How should I plan for a career in Software QA?

Reputed, better salaries and access to extensive knowledge base, a career in QA assures stability and exciting tasks at hand

Quality & Assurance in software has businesses of all scales steering focus towards better quality control and attesting the end product as fine for market needs. In an endeavor to reach faster time to market and capturing real time data, Quality Assurance Testing tools can be easily customized and tuned to meet exclusive business needs.

If you look forward to switch professions to QA, these are some essentials you must adhere to.

Understand the prerequisites

A Software Tester has to possess deep analytical skills. Finding errors and defining their impact is a critical task at hand. Also comfortable handling with technical specs including programming is required. Before plunging at the course, be prepared to nourish yourself with these skills as well.

Begin from scratch

No matter what professional experience you have, don’t hesitate to start from the lowest level. People do sacrifice their designations and earnings for QA. Most companies would designate you as QA intern. Consider the bigger picture; imagine yourself as a Senior QA Analyst years down the line.

Get a high-level understanding

QA for software is not just running test scripts. More complicated yet influential QA tools have been custom built by consulting firms. Based on prior qualification, check if you fit in a related domain. For eg, Java developers can benefit if they select Selenium tool. Do a quick review of what you can vs. what more can be learned.

Pursue a course

Software QA courses are extensively available. However, considering the high business expectations and cut throat competition, it’s better to invest more in researching for an experienced institution. Pursuing Software Testing online training could be a time saving idea. It lets you access quality training at lesser costs. Adding to it real time project assignments and access to the tool for a difference.

You may like to read : What is Quality Assurance in Project Management?

Ask for tougher assignments

Sounds troubling but makes complete sense of you wish to master the tool faster. QA for Software might need deep programming knowledge and the scripting capabilities. For eg, Selenium is more critical and effective than Manual testing; however hands on experience is acquired to use it efficiently. Let your instructor challenge you with intricate test cases coming from actual projects.

Aim for upcoming areas

QA promises frequent innovation and thus emerging areas are gaining momentum. If you have a strong foundation with the usual QA concepts, learning and mastering new skills becomes easier. Expertise with QA skills of today will help you tap on Cloud Testing, Security Testing and SOA Testing.

Go through our Top 30 Interview Questions to crack the QA interview to crack the Interviews.

Plan for Certification

Software Testing accounts for one of the most popular certification exams in IT. Hundreds of candidates qualify every year and acquire recognition in different Testing areas. You could plan preparing for certification from beginning.

ISTQB and CSTE QA certification are two of exams with widest acceptance. Probe your institution and confirm accomplished guidance for them.

Planning for a stint at Software QA? Stay connected and act wisely.

Check out this insightful video on QA Tutorial for Beginners: