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With the advancement in technology, all sectors are shifting to digitization. This has led to the growth of IT sectors worldwide. The IT industry has opened doors to opportunities that insist fresh graduates opt for a career.
Nowadays, people from different fields are switching careers from non-IT to IT backgrounds. This is because of better opportunities and better salaries than in other fields. A QA(Quality Assurance) Engineer job profile can be a good choice for non-IT background people as less coding and basic programming skills are required.
In addition to technical skills, specific soft skills make for a good software tester. Before you decide to switch a career to software testing, assess your skills to see if it is a good fit for you. In this article, we will briefly see what software testing is and guide you step-by-step on how to move into a software testing career.
What is software testing?
Software testing means checking software to identify and report bugs, ensuring it is easy to use and meets functional and nonfunctional requirements to produce a quality product.
Source: ArtOfTesting
Software free from defects ensures reliability, and high performance, which further results in cost-effectiveness and customer satisfaction.
What does a software tester do?
Being a software tester doesn’t mean you must always write test cases or test software. You must also generate testing reports, collaborate with team members to plan the testing, analyze bugs and understand the product requirements through client interactions.
Skills required to become a software tester
You must possess some tech and non-tech skills to build a lucrative career. We will walk you through the steps on how to become a software tester:
- Technical Skills
- Learn basics of software testing
It is necessary to start from the basics, which will help build a strong base in a tester’s career. You should learn and l thoroughly understand the steps of the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC). Software testers perform these phases multiple times in each software development cycle. One can also prepare some commonly asked interview questions for manual testing.
- Fundamentals of Database/SQL
With testing the system data also needs to be validated and tested. Hence, basic understanding of the database is required to validate data stored in the backend.
- Fundamentals of Linux commands
Web-based applications and databases are deployed on Linux environments. Hence, knowing some Linux commands and operations is suggested.
- Software testing automation tools
A software tester must know proper utilization of software testing tools. These tools help in the test management process which includes test case planning, execution, tracking and management. Tools like Testlink, QC etc. appropriately manage and track defects. To become a proficient automation tester you must know the automation tools.
- Non-Technical Skills
Software testers must develop good communication and verbal skills to interact with clients and collaborate with the development team.
- Analytical and Logical skills
Sharp logical and analytical skills help to determine things better. Testers identify bugs, prove a given piece of code, and test softwares in different environments, which requires good analytical skills.
QA professionals must be efficient in handling deadlines and thoroughly prepared with well-planned strategies.
A positive attitude towards the willingness to learn is another important skill. As a software tester, you must show a willingness to take up tasks and execute them with proper planning within a time frame.
Certificates are of great value as they will showcase to employers you have prior knowledge having completed something like a software testing course, and you are ready to make the transition. There are many certified programs, paid/free or online/offline, with a comprehensive curriculum with great studying content you can enroll in.
Software testing certifications like ISTQB, CSTE, CMST, and more offer different levels of certifications and are recognized globally.
Companies prefer candidates with more experience, so as soon as you complete the training program, be open to internships, part-time jobs, and even freelance testing jobs. You get more hands-on and real-life training as you work alongside experts. Moreover, you can benefit from many online resources to continue learning and growing in the testing space.
With the right skill, training, certification, and experience, a software testing career can open doors to opportunities and pave the way for a successful career. That’s all anyone from a non-IT background needs to transition to a software testing career swiftly.
