Software testers are the backbone of any top software testing company.
This is because they are responsible for ensuring the quality of the product or project.
It’s easy for anyone to say I’m the best among software testers. But how can you tell if it’s true?
First, note that testing isn’t for everybody.
You’ll need to be a creative and technically minded person to be a quality software tester.
The growth and execution of software are vital to organizations.
And right now, there’s a growing need for skilled software testers who sincerely enjoy testing.
The requirement for software testing became important as companies discovered that they could save more by applying a testing process.
To succeed as a great software tester, there are vital qualities you must have at your disposal to stand out.
And, in this article, you’ll learn what these key qualities are all about. Here they are:
1. A Good Tester Should Be Intelligent At Reporting
For the entire day, you worked diligently. You executed numerous test cases, marking them as either ‘fail’ or ‘pass’ in the test management tool.
What would be your outcomes at the end of the day?
The reality is that nobody is interested in seeing the number of test cases you executed.
People want a concise and accurate description of your entire task.
It would always be better to write your status report to the client as follows:
- What you found (with bug numbers),
- What you did (in no more than 3 lines),
- And what you’ll do next.
2. Ability to Systematise and Prioritise
In the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC), software testers are heavily involved in testing activities.
Consider a scenario where there are countless bugs to validate on the tester’s plate.
Then, you need to prioritize your vital tests, which will help make test execution smooth and efficient based on priorities.
Do not carry out the test cases without systematizing and prioritizing them. “Test for quality”.
As you are aware, software testing encompasses a range of activities, including documentation, communication, and timelines.
So, if you were able to prioritize and execute the important test cases. In that case, you do not need to cut down the cases in time pressure situations.
You should bear in mind the historical data before managing, prioritizing, and organizing the test cases for execution.
3. A Great Tester Must be Client-Oriented
This is a non-negotiable. Good Testers must always try to make their customers happy.
You must recognize that clients don’t possess the same technical skills as software testers.
Customers may not necessarily have the expertise in the technology or domain.
There’s no possible way the customer could have thought about all the potential conditions and use cases that may arise.
So, as a tester, you must utilize your software testing skills more effectively, considering your customers’ mindset, while delivering the product that your customers actually want.
They must do the following:
- Have sound technical knowledge to regularly execute tests
- Recognize which tests should be automated at which layer
- Use the accessibility of several testing tools
- Provide valuable metrics to the organization
- And pick the suitable and latest set of tools to simplify the testing effort
4. A Good Tester Should be Open to Learning And a Quick Learner
Great software testers must be well-versed in various technologies. Also, you must always:
- Stay up-to-date with the latest technology
- Be open to learning new automation tools
- Use the most recent techniques during testing
- Generate innovative ideas
- And learn from their experiences
The testers at Quality Logic don’t just validate software programs. They are also passionate about their work and provide proposals to improve the product.
Software testing isn’t an easy task because it requires continuous learning and adaptation.
When you gain the knowledge and proficiency in a specific scripting language, you also do the following:
- Keep up with current techniques and technology
- Learn automation tools
- Learn from experience
- Learn to create ideas and how to constantly succeed
5. A Great Tester Should be Transparent in Testing
In the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC), it is not possible to achieve 100% testing coverage.
So, it’s best not to promise or state on paper that you can achieve 100% testing coverage.
Your focus should be on achieving quality testing instead of concentrating mainly on 100% test coverage.
You should be transparent when it comes to the testing and QA activities. The testing progress should be accessible to those who want it.
Before you start any project, it is important to understand the threats and design associated with it.
Then, you can execute test cases that consider the risk.
When we talk about risk management, there are various vital aspects linked to it, such as risk analysis, risk recognition, and risk mitigation.
6. Should be a Good Observer & Keep Track of all Things
Great testers should examine and observe every single thing happening around them.
You should keep track of everything, including both minor and major aspects, on your project.
Observe how the code is developed, the types of testing, and what their purpose is.
Don’t stop there. Also monitor and recognize the test progress, and make necessary changes if it deviates from the original testing activities or schedule.
Conclusion
In all that has been said, software testing takes a unique set of skills.
You can hire a qualified and dedicated Quality Assurance team, such as Quality Logic, that covers both soft and hard skills.
If you aspire to be a software tester, you can be informed by these qualities to adjust yourself where necessary.
And if you love what you just read, you can get more valuable articles on CNET.
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