How to become A Quality Assurance Tester

• Quality Assurance Analyst
• QA Analyst
• Software Quality Analyst
• Software Quality Assurance Analyst

What do Quality Assurance Testers do?

A Quality Assurance Tester would typically need to:

• Develops test plans to test new and existing software, debug code and improve the usability of software programs
• Review and implement systematic test plans to improve software products and applications while keeping to defined timelines and budgets
• Collaborate with software developers and project supports to determine project scope and requirements
• Assist the developers in recognising potential operational issues, assessing risks and resolving issues before the new software is good to go
• Provide quality work output, screen for errors, refine usability throughout the software development and implementation process
• Design automated test plans, scenarios, scripts and procedures; conduct tests on source code and new software & applications to ensure that they satisfy all specifications
• Perform back-end testing of online customer interactions, using Structured Query Language (SQL) statements to ensure data consistency 
• Analyse test results, document defects in changelogs and share reports with the development team
• Run debugging programs in collaboration with the development team to correct bugs and errors
• Communicate with repair and modification technicians to troubleshoot hardware and software issues with problematic blade units
• Run additional tests before products are issued for sale to customers; manage departmental inventory

Most QA Testers work out of an office, although some can manage to work remotely. You will operate within a testing environment alongside a quality improvement team, with daily scrum/stand-up meetings, presentations and reviews. 

Although they have a standard work schedule, QA Testers are prepared to work evenings and weekends to meet deadlines.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. QA Testers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

QA Testers are generally employed by: 

• The High Technology Industry
• The Manufacturing Industry
• The Government
• Finance Sector
• The Consumer Goods Industry
• Corporate Services

Professional associations and organisations such as The Society of Quality Assurance are crucial for a Quality Assurance Tester interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation.

Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Incomplete and erroneous testing due to misunderstanding of company-defined processes
• Regression testing is impossible to control when the scope of a project expands
• Incomplete, inadequate and unplanned ad-hoc testing due to lack of skilled testers
• Level and frequency of automation
• Failure of one or more projects when a team handles multiple projects
• Migration or reuse of test scripts which are changing at highly accelerated rates
• The need to focus on finding hard-to-detect bugs
• Loss of focus due to the repetitive nature of QA testing
• Testing an extensive scale application on multiple hardware and software combinations can be time-consuming

Most manufacturing plants and corporations prefer to employ applicants who have taken some post-secondary courses in business administration and gained experience in entry-level quality control or assurance technician roles. 

Such candidates can progress steadily to the positions of test engineer, software test lead and test manager before they are considered for the post of Quality Assurance Tester.

Experience in Agile frameworks, writing complex SQL queries and PL/SQL procedures, running Unix shell scripts, JMeter, JSON and regression testing, would also prove invaluable.

Read about the profession and interview/shadow experts working in quality control or assurance to prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

Most Quality Assurance Testers acquire a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer information science, software engineering or network administration. An ideal course programme would include programming concepts, data structures, computer organisation, assembly languages, statistics, software engineering, artificial intelligence and computer architecture.

Some obtain a master’s degree in the fields mentioned above, while a few manage to get entry-level jobs with a high school diploma. Note that the latter is possible only if you have adequate work experience and expertise in test management software, programming languages and quality assurance methodologies to compensate for the lack of academic qualifications.

Make sure your high school classes include mathematics and computer science.

While not mandatory, specific certifications in quality assurance, project management, solution implementation, instrumentation, customer service, data management and business analysis at different levels can help Quality Assurance Testers begin or advance in this career.

Certification demonstrates your competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. 

QA Testers with desirable professional qualifications and experience will be considered for senior posts such as Software Quality Assurance Manager and Project Manager when they turn out high-level performances.

Candidates with professional skills and experience in general business principles have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active QA Tester build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. 

Most companies offer advanced on-the-job training to make good on their claim that testing or QA jobs are as lucrative as developer jobs.

CPD also allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge. You can acquire additional academic qualifications or certifications in quality control and business analysis to assume increased responsibilities with ease.

What Do They Mean?

Quality Assurance includes all the steps taken to avoid errors in the manufacturing process or the production of goods. It also factors in the consistency of services rendered, thus ensuring that the quality of service delivered to customers meets or exceeds expectations.

Test scripts validate the quality of the software or app being tested. An efficient test script includes all the steps necessary to use a software program and the result of each step.

A business process is a specific set of tasks performed to achieve purposeful and clear organisational goals.

Selenium is a free (open-source) portable framework used to test and validate web applications across different web browsers and platforms. Its use of programming languages such as Java, C# and Python allows the creation of test scripts without learning a test scripting language.

When Quality Assurance is a Priority

An organisation can choose to recognise QA culture as a revenue-generating process rather than a cost centre. They will then understand it is about quality management, experimenting with new ideas, and switching up testing practices and metrics to impact the entire workflow positively.

Communication is Key

Including QA Testers in multiple stages of a product lifestyle helps the organisation get vital feedback faster and improves communication and collaboration within the team.

The Early Bird Catches the Bug

When companies involve their QA Testers as early as the design or ideation stage, their product or service will undergo earlier testing and lengthier bug tracking. It helps them release the product with more confidence. 

When Automation Spells Increased Efficiency 

When repetitive tests that do not need human involvement are automated, it improves workflow and productivity. 

A Scalable Approach Can Overcome Challenges of Regression

Organisations that use crowdsourced QA Testers to complete functional exploratory testing ensure their QA team can run another round of regression tests every time new features are added to the software.

It helps pinpoint the software modules that can experience regression and averts the need to run a full test to ensure sufficient coverage.

QAOps Framework - How Does It Help?

QAOps is a combination of quality assurance and software operations. It entails developing the crucial feedback loops of blending, optimising and growing to enable structure, stability and growth. 

Such organisations will have the tools, development and business focus to deliver software at scale, speed and profit.

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing QA Testers have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.

On the other hand, a full-time QA Tester has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.

The history of quality assurance began during World War II when ammunition had to be tested to ensure it would perform as designed.

Looking for a career that challenges you to be a focused and patient team player who ensures valuable products and services? If you have an aptitude for math and computer science as well, look no further than the role of a Quality Assurance Tester.

“Software testing is not only ensuring the absence of bugs but also ensuring the presence of value.”

― Amit Kalantri