Software testing is a profession which is quite in demand nowadays. It has been estimated that the number of software testers will increase by a whopping 60% by 2022. Software testing is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8% from 2016 to 2022. The global market size of software testing was $18 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $38 billion by 2022.

Software testing is an essential part of the software development lifecycle. It is a complex and time-consuming process that has to be done in a systematic and repeatable manner. 70% of software projects fail due to a lack of proper testing. It is a lucrative career. The average salary for a software tester was $77,000 in 2018.

Qualifications Required for This Job Role

Software testing is examining software to ensure that it meets its specifications. QA engineers also undertake programme testing to guarantee that the program is bug-free and ready for use. As a result, QA engineers must understand computer science fundamentals, programming languages, and application development processes. They should also be acquainted with test automation tools like Selenium, Appium, and Cucumber.

Prerequisites for becoming a QA Engineer vary depending on the company and industry. However, they frequently require a bachelor’s degree in computer science or technology, programming skills, and hands-on experience with numerous programming languages and tools. They should also be able to programme and troubleshoot. They must also be capable of working with various operating systems, databases, and programmes.

Qualifications of QA engineers are as follows:

• A bachelor’s degree in a field related to computer science, engineering, or mathematics.
• At least 5 years of experience in software testing.
• Experience with different software testing tools such as manual testing and automation.

Job Role and Responsibilities of a QA Engineer

Test Engineers are responsible for software testing and ensuring that it meets its quality standards. In addition, they work with developers to guarantee that their work is free of errors and that the product is ready for release. QA Engineers can also detect potential flaws or defects before they exist, allowing them to be fixed before the product is published.

QA Engineers are also responsible for building test cases and methods, reviewing data produced by automated tests, identifying potential product issues in production, resolving problems through troubleshooting or code adjustments, and reporting the results to developers.

QA engineers typically work on-site at software companies, while some work remotely. A QA engineer’s average day may include the following tasks:

• Analyzing the requirements of a program before it is developed
• Writing test cases and test plans
• Running tests on the software to ensure that it works as expected
• Reviewing the results of previous tests and analyzing them to determine what needs to be fixed or improved

Skills Required to be a QA Engineer

Analytical thinking skills, critical reasoning, and problem-solving abilities are required of QA engineers. They should always be able to detect software faults and problems. They must also be familiar with bug tracking, application testing, source code repositories, test automation frameworks, etc. Quality assurance professionals are the foundation of software development. These engineers are in charge of ensuring the quality of their goods.

Here are some of the natural talents that QA engineers must have:

• Critical thinking

With the increasing use of automation tools, QA engineers find it difficult to keep up with the latest software testing trends. Therefore, critical thinking is an essential skill for QA engineers because they need to ensure that the software developed does not have bugs. This will help them maintain quality standards and avoid future issues.

It’s not just about writing code anymore. It’s about understanding what is happening behind the scenes and ensuring that everything is working as expected. Critical thinking skills are essential in the software testing field because many people use automated tools to test code, so testers must understand how these tools work and how they can use them effectively.

• Problem-solving abilities

QA engineers need to have problem-solving abilities. They should also be able to design, implement, and maintain software. Software testing is when software is tested before being released into the market. It can help improve software quality and reduce the number of bugs.

QA engineers are responsible for finding and preventing defects in software. Therefore, they have to have a robust problem-solving skill set to find and fix bugs while developing, testing, or maintaining software.

• Knowledge of programming languages

QA engineers need to know programming languages to test software effectively. There are many reasons for this, but the most important one is that it allows QA engineers to understand the code and find defects more efficiently.

The first reason is that it helps them understand the code better and find defects more efficiently. The second reason is that it helps them design tests with less effort and time. The third reason is that they can use the pre-made libraries and frameworks available for different programming languages.

• Debugging tools

QA engineers are the ones who are responsible for testing software. Therefore, they need debugging tools to make their work more accessible and efficient. The essential point of a debugging tool is its ability to provide instant feedback. The engineer can focus on finding a bug rather than the device itself.

Debugging tools also help QA engineers by providing them with information about what is going on in the system’s code. As a result, they can find bugs earlier and fix them before reaching the production level.

• Mathematics

There are many reasons for you to know mathematics, and it is essential for your career as a QA engineer. The importance of mathematics in software testing cannot be overemphasized. The mathematical skills help testers find bugs in software and create more effective test cases.

Math skills also help you understand the underlying algorithms used by software, which allows you better understand the system and perform a thorough test. QA engineers should know math because they need it to make sense of the difficulties they run on software, which will help them get better at their job.

How and Where to Learn

Software testing is a difficult skill to master. Being excellent at it takes a lot of practice and experience. However, several online tools are available to assist you in learning the fundamentals of software testing. The most crucial aspect of studying software testing is to have a purpose or understanding of what you want to accomplish with the expertise. For example, if you aim to ensure that your company’s website functions as intended, you must first determine the intended result of your tests before you begin running them. There are many ways of learning Software testing online, including books, online tutorials, blogs, and YouTube videos.

Here are some options for you to consider based on your preferences:

• Self-Guided Websites and Courses
• Books
• Virtual Classes
• Non-Virtual Classes
• Starting Your Projects

LearnVern created a free software testing tutorial in Bangla to help students learn software testing. This course will teach you the importance of software testing and how to do it effectively. In addition, the free system offers a step-by-step guide on using automation tools like Selenium, Appium, and Robot Framework for effective software testing.

The courses are designed for people who want to learn how to test software but don’t know where to start. By the end of the period, you will be able to pass a preliminary test for software testers confidently. This course offers a comprehensive overview of software testing, from the basics to advanced topics, in a very easy-to-follow way.

Conclusion

Software testing has a wide range of career opportunities, and many different job titles fall under this field. Software testers typically work in organizations that create or support computer software. They may also work for a consulting firm or an outsourcing company to test the software developed by these organizations.

QA engineers often work for companies that develop computer software or hardware for sale and those that provide services to other companies. They are employed in large corporations and small firms with fewer than 100 employees.