Show Stopper – How can I begin a career in testing?

I’m a mid age immigrant, former rocket scientist, a failed rockstar – how can I begin a career in testing? How do I know I have what it takes?

Answer: Michael Larsen

Wow, with that background, it sounds like you have the perfect credentials to be a tester (ability to look at situations with varying perspectives, a technical expertise that can be leveraged to help with understanding other technical aspects, and a dash of showmanship… never underestimate the value of a performing musician in the testing world, you’ll draw on it way more often than you think!). Beyond the significant talents you already bring to the table, you have to decide a couple of other things, such as:

• Do I have the ability and the desire to “wing it” when it comes to looking at a potential problem? If there is no script, can I make my own path, and help “find the pain”? If so, you just might have promise as a tester.
• Can I look at an application and say “you know what, I think there might be an error here if I do [fill in the blank]. Does something like that give you a charge of excitement? Then you just might be a tester in the making.
• Do you have a willingness to deal with ambiguity, and to work in situations where your ability to adapt to changing situations might be a lifesaver? If so, you just may have tester DNA in you.

Outside of these areas, a willingness to get into the head of a user and try to find the places that a developer or other testers might not can help you develop the chops to maker testing a full time gig. At the end of the day, though, realize it isn’t all glamorous. It’s often hard work, with a lot of repetition and rigor, but if you can handle that, then look for opportunities to get out and learn a bit about testing. Join some groups that are passionate about testing (like the Software Testing Club or the Association for Software Testing). Hang out with software developers and other testers and get their ideas and opinions (really, they’re a surprisingly giving group of people, and are often happy to share both expertise and known traps). Look for meet-ups based around technologies or areas that interest you. Consider contributing to crowdsource opportunities like uTest. Mostly, explore and learn, and see if testing fits for you. If so, look for more opportunities to participate, and build your body of work.

Answer: Perze Ababa

• Read, Read, Read
• Practice, Practice, Practice

We have enough material available online and in books to get you started on a testing career. Standouts include blogs/articles from Michael Bolton, James Bach, Cem Kaner, etc. For starters, you can also read Lessons Learned in Software Testing by Kaner, Pettichord and Bach, Perfect Software: And Other Illusions about Testing by Gerald Weinberg.

Part 2 is practice, you can’t master a craft if you don’t have the means to do it. The good news is, the Weekend/Weeknight Testers initiative does that. They give you the ability to practice a real life application with your peers of various levels of experiences.

In this line of work, you can’t be a tester if you don’t test.

Answer: Paul Carvalho

Why do you want to test? What is it that attracts you to it?

Have you searched the internet to see what web sites, articles, books, blogs, conferences or peer networks are available to help you learn more?

No? If not, then testing is not for you. Go do something else.

If you have, then you have what it takes. Congratulations! Take an active role in your learning and education in the field. Find roles and jobs that challenge you to learn more and try new techniques and approaches. Attend Peer networking events or conferences and get to know some of the people behind the words that you read on the internet and to share/discuss what you have learned so far.

Everyone you meet will have something to teach you. Will you have an open mind?

Answer: Naveed Saleem

To be a good tester a person should have at least:

• Analytical Skill
• Observation Skills
• Learning Skills
• Communication Skills

If you posses above skills you can surely be good tester.

Answer: Marc Morrell

I think if you can get your foot in the door by using the rocket scientist card, you can prove that you are detail-oriented, organized, and able to work with developers in a team environment, you should be fine. Even if you can only start with manual testing, then work your way up to learning and using testing tools, you can show you are willing to be the best you can be.

Answer: Adam Brown

If there’s one thing the testing community is crying out for at the minute it is a middle aged immigrant, former rocket scientist and failed rock star! One thing I love about this industry is that there is no set mould for the skills and qualities that a Software Tester should have. You might find that, as bizarre as this sounds, your range of jobs and experiences help you tremendously in your testing career!

Answer: Ajay Balamurgugadas

You can participate in Weekend Testing sessions and see if you like them. Rocket Scientist – I am assuming that you already have few important skills required for software testing.