Software testing is a career with good growth potential and many opportunities for advancement. Testing experts will ensure product quality and avoid errors.
To become a software tester, you must equip yourself with knowledge and skills. Therefore, if you want to be a software tester, then the tutorials are for you.
With many years in the career, I will share with you all the information you need to find the best career path for you. Let’s go into the details now!
Job Description
In the first part, I will describe the actual work that a software tester undertakes. You’ll know what you need to do when you become a tester. Scroll down to see!
What Is A Software Tester?
Software companies will conceptualize, design, and build applications according to customer needs. Each software has different purposes and uses.
The software development process also needs to go through many steps. In which the testing phase is indispensable before being delivered to users.
Software testing is an essential step for any application development unit. This process is to detect bugs that exist in their technology product.
Software testers will verify whether the application has met the quality requirements and can function correctly. This stage ensures the product meets the safety and security regulations and user needs.
Software testers are technical personnel responsible for the quality assurance of technology products.
They are the ones who detect the error of the applications and report it to the technical department with the expertise to make the necessary repairs.
Their work will minimize problems and damage caused by unnecessary software errors. Thanks to these experts, the software will work at its high performance and function properly.
Software testers can perform manual actions and run tests to find product problems. This method is rarely available because it is time-consuming and inefficient. Most application testers use encryption tools to perform their tasks.
A software tester is a vital position in a software provider business. They will ensure that the unit’s software is quality and can operate smoothly.
Duties and Responsibilities
Software testers must complete many different tasks during their working day. Here are the main functions for which software testers should be responsible:
- Determine the requirements that the customer requires in the software
- Create an application test script
- Detect software errors
- Analyze application vulnerabilities
- Developing high-performance test systems
- Report software backlog issues to the technical department
- Create coding programs that aid in software testing
- Interact with users to identify product problems
- Support users and provide app feedback
Where do Software Testers Work?
Software testing technicians will work at the company’s office. Your task is associated with applications requiring software testers to work with computers for long hours continuously. You won’t need to move around much, but you will often be under tremendous pressure during the project completion phase.
Their regular business hours will follow those of other companies. If you work as a software tester, you may be in the office to complete the task for 8 hours.
Many companies have working hours from 8 am to 6 pm. Some other companies may have modified working hours to suit job requirements and weather conditions, and other facilities.
At the project completion stages, deadline pressure can cause software testers to work in increased time. They may have to go to work on weekends or stay later every day. However, overtime is rare.
Education Requirements
The job requirements for a software tester are complex, so you need educational qualifications and practical experience in related fields. In the following section, I will cover a few requirements to ensure before entering this field.
Education & Training
First, upon receiving your resume, employers will look at your educational qualifications to make initial judgments. Candidates with advanced degrees will generally receive preference.
At the higher education level, they will need more specialized knowledge to handle everyday tasks well. These people can solve highly technical problems that many others cannot.
Many companies make a prerequisite for their candidates that they have a Bachelor’s degree. If you are looking to develop your career as a software tester, you should choose to study related to software and computer science.
Graduating in majors such as information technology, application development, and software management will be a big plus.
Further graduate-level study is also not a wrong decision. A Master’s or Ph.D. in work-related fields will increase your competitiveness.
Employers can rely on these qualifications to consider you for the opportunity to work in high positions. These positions require in-depth expertise and are more likely to advance at work.
Work Experience
In addition to educational qualifications, practical experience is also a factor that you cannot ignore. Companies love candidates with good practical experience. Many units will require you to have at least one year of experience.
University students apply for internships at software suppliers to gain experience. This process will help you better understand the job and the position you will take on in the future.
Additionally, this probationary period will also be an advantage for employers to consider choosing you while submitting your CV.
Certifications
To own a CV with great attraction to employers, you should pay attention to certificates. International Software Testing Qualifications Board Tester (ISTQB) is a prestigious certification you should conquer.
Software Tester CSTE is also a certification that can show your qualifications. Companies want to take advantage of a potential candidate who already owns these high-quality certifications for their software tester position.
Essential Skills
As a software tester, you must equip yourself with many necessary skills. These skills will improve your work efficiency and make it easier to achieve success.
Hard skills
To take up the job as a software tester, you have to have a clear understanding of the subject matter involved. The hard skills that I list below are the essential elements that a software testing technician should have:
- Programmability
- Knowledge of computer systems
- Learning how to operate the software
- Basic knowledge of SQL and databases
- Master application testing techniques
- Knowledge of the fields of information technology
- Good understanding of software testing methods and tools
Soft skills
More than basic skills are required to build a perfect software tester. It would help if you equipped yourself with valuable soft skills to solve the job’s requirements most convincingly:
- Control time well
- Good pressure resistance
- Problem analysis skills
- Organizational capacity
- Can prepare clear, concise reports
- Working in detail and meticulous
- Presentation and communication skills
- Ability to solve problems creatively and effectively
- Ability to work in groups and solve individual problems
- Passionate about technology and not afraid of difficulties
Essential Tools
If you want to work as a software tester, you need many tools to complete the task. I will introduce you to some practical tools many software testers use.
- Hudson
- Load UI
- SonarLint
- Wapiti
- TestDirector
- JMeter (open source)
- Gcov code coverage tool
- Netsparker Community Edition
- JUnit tool for Java verification
- QTP (record playback and script editing)
- GTEST cross-platform C + + unit testing framework
- SVN (code and document management tool)
Job Outlook
Software and applications are currently operating in many fields. More and more companies are focusing on investing in digital. So, businesses need to develop software to help manage data, operate systems, or solve financial problems.
Hence, the demand for software development is increasing, which means an increase in job opportunities for software testers.
The demand for software testers will increase in the labor market. According to the BLS, there is a 9% increase in software tester jobs in the coming years. This increase is higher than the average growth rate in all occupations.
A software testing technician can take on more advanced positions after having specific knowledge and experience.
You will probably become a test leader or a senior software testing expert. In this position, your responsibilities will be heavier. However, the opportunity to increase your income and advance in your work will be more open to you.
Salary
Each company will have different remuneration for software tester positions based on their work and responsibilities. Besides, income will increase with knowledge and working seniority.
Software testers with education degrees and industry experience will have commensurately salaries. After 3 to 5 years of work, you can raise your income from $89,209 to $100,549.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Software testing is a job that offers a high chance of success and career prospects. However, it also has dark and light sides. I will further analyze related issues in this field to help you understand the work overview.
- High salary
- Good advancement potential
- Professional working environment
- Professional development opportunities
- Cultivate thinking and creativity
- Create practical values for life
- Few opportunities to exercise
- Tasks are often monotonous and boring
- High work pressure to complete the project
- Requirements for degrees and certificates
- Must have a lot of technical skills and soft skills
FAQs
What are other names of software testers?
You may already know QA testers or QA for short. It is another name for software testers.
What are the types of software testing?
There are many forms for you to test software, each targeted towards specific aspects. These can be mentioned as Functional testing, Stress testing, Acceptance testing, Regression testing, Unit testing, Performance testing, Usability testing, or Integration testing.
Why is software testing necessary?
The process of building and developing software will only sometimes be perfect.
There are many possible errors in applications. Software testing allows developers to perfect their products before delivering them to their customers.
This work will also avoid severe failures due to software errors that significantly affect the operation of the system when it comes into operation.
What are the software testing levels?
There are four primary levels of software testing that a software tester needs to understand. From base to the system, those test levels are unit testing, integration testing, higher-level system testing, and finally, acceptance.
What are the main techniques used in software testing?
Two basic techniques provide the basis for evaluating software. That is white box testing and black box testing. Software testers can use different methods to test the application depending on the specific case and requirements.
Where is the most promising place to develop a career as a software tester?
According to job statistics, London is the friendliest city for software testers. It is where software testing technicians have the best salaries and benefits globally.
Is being a software tester hard?
Although the job of a software tester requires you to have many degrees and good skills, this is not a challenging profession to pursue.
As long as you have passion, hard work, and the ability to progress, you can become a potential software testing technician.
Is software testing tedious?
Many people who have worked for many years as software testers will probably find this job boring because of the repetitive tasks. Yet, striving to find ways to be more productive every day will avoid work-related boredom.
Do software testers need to know how to code?
Maybe. You should master some primary programming languages and coding to automate the work process. Testing software through code can help save time and effort and improve testing efficiency.
Career Advice
Software testers ensure the app quality and detect bugs in the software. They improve IT products to create real value and reduce the risk of resource loss.
This industry is a promising field. It can give you excellent training opportunities and an attractive salary. You should focus on building the essential knowledge base and necessary soft skills.
Acquiring suitable degrees and gaining work experience and the proper skill set will give you potential future employment positions.
Do you have any questions or concerns regarding software testers? Do not forget to leave your comments in the section below this article.
Good luck with your career!