QA Manual Testing: Essential Guide, Skills & Career Path

The picture below illustrates how AI will make testing code different in the coming years according to coders, according to Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2023. The picture below gives an overview of QA Quality Assurance Lead job Architect”s real-world job responsibilities. The picture below gives an overview of what penetration testers do in a company.

Career Growth in Software Testing: From Manual Tester to Test Manager

• It is essential to invest time in self-learning, attending industry conferences, participating in webinars, and joining relevant communities to stay connected with the ever-evolving trends within the field.
• It all means you need to be detail-oriented, pay attention to minor changes, and report your findings.
• Software testers must know the use of agile testing methodology, as most companies are implementing it in their software development process.
• You will need to work closely with team leaders and client representatives.
• A software tester is a professional who validates software functionality against specified requirements.
• To become a good tester in the field, you must possess good verbal and written communication skills.
• Gone are the days when manual QA testing solely focused on functional testing – ensuring that software meets its intended requirements.

This post explains the wide choice of career paths available in software testing after being a trainee, such as test automation, QA management or consultant. Those who have more automation skills are enrolled as Test Automation Engineers, Automation Testers, Quality Automation Engineers. A standard transition is from a Tester programmer skills to a Developer, then to a Manager.

Competitive salary

Or to determine what type of experience the user will have with the software. On the other hand, If you like leading a team and motivating people to do their best, consider being a Test Lead or Test Manager. If you are a Talented QA Manager, your can move up to a Senior Manager, Director or Senior Director.

What is Software Testing?

Alternative career tracks as a software tester can be Business Analyst, Performance Tester, Program Manager, etc. The database is an integral part of any software application where a large amount of user data in the background is stored. Organisations demand that the testers have expertise in database testing, maintaining quality, security and integrity. Data is stored in different databases like Oracle, MySQL, etc., in the backend.

Specializing as a Performance or Security Tester

Over the decade, the software testing field has undergone tremendous changes. It has created different levels and types of specializations, producing a vast career path. With high potential for career growth, being trained in the latest software testing trends and tools will help you thrive in the journey of a software tester. In software testing, repetitive, high-frequency tests are easy to automate. It’s the more complicated testing requirements that call for manual tester roles. These circumstances can mean you’re signing on for a challenging role in software development.

How To Become a Software Tester (Career Path)

Or, consider earning a Six Sigma Yellow Belt Specialization, a popular quality management strategy. You’ll explore testing tools used to define, measure, and analyze, as well as obtain an overview of the Six Sigma process and key principles you can apply in a quality assurance role. Other essential qualities for a QA manual tester include excellent analytical skills and the ability to communicate effectively with others (written and verbal). You should also demonstrate an ability to think creatively and problem-solve.

The technical skill sets required vary with the Job Role and company processes. To succeed as a QA manual tester, you’ll need, first and foremost, to understand the software development lifecycle (SDLC). Typically, in white box testing, you are part of the development team and know what the code should do. In black box testing, you are outside experiencing the software as a new user would. Below are some of the non-technical skills that every software tester is required to carry within themselves to excel in their career.

Nurture your inner coder with us and take a charge of your coding career with the top trending and high paying technologies. He previously worked as a Board Of Studies Member at PB Siddhartha College of Arts and Science. With expertise in data science, he was involved in designing the Curriculum for the BSc data Science Branch. Also, he worked as a Data Science consultant for Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC).