How to Become a Software Tester

Software testing is a critical element of the ever-growing app development industry and involves verifying a  computer system or programme to determine whether it meets the intended requirements and produces the desired results. You will also identify bugs in the software product or project, helping to provide a better final product to the consumer. 

Employers will look upon a bachelor’s degree in computer science, maths, or engineering favourably, although this is not always required.

If you have hands-on experience, strong work history, and positive references, and some sort of certification or qualification, it is still possible to land a job. The more years of experience you have, the higher your chances. Demonstrating that you have essential testing skills and a willingness to learn will help you land software testing jobs. 

Obtaining a certification will help to prove your dedication and set you apart from other candidates. Many software testing course certifications are vendor-neutral, meaning your skills will be recognised across all aspects of software testing. Some popular certifications include ISTQB Software Testing, Microsoft MTA Certification, and Certified Penetration Testing course.

Depending on your current education, you may either wish to upskill by way of a specific certification or complete a Diploma or bachelor’s degree in computer science, maths, engineering, or a related field.

You may also wish to learn programming languages in your own time, take coding courses, or participate in hackathons to develop your skills, network, and make yourself more desirable when searching for a testing job.

Learning the fundamentals is a savvy place to start. You may already have a grasp of information technology. You can start learning about HTML, functional testing, SQL, Python, and performance testing from that point. Bolstering these technical skills will help. 

Of course, it’s not all about technical skills. It would be best if you also worked to strengthen a set of strong soft skills. These will include project management, communication, and working with other team members. Ensuring that you have a well-rounded skill-set will help you on your career path. The more you invest in yourself, the better your software testing career will be. 

You may want to get certified by the international software testing qualifications board when it comes to qualifications. Having this acclaim will help you land jobs as a software test engineer or a software tester. It proves that you are familiar with various software systems and understand software applications too. With the certificate under your belt, you may find that it’s easier than ever to gain software tester jobs.

The following set of skills is recommended for people aspiring to profitable careers in software testing:

Software testers are at the frontline of quality assurance, diving deep into applications to pinpoint bugs and interface issues. Tests are conducted at different stages of the software life cycle and may look at stress, performance, functionality, scalability, and user acceptance.

A tester will typically be brought in at the planning and design stage of a project and may remain to provide post-release support as well.

Software testers typically work in DevOps teams that develop vendor software, saving users from buggy software or applications while reducing the tech support inquiries the vendor has to respond to.

While the job of a software tester is a highly varied one, below are responsibilities that define the software tester role, and you can expect to have to carry out regularly upon starting employment.

An entry-level software tester will typically begin with executing tests. As they gain more experience, they will work on designing test cases themselves. Eventually, you might become a test manager who oversees and coordinates a team of testers or branch out to become a software developer, test engineer, or QA tester.

Software testers have the opportunity to work in any number of fields, given the widespread use of software and apps in all types of organisations.