Top 7 Skills that are required to be a good test engineer

A good test engineer is both methodical and creative. They understand how to put themselves in the customer's shoes and think about all the different ways a product could be used.They also have a keen eye for small details, and know how to use various?tools and technologies to their advantage. Here are seven skills that every good test engineer should possess.???????

1. The ability to review requirements: A good test engineer knows how to review and analyze requirements. They also know how to identify gaps and inconsistencies. This skill is crucial because it ensures that the tested product meets all the requirements. Also, a test engineer identifying issues upfront will help identify defects earlier, reducing the cost of defect fixes. ??????

2. The ability to think like a customer: Testers should know how to put themselves in the customer's shoes while designing and executing tests. They understand that customers can be unpredictable and think about all the different ways a product could be used. Generally, most test design techniques do not help identify out-of-box scenarios; this skill is essential to ensure that the tested product is user-friendly and meets the customer's needs. ??????

3. A strong understanding of the domain: A good test engineer understands the domain they are testing. This skill is vital because it helps ensure that all scenarios are considered and that no details are overlooked. For example, if you are testing a healthcare application, you need to know regulations like HIPAA, standards like HL7, patient workflows, etc.??????????

4. The ability to manage time:?A tester should know how to manage their time effectively. This skill helps ensure that deadlines are met and that products are released on time. For example, a tester working in an Agile Sprint will get 15 or 20 days to design and execute tests. Therefore, it is important to identify all the test tasks upfront, estimate the effort, prioritize tasks, and track the effort spent. ??????

5. The ability to manage emotions: A good test engineer knows how to manage their emotions effectively. This skill is vital because it helps them remain calm under pressure and not get overwhelmed by their work. For example, one may need to handle scenarios like developers not agreeing to defects raised, a project manager asking you why a defect was not identified, requesting you to skip some tests, etc. ????????

6. Strong written and verbal communication skills: A test engineer should focus on acquiring written and verbal communication skills. Written communication skills will help to prepare test cases and document results and defect reports effectively. Effective verbal communication skills will help to communicate with developers, managers, and business analysts in status meetings, defect triage meetings, walkthroughs, etc.???????

7. The ability to keep up with technology and tools: Testers must keep up with the new technology and tools to their advantage. Knowledge of the underlying technology and platform will help identify test types, understand the technology limitations of your application, etc. Also, acquiring skills in various tools will help the tester to be more productive. For example, developing skills around a test design tool will allow testers to design high-quality test cases faster. ??????

We only discussed a few of the skills that are required to be a successful test engineer. A good number of these skills may come naturally; others must be learned through experience or formal training. However, having these skills will help you succeed in this rewarding career!