10 Signs That You Are Cut Out to Be a Software Tester

Finding the correct professional niche is critical to a fulfilling career. Don’t you think so? We’ve all worked part-time jobs to help pay the bills in high school and college, even if the work was tedious. In the short run, that is a sensible arrangement. After all, you already know something greater is on the way. There is no time to waste after you have started your professional career.

How do you know if you should work in software testing in the software industry? Many people get into the role unintentionally because they value quality. You might, on the other hand, excel in creating and executing processes. Does this imply that you should work as a full-time software developer?

What to expect in this blog post?

You’ll find out if software testing is right for you in this quick tutorial. Here’s how to put this guide to work for you. If you agree with five or more of these ideas, then…

Congratulations! You’ve discovered the ideal software position.

If you agree with fewer than five of the principles, it’s time to rethink your career path. Look for opportunities to delegate some or all of your software testing duties. If it doesn’t work out, you might have to take a more drastic move and look for a new employment.

1. You are known for process and discipline in your work

The most effective software testers are noted for their process-oriented mindset. They enjoy creating and implementing systems, checklists, and procedures to help them in their task. If you have a process mindset, you’re probably the type of person who creates “standard operating procedures” at work and at home on a regular basis.

Have you ever found yourself speaking out in meetings or debates about the need for more process? That’s a great sign that you understand the importance of procedure and can apply it to your organization. After all, software testing necessitates the ability to collaborate with others.

Simple checklists are used in medical, aviation, and other industries to save lives and avert catastrophic errors. Check out Atul Gawande’s “The Checklist Manifesto” for more information about checklists.

2. You are known for effective confrontation

Consider the following scenario:

You’re working on the beta release of your company’s flagship product as part of your software testing process. You discover a critical test failure that will prevent 50% of your users from performing a critical task, such as data saving.

How you manage that revelation reveals a lot about your suitability for software testing. If you gleefully rub your hands together and smile broadly, it’s a good clue you’ll enjoy software testing.

However, identifying an issue is only half of the story. Well, done if you meticulously document your findings and offer suggestions for possible remedies. You’re the kind of software tester that businesses require.

Unfortunately, that might not be enough. You may need to go a step farther and approach people about the problem and demand a solution. It may not be enough to just recognize an issue and make a substandard effort. That’s how minor issues turn into full-fledged crises.

3. You use a variety of software testing tools

You know that tools have the potential to improve your effectiveness as a software tester. Naturally, you’ll begin by investigating the software tools given by your organization. After all, those technologies are almost certainly already tailored to the company’s operations.

However, simply using the tools supplied and “sticking to the script” isn’t enough. Keeping an eye out for new tools is a wonderful professional habit to acquire if you want to get ahead and ship exceptional software.

Advanced Tip: Do you ever find yourself inquiring about the testing tools used by other software testers? Reading discussion threads where different tools are compared is another option. Those are indicators that you had the right mindset and commitment to thrive as a software engineer.

You can keep up with the latest tools by attending meetups and conferences on a regular basis. A rock star software tester, in my opinion, is constantly seeking out and trying with new software testing technologies.

4. You know what the business and customers want from the software

What if you arrive at work the following Monday to discover that you have over a hundred problems and test cases in your queue? You must be linked with the business in order to make wise decisions and priorities your time. What is a software tester’s method for determining what is important? It’s straightforward. Make time to meet with product managers, marketing experts, and end users. Ask them questions like, “What problem do you want to address?” and “How do you want to solve it?”

Consider the following scenario: you’re a software tester for a financial services company. This application will handle millions of transactions each day once it is in production, and it will be constantly hacked. As a result, the client will demand proof – comprehensive, extensive proof.

Habit Tip: When you’re focused on getting work done, it’s easy to lose sight of the business. Make a recurring calendar reminder to meet or call with someone familiar with the product and customers twice a month. This practice will keep you up to date on what the company requires.

5. You know how to explain bugs in a clear and compelling way

Did you realize that sales abilities are required for technical people to succeed? Yes, it is correct! You must market the value of testing to identify bugs as a software tester.

A skilled software tester is dedicated to quality and shines a light on the entire product. Some members of the team may be frustrated by this level of commitment, as they simply want to get the program out the door. Your capacity to communicate and persuade people will help you overcome that barrier.

Pick up Dan Pink’s book “To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others” for an introduction to selling and persuasive techniques. Pink argues that selling abilities are necessary for success in a wide range of fields.

6. You invest your own time and money to stay current on software testing and technology

You are living in the technological golden age. More books, websites, conferences, and tools are available than ever before. Those resources, on the other hand, are worthless unless you go out of your way to find them. You don’t have to work around the clock or every weekend. If you’re serious about achieving professional success in software testing, though, you should seek out books and podcasts to keep your skills sharp.

What if you only have a restricted budget for professional development? Don’t worry, you won’t be required to pursue a Master’s degree in software engineering. You can make significant progress in two hours per week. Let’s look at an example of how that might function.

• On your way to work, listen to a 30-minute software development podcast. Make a list of two new tool exploration ideas.
• Go over your notes from the podcast again. Your goal is to add one new technique or tool to your professional toolkit.
• Attend a Meetup session with other software professionals for one hour. Concentrate on having one or two in-depth discussions.

7. You have the heart of an explorer

The best software testers are curious by nature. You might appreciate Captain Picard’s science fiction exploration of the Star Trek universe in your spare time. You might have it on your bucket list to visit every country on the planet. For software testers, the desire to see, experience, and go off the beaten route is really valuable.

Assume you create ten test cases based on the company’s priorities and your knowledge of the product. That strategy will be carried out by a rookie tester, who will then call it a day. That, in my opinion, is insufficient to actually succeed as a software tester.

You must be the type of person who poses queries such as these:

• Video Game Testing. What happens if the character uses multiple weapons while running off this ledge?
• Database Testing. How can I force this database to crash by putting extra load on it?
• Smartphone App Testing. What happens to performance if the user’s network connection suddenly dies?
• Integration Testing. What is the user experience in Salesforce if a certain popular customization interacts with our service?
• Error Message Testing. Are error messages correctly displayed when I trigger malfunctions?

8. You bring an end-to-end perspective to your work

Consider how many specialized positions there are in a large software development team. You might have user interface designers, testers, product managers, project managers, and engineers on team with varying levels of experience. If you’re a tester, you should look for the whole picture from start to finish. You’re more likely to miss defects and failure spots that arise between systems if you don’t do so.

How can you have a complete understanding of a software product in order to evaluate it? To come up to speed quickly, use the following strategies:

Read the documentation

It may sound obvious, but you would be surprised how many testers skip this step.

Connect with project managers

By the nature of their role, project managers regularly interact with many different people. Ask them for any diagrams or charts that illustrate the application’s structures.

Read bug reports

If the organization has a bug report database, reading this material may prove helpful. Remember that you are seeking the big picture at this point so resist the urge to dive into solutions.

Evaluate your understanding with the Feynman Technique

Named after accomplished physicist Richard Feynman, this technique is an excellent way to put your end-to-end knowledge to the test. If you can explain the product’s component to a person with zero knowledge of the product (e.g., a brand-new intern), then you are off to the races.

9. You know how to read between the lines and see the invisible

If you can read between the lines, you have the potential to be an excellent software tester. For example, you may discover that a particular process takes substantially longer to complete than anticipated. Non-testers may not perceive much need to be concerned on the surface. After all, the software passes all of the tests.

This is the point at when the rubber meets the road.

A determined tester will notice the ramifications of poor performance. It’s possible that the cause is anything as simple as badly written SQL queries. You might also draw a line between this misfire and other issues found elsewhere in the product.

10. You are never completely satisfied with products and processes

Have you ever stood in a long retail checkout line and wondered how you could make it go faster?

Effective software testers approach their work with this perspective. Sure, you design and perform the tests that you and the rest of the team come up with. That is almost never enough for you. You can injure yourself if you push this strength too far, just like any other strength.

Is it possible to have too much software quality?

Yes, it is true! You’ve gone too far if the product is never shipped because it’s being constantly tested. Fortunately, there is a method for effectively managing this impulse. Make a note-taking document for the next edition of the app. You can then discuss your findings in a team meeting or when the next iteration is scheduled.

How Can You Develop These Software Testing Qualities?

In my experience, the finest software testers exhibit practically all of these characteristics. Don’t worry if you’re just starting started with testing. You can develop these skills over time if you have ambition and interest.

Consider the fourth item on the list: determining what the business expects from the program. You could begin by speaking with a sales representative from your organization. Salespeople usually have a good idea of what consumers like and dislike about software. That is crucial knowledge to have when it comes to software testing.