Software Testing Career Path

What is Software Testing?

Software testing is a field in software development where the product is verified for all its functionalities and validated for acceptance by the public.

Software testing is a vast field that includes manual testing, UI testing, API testing, performance testing, usability testing, and many more types of testing. There are many popular testing tools like Selenium, Appium, Jmeter, Postman, SoapUI, Jenkins, Git, etc.

Education Qualifications Required for a Career in Software Testing

A bachelor's degree in the technical field is required to have a software testing career. Specialization in Computer Science or IT is always an add-on. Still, people with specializations in other domains like Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics are also found in decent numbers in software testing.

Hence, BTech/ B.E., MCA, BCA, and oerBSc- Computers are required. But if you don't have these degrees, then testing certifications like ISTQB and CSTE could also be beneficial to get into IT. Once you enter the basic level, that degree doesn't matter, but experience and skill do.

Career Path in Software Testing

Non Technical skills

• Creativity: Manual testing is a creative process. It requires exploratory testing skills. It is more random testing because using the same test case scenario would let many bugs go unnoticed.
• Analytical skills: Analytical skills is more related to observation. Not everything can be taught and studied. Most involve a bit of wit and common sense. How to analyze the problem statement and find multiple ways to solve it.
• Dedication: Testing is hard work. Long hours, priority bugs, and new challenges every day. Passion and dedication are both equally required. Testing is a field where experience is comparable to a term skill set.
• Communication skills: Communication is important in every domain. A tester needs to communicate with the client, developer, and manager and handle conflict situations. Hence, communication would play a key role here.

Technical Skills

• 1. Knowledge of UI tools: Basic knowledge of website designing and UI tools. HTML, CSS, Javascript, Bootstrap, and knowledge of Selenium with Java or Selenium with Python for website automation and Appium for mobile automation is required.

• 2. Knowledge of API tools: Knowledge of API, status codes, and tools like SoapUI and Postman. API testing and UI testing both are in equal demand.

• 3. Database and queries: As a tester, one should have good knowledge of databases. Working with queries PL/SQL, stored procedures should be on tips. Database testing is a huge part of the testing domain itself.

• 4. Jenkins and other DevOps tools: Jenkins is a CI/CD tool for building automation. A primary knowledge of git, GitHub, and DevOps is a necessity in the current scenario. As a tester, one should know both manual testing and automation testing.

• 5. Performance testing: Apache JMeter tests the server's load. Performance testing is also an in-demand required skill set. LoadRunner is also one such tool to judge the capacity of the server. Response time on receiving huge requests and analyzing the breaking point.

Software Tester Career Levels

Quality Analyst: After graduation with 0-level experience, you get a QA profile when you join a company. It is mostly manual testing, where you learn to write test cases and record them in an excel sheet or JIRA. You also get acquainted with various terminologies around QA, like regression testing, smoke testing, etc. Nowadays, even the entry level requires testing certification.

SDET: Software Developer Engineer in Test, which means a tester should be able to automate test cases, that is, write test cases. Hence, manual testing and knowledge of coding language become mandatory here. UI automation using Selenium and API automation knowledge becomes mandatory here. Usually, candidates who post two years of experience try to switch to an SDET profile.

Senior QA: After 2 years of experience, a candidate gets recognition as Senior QA. The tester knows the industry, is skilled, and is also capable of developing the framework.

Test Lead: Candidates with 4+ YOE can apply for a test lead profile. Here, knowledge of multiple tools to manage junior employees and develop a framework becomes part of the key responsibilities.

Job Responsibilities of a Software Tester

• Responsibility of tester at requirement phase

Understanding the requirement is as important for a developer as it is for a tester. The tester needs to ensure all possible case scenarios are covered and no functionality is left. Once the requirement is known, only the decisions like how much time is needed, what to automate, tools required, and staffing needs can come into the picture. Managers and Test leads are involved in this phase.

• Responsibility of the tester in the development phase

Development and testing are parallel processes as the Agile methodology is used mainly. Here, the main task is to create a framework to write test cases. Example using TestNG, maven, allure reports, Jenkins. Set up the environment for UI, API test cases, and performance testing.

• Responsibility of tester at testing cycle

Running test cases, generating reports, assigning bugs, and giving bugs priority are all part of the phase. SDET or QA does this. Knowledge of testing tools, manual testing, database and a programming language become mandatory here.

Compensation of a Software Tester

1. At entry level for 0-2 years experience average package is Rs 3 LPA-6 LPA for QA profile for fresher level as software testing career.
2. For 2-4 years of experience for a senior QA profile average package is Rs 6 LPA-9 LPA for a software testing career.
3. For 4+ years of experience as a Test Lead, the average starting package is Rs 12 LPA-18 LPA.

Why Software Testing Is a Great Career Move?

1. Software Testing requires a very basic level of coding. Hence it is the easiest way to get into the IT industry without requiring much coding knowledge.
2. The software testing industry is only growing daily, creating more opportunities. And it's always a good idea to join a booming industry.
3. Software testing allows remote work opportunities, and post covid everyone is looking for a flexible work environment.
4. Software testing is among the few industries where the sex ratio is also good. Making a better career option for women also.

Additional Resources

1. Interview Questions on Selenium
2. Manual Testing Interview Questions and Answers
3. Smoke Testing vs Sanity Testing