How to Become a QA Engineer (Tester)?
A Quality Assurance Engineer (QA Engineer or QA Tester) is responsible for ensuring new software products work correctly before they reach the end user. By testing applications and actively searching for problems, they ensure that all computer programs meet company standards.
If you enjoy problem-solving and are interested in software, then you’re in the right place, because in this blog I’ll tell you everything about how you can become a QA engineer and what responsibilities come with this profession.
Who is a QA Engineer?
A QA engineer oversees the testing and quality management of computer programs before a product or application is released. People in this profession are often referred to as QA Engineers or QA Testers. To find and identify potential problems with new programs, they plan and implement testing at various stages of its development process. They work closely with the software development team on application testing and documentation to confirm that it works correctly before its public release. The QA engineer must also ensure that the software meets or exceeds both company and regulatory standards.
What does a Quality Assurance Engineer do?
A QA engineer oversees the entire process of developing a software product. They predict user behavior and write test cases for software to confirm that the application works correctly and meets standards. They are also a liaison between application users and programmers in the software development team.
QA engineers perform a variety of tasks weekly or even daily. Here are some examples of their duties:
- Create guidelines for company quality standards;
- Ensure the product meets these standards;
- Implement automatic and manually controlled scripts;
- Study and determine possible ways to solve software errors;
- Monitor issues to ensure that the software creation team makes necessary corrections before the product is launched for the client;
- Keep detailed documentation of all test trials;
- Ensure the development team meets task deadlines;
- Conduct thorough security testing to ensure computer program and system security;
- Check if the product meets all government regulations and market guidelines;
- Manage the launch of computer programs or applications and monitor subsequent stages;
Most QA engineers work in technology or financial industries, such as computer or electronic manufacturing, computer design companies, or software publishers.
How to Become a QA Engineer
Here are the steps you can take to become a QA engineer:
1. Choose which programming language to specialize in based on your desired field
For QA engineer positions, it’s recommended to learn coding in an object-oriented language (OOP) such as Java, C# or Python. Choose specific programming languages to learn based on the field you want to develop in. For example, a web QA engineer should know HTML, CSS, and JS.
2. Look for internships or contract positions
While studying, look for internship opportunities or contract positions. These roles impact your resume, and a temporary contract position can be a good way to create a network of colleagues.
3. Develop and refine technical skills
Technology is a rapidly changing field, so it’s important to keep up with current trends and advances in the industry. Continue to develop your professional skills with self-study courses, many of which are available online.
4. Get a professional certificate
Obtaining a professional certificate can create opportunities for higher-paying jobs.
5. Create a technical resume and software developer portfolio
A technical resume, used in fields such as information technology, engineering, and computer science, includes your technical experience and skills that are important for the job position.
A portfolio showcases your professional projects and achievements; it highlights your capabilities and experience for prospective employers. This is mainly a website where you describe in detail who you are, how to contact you, and reflects the best examples of projects you’ve completed.
6. Start job hunting and prepare for interviews
When starting your job search, it’s important to remember that a technical interview is a difficult process. In addition to preparing answers to standard interview questions, be ready to demonstrate experience in areas related to your specialty.
Necessary Qualifications to Become a QA Engineer
Organizations will have specific qualifications depending on the type of product developed, but there are some common qualifications for QA engineers:
- Understanding and application of quality assurance methodologies;
- Knowledge of testing and test planning with scripts and automation tools;
- Ability to create test cases for computer programs under development to check for errors in the code;
- Ability to identify and document errors found during testing;
- Knowledge and practice of Agile methodologies;
QA engineers should be familiar with programming languages used to create computer programs. The most common programming languages they use are: Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, C, C#, PHP, Unix scripting.
Skills Needed for a QA Engineer
There’s a wide range of skills necessary to become a successful QA engineer. The most important skills to develop in this position are:
Attention to Detail
Searching for software errors, following the entire process of fixing them, then trying to recreate them requires concentration on details and excellent observation skills. Throughout the process, it’s necessary to meticulously study records, and this also requires a focus on details.
Communication Skills
Exceptional communication skills are necessary in various aspects. A QA engineer works closely with the software development team to ensure quality expectations are clear and also to ensure projects are completed on time. They are also intermediaries between the development team, project manager, and end client. Additionally, a QA engineer must have the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical people.
Written communication skills are also important, as a QA engineer must have excellent documentation and record-keeping skills.
Research Skills
To investigate and correct design flaws, a QA engineer must be able to use advanced research skills for gathering, analyzing, and interpreting information.
Consistency and Endurance
Patience and persistence are needed, as this specialty involves finding problems and making decisions. A QA engineer must be results-oriented and consistent.
Time Management
QA engineers must set strictly defined deadlines. They must also ensure that the entire team involved in the software development project meets all deadlines at every phase of the development process.
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills
A QA engineer must be able to identify errors and design problems and resolve them before product release. This requires enhanced analytical and critical thinking skills.
Career Development
As you know, the demand for people involved in the process of creating digital products is growing day by day, so it won’t be surprising if I tell you that in Georgia, the average monthly salary for a quality assurance engineer position is 3000 GEL; and if you use freelance platforms, you can increase your income even more. For example, on Upwork, the average hourly rate for a QA engineer is $25.
If you’re interested in this profession after reading all this, it’s important to know what career path lies ahead. One of the significant advantages of the QA Tester profession is the diverse work experience, so after mastering this profession, you can become:
● Test Architect – Plans, directs, and gives strategic direction to testing for a specific product (or at an organizational level), also selects tools for testing and manages test data.
● Test Analyst – The person who knows the product best. They create the test design, prepare test cases and test packages based on it, which helps prevent the detection of errors.
● Test Manager – A person responsible for managing testing activities and resources, who evaluates the product to be tested, plans, directs, and manages its testing.
● QA Team Lead – The actual leader of the above-mentioned branches, who is responsible for hiring staff and ensuring the team works effectively.
As you can see, quality assurance is important in any field, so there is high demand for QA specialists. If you’re interested in this field and have the skills you saw in the blog, join us! The Digital Product Testing & QA course will help you refine these skills.
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