So, you want to be a software tester, huh? Depending on whom you ask this could be deemed as either a wise career decision, or an incredibly dumb idea. Here’s a rundown of some of the things to consider when evaluating the field of software testing as a career choice.

WHAT DOES A SOFTWARE TESTER DO?

Quite simply, software testers evaluate software to find defects. This process involves running an application or program, and using various techniques to reveal the glitches. The overarching objectives are to make sure the program works properly, and to ensure that all the business and technical requirements have been met.

The testing process encompasses steps around planning and control, analysis and design, implementation and execution, and evaluation of entry / exit criteria. The execution phase is the highest-profile one, but can only be effective with proper planning, test case design, and project management. Overall, these steps are not necessarily linear and often overlap throughout the course of the project.

In terms of how it fits into the overall project timetable, the testing effort comes after the development of the business requirements, functional specifications, and the software code itself. That said, a key goal is always to identify the bugs as early as possible because it is much easier and cheaper to fix an issue sooner rather than later in the process.

SOFTWARE TESTING CAREER PATH

You will usually start out as a test analyst, which focuses on analyzing requirements, designing test- and use-cases, and executing tests. Once you have some experience under your belt you can then move to test lead or test leader, which is similar to a test analyst but comes with some incremental responsibility. From there, you might become a test manager / test consultant / test specialist and manage groups of test analysts or processes. From there you could move into higher level management positions such as program manager or even director of testing.

One of the best ways to accelerate your career growth is to earn an ISEB or ISTQB software testing certification. Start at the ISEB / ISTQB Foundation level and work your way up from there. Earning one or more of these certifications will help you stand out from the crowd.

UPSIDES OF A CAREER IN SOFTWARE TESTING

– With the proliferation of software in pretty much everything, the demand for good software testers will never wane.
– Software testing has a well-defined career path.
– It provides transferable skills as well as an excellent grounding / knowledge base for other career paths.
– No two projects are the same, so there is some variety in the workload.
– The industry has certifications you can leverage to accelerate your career progression.

DOWNSIDES OF A CAREER IN SOFTWARE TESTING

– Testing can sometimes be tedious and repetitive.
– You will face stress and tight deadlines every day
– Despite its unquestioned necessity, some corporate areas look down upon the software testing function because they erroneously view it as grunt work.
– Testing can be a slippery slope; deciding where to stop can be a challenge.

CONCLUSION

A career in software testing is not for everyone. If you are not naturally curious, or if you do not like to involve yourself in tactical details, then software testing is not the career for you. But if you are analytical, enjoy solving problems, and are inherently pessimistic then it is something you should look into.

The software testing industry offers huge and increasing demand for its services, well-defined career paths, and the ability to learn transferable skills, and therefore presents excellent career opportunities for self-motivated individuals.

Author Bio: About UniversalExams.com UniversalExams.com provides cost-effective self-study training packages for ISTQB and ISEB software testing certification exams. Packages include study guides, practice exams, audio tutorials, flashcards, worksheets, and more. For more articles from universalexams.com, and permission to reproduce these articles on your own website, please contact us.

Category: Career
Keywords: istqb, istqb foundation, ideb