Be a test automation professional over the edge....

As I mentioned earlier being a great test automation professional is not a person who knows Selenium Java and just automation with a framework on Selenium. Though this is a part of the story, its not the entire story. There are more things that you should know and work for to be a successful test automation person.

Selenium is not the end of the story - Though every person should know Selenium as its the leading test automation tool, people who wants to grow in the test automation arena should also learn and posses skills to work with other test automation tools. Tools like Cypress, Rest Assured, Appium and even Windows Test Automation tools. The learning and familiarity with the tool stack is utmost important when you want to stay ahead in test automation.

Continuous learning - Test automation arena keeps on changing, tools come and goes and its the responsibility of a Test Automator to stay ahead and updated with such changes. He or she should be knowing new tools and new automation libraries availed in the industry.

Research and Experiment - A test automation person who wants to excel should do research and experiment new tools and libraries that will expand and enhance the test automation capabilities. Continuous research and experimentation is another source to enhance the test automation experience. Its a way that makes test automation people to be ready for any test automation challenges that comes in their career.

Out of the box thinking - Test automation person should always think beyond and look into new frontiers of test automation, tools and technologies.

Using best practices and standards in the industry - Test automation integrations and coding cannot be implemented for the sake of implementing. Best coding practices and optimization of code will give ultimate test automation solutions. Everyone should look into these while they implement the test automation code.

Learn infrastructural tools and technologies - We should not only focus on test automation tools, we should look at other support tools like CI/CD solutions, Source control and versioning tools, APIs to extent capability, etc. These comes handy for any test automation pro.

Share knowledge and participate in forums - A person who wants to excel in test automation should share their knowledge with others which helps the person sharing to be recognized and honored as skill professional in the industry. These sharing can be simple blog article, speech in a conference or a peer discussion.

Look at a platform or application and suggest solution quickly - A good and knowledged test automation professional should have tips and tools handy on his or her fingertips, so that optimal test automation solutions can be implemented quickly.

Should be able to drive the test automation practice within the organization and industry - An over the edge test automation professional should always self drive the test automation practice suggesting good tools to adapt, standards to use, predicting the test automation usage and path of the organization, even documenting them so it will be useful for any other professional who loves test automation.