future! According to?global market insights, the software testing market size exceeded USD 40 billion in 2020 and is estimated to grow at over 7% CAGR from 2021 to 2027.?
If you are just starting out in testing or have been doing it for a while, you should read this article till the end.?This two-part series discusses ten things you should learn as a new software tester to navigate a successful career in software testing. Let’s get started!
1. Fundamentals of Software Testing
Solid foundations serve as essential building blocks for a tester’s success. Some freshers undergo testing training before pursuing a career. However, the majority of people get into testing by accident and do not receive any kind of testing training.?
Hence it’s crucial to identify and address the knowledge gap in your fundamentals. Testing fundamentals cover the knowledge about basic testing concepts, terminologies, levels of testing, testing approaches, testing techniques, test case design, psychology of testing, test management, defect tracking, etc.?
Numerous online resources are available for testers, but some are inaccurate and misleading. There are several?software testing misconceptions. If you are already trained in testing, there is still a good chance that you may need to unlearn and relearn a few things that you have been taught.?
2. Bug Advocacy
A?bug report?is the most visible part of a tester’s work ?? It shapes how your readers perceive you. Bug reports are not just technical reports. They are persuasive writing.?Hence, writing an excellent bug report is essential for new and veteran software testers.
A good bug report should have all the technical information required for the developer to fix the bug. Furthermore, it should capture the information stakeholders to decide which bugs to prioritize.?
A tester’s job does not end after creating a bug report; it also involves advocating to fix the correct bugs at the right time.?Bug advocacy is about making people want to fix your bug by anticipating and dealing with objections.?
However, testers need to realize that it is not up to them to decide whether or not a bug is fixed. The business makes the decision by considering various factors. Bug advocacy is bringing forth the facts about bugs, presenting them clearly, and then leaving the decision to the business.
3. Software Development Methodologies – Agile
To develop software, organizations utilize a wide variety of development methodologies. Agile software development has been around for more than two decades and now has become the de facto approach for software development. In recent years, there has been a meteoric rise in Agile adoption.?
There are several collaborative Agile frameworks, such as XP (Extreme Programming), Scrum, Kanban, etc. Scrum is, without a doubt, the most popular agile methodology used by teams worldwide.?
Scrum?is an iterative, incremental agile model where testers work in cross-functional and self-organizing teams to deliver high-quality software. In contrast to traditional development methodologies, teams work in shorter time slots, known as sprints ?
Testing is embedded into the development process and aims to discover bugs as early as possible. In Scrum, the team receives feedback from end-users, allowing for the continuous improvement of the software product.??
As a new software tester, you should understand the principles of Agile and how to work in a collaborative environment. Preparing to work in an agile workspace will boost your confidence as a new tester.
4. Proficiency In A Programming Language
It is not necessary to know a programming language to begin working as a tester. However,?learning coding concepts will make you far more effective. Testers, in my opinion, should be familiar with at least one programming language. This expertise will lay a strong foundation for a test automation career.?
Unfortunately, most of the new testers start chasing automation tools at the start of their career. Software testing is commonly misunderstood as non-technical; programming is only required to automate tests.?
There are countless benefits of learning programming ?? Learning to code gives you superpowers. It helps you with your day-to-today tasks such as test data generation, automating repetitive processes and tasks, and non-functional testing such as security, load, and performance testing, among other things.?
The most?popular programming languages?among testers are Java, Javascript, and Python.?There are a plethora of resources available for beginners, so choose the one that feels appropriate to you. Look for everyday testing tasks and ways to put your newfound skills to work once you’ve started learning a programming language.
5. Test Documentation
When working as a tester, you’re expected to generate a set of artifacts throughout the development process. These test artifacts provide information and insight into the testing process to stakeholders.?Documentationreduces uncertainty about software testing activities increases transparency, and enables a systematic approach to testing ??
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Regardless of your career path, documentation is vital to your career success. The documents you create reflect your quality of work and professionalism. Newbie testers should learn to develop common test artifacts such as the test strategy, test plan, test cases, test summary, reports, etc.?
6. Thinking Critically
To meet the needs of the customer, a tester must think like the user. It is much easier said than done. To accomplish this, testers must think beyond the obvious. They must experiment, question, think logically, explore new ideas, examine the software from many angles, and devise innovative solutions to problems.?
Testers need to analyze information from various sources and reach an objective conclusion.?Every JD (job description) lists critical thinking/thinking outside the box as a requirement for entry-level testers ?? Unfortunately, neither new nor veteran testers are ever taught to think critically.?Below are a few quick ideas to think critically:
7. Test Automation
As a tester, you often have to deal with tedious tests. You can make your life easier if you know how to use one automation tool. Testers are relying on test automation to improve customer experience and shorten development time for organizations. Automation tools are critical for increasing test coverage.??
Moreover, they increase confidence while keeping costs down. Automation frees testers' time to focus on tasks that require creativity and human intelligence.
Nevertheless, test automation is not a?silver bullet. The purpose and role of test automation are very often misunderstood. As a result, ensure you understand test automation’s limitations and set reasonable expectations.
To stay ahead of your competition, you must be familiar with the latest trends in software testing ?? Explore free AI-powered?codeless automation tools like?TestProject?to get started with automation with minimal coding skills. Even for those new to automation,?TestProject?is simple to learn and adopt.
8. Soft Skills
Software testing goes beyond testing and automating applications. New testers must understand that soft skills are just as necessary as technical skills.?Soft skills?are non-technical skills required for you to succeed.?
Testing involves collaboration and interaction to get the job done. Software testers frequently communicate with people outside their roles to ensure a successful release. They need to have the ability to communicate with both technical and non-technical people.?
Testers need excellent written and verbal communication skills to interact with developers, managers, customers, and stakeholders in a way they can understand.?
The?State of Testing 2022 report?highlights communication skills as one of the most essential traits testers need to succeed ???Communication is not the only soft skill. It’s one skill among the huge range of soft skills represented below in the word cloud:
9.?Domain Knowledge
The basics of testing are no longer sufficient for testers to succeed. Testers need to be subject matter experts in a specific industry or discipline. Today, testers with domain knowledge are in high demand.
a person with domain knowledge can add greater value to their team by identifying defects linked to core functionality through their relevant domain knowledge, experience, and expertise ?? Such subject matter specialists require little time to learn similar products in the same domain and start.
Furthermore, they can understand requirements easily, provide valuable suggestions, and help their team make quick and effective decisions.?Testers pursue common domains like banking, BFSI, insurance, healthcare, technology, e-commerce, telecom, pharma, and so on.?
You can find several tutorials, articles, and videos online to gain domain knowledge. However, domain knowledge is best acquired through experience. Another way to improve your domain knowledge is to consult experts in a particular domain. They can provide you with the reliable information you need
10. Engage With Software Testing Communities
Communities offer an environment for people to grow. Communities provide opportunities to network and make connections that can help you advance your career ???Being part of software testing communities lets you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies.?
A community allows you to connect with thousands of testers worldwide to share ideas, learn from each other, and grow together. Diversity leads to many different perspectives, resulting in a broader understanding of any discussed topic.
Additionally, communities offer courses, webinars, blogs, conferences, meetups, events, and other ways to learn from experts.?Fortunately, many wonderful communities within the testing industry are devoted to helping software testers advance and grow in their careers.