Testers checklist

It’s been more than the month between my last blog and the one you are reading now. I was wondering for the topic to write. Later on I got few topics to write on to share my ideas. But before that I decided to write again something for the testers who start their career in software testing. As, I am personally interested in educating such people, I just want to share few things that are running in my mind. Here are some of the checklists I have prepared for those starters. Some I have listed could be even suited well for the people who have been working in this field for some “X” years.

If you see software testing as not only your profession but a passion too, I hope this would be useful and you would have been following probably.

1.      Communication:

When I mean communication most of us think about speaking/Writing in English. Remember English is just a language. There are some countries that don’t prefer this language. So, when people ask about communication don’t have such mindset. Communication is the ability to communicate with other people. It could be of any languages. But when it comes to your project yes it is “English” mostly. Because if your are being working for the US/UK/Aus, then the medium of communication preferably be English. It could be tough to learn some “X” language to communicate with the clients/ colleagues those who don’t speak English in their countries. So, in that case English would be bit better if you couldn’t able to catch up their languages or learn the language they prefer you to speak. But most of the Indian industries go with English because of clients.

Speaking along doesn’t come under communication skills even writing too. Writing is another way of communicating with people. But this need much more care when compared with speaking. Because writing doesn’t hold natural humans expression/Feelings. So, it could be mis-understood sometimes for the people who are reading in another end. So, have an extra effort in practicing writing more than speaking through word of mouth.

2.      Interest:

Interest is like a tool that would help the people to walk forward with more enthusiasm.  Rate of your career growth depends on the rate of your interest that you hold probably. It is like an engine that will help you keep moving in better way with love and joy. This could even make your life colorful. Because your profession is also associated with your personal feelings/life.

3.      Accept the Challenge:

Things that are nearby you will never be on your favor all times. Sometimes it would hurt you as you never expected. Same being in any profession you can’t relax with the role that you hold today. Tomorrow it may not be yours because of the competition world. So, ready to take up any challenges. Don’t be scared to learn and fear that you can’t do that. Try once before you have those feelings.

4.      Thinking ability:

Thinking is another most important skill among the other that I have mentioned so far. How good you could thing is how your testing ideas/test cases are designed and this is how your testing probable be. So, improve the skills of thinking to make your testing better. This is another way that will show the difference among other people.

5.      Courage to listen:

Listen to the people whom you are speaking with or approaching. Allow them to speak to let you know their ideas on your decision.  It would be unfair if you don’t have the courage to listen on your colleagues/ any concerned people ideas and you might be on wrong path if you stick to your ideas without listening others opinion.

6.      Boldness to speak :

Whatever you want to share you should be able to speak by facing their face. If you don’t have much courage to do that, you might be missing some points that are running in your heart/mind and you won’t express yourself in a better way as you expected. So, try to get rid of shyness,fearness if you have such character.

7.      Sharing your thoughts:

Share your thoughts with your colleagues. So, that they would probably share their thoughts with you. This would help you to learn much better sometimes or they may learn better from you.

8.      Know what testing is :

The most important thing is to know what testing is than just going with some “X” document or following it blindly.

9.      Skills vs. knowledge:

There is a difference between skills and knowledge. The things that you know and haven’t practiced yet, and then it is knowledge. When you have practiced then it is a skill. Following document and applying it sometimes act as knowledge no wonder it could be test case/ design/ test ideas. When it is made by you then it is a skill.

10.  Programming interest:

It is not that a tester who tests manually, should’t need of programming skills. It is good to know how to code. Choose the platform that you want to learn and have a good idea about it. So, that you would learn what testing to approach based on the conditions.

11.  Social media connection:

Connectivity is an important for the testers. What you have learned from people would be shared among the four walls of your organizations. But engaging in social media would help you to connect with different people across the world. This would give you a platform to showcase your identity. So, make use of social media.

12.  Blogging:

Blogging would help you to share your thoughts, create an identity, and also help you to improve your writing skills. So, it is good to have a habit of blogging.

13.  Faking result:

This is what one should not have thought career. Faking result I mean saying “YES” for what all you’re Lead/ Manager says which doesn’t interest you and feeling that that is a wrong one. To impress someone we should not fake ourselves. Be strong on your decision that you feel is right.

14.  Bug reporting:

Bug reporting is the proof to represent your testing job.  To know much about bug reporting refer my blog post that I have published previously.

15.  Presentations skills:

A presentation skill is not only that you present your work to your boss/ colleagues or any concerned people .It is also to learn how to represent ourselves with others.

16.  Not blind believer:

Don’t solely believe on the report that you got though some tools that you are using for testing. Sometimes tools would also produce a fake result. So, have a cross check once before you submitting the report.

17.  Learn and test:

Learn and test would be preferably suited for the people who know what testing is. People who depend on domain skills than the testing skills may not follow this “learn and test” ideology all times.

18.  Following people

Follow the people whose work interests you.  If possible ask them to coach you. Learn from them and apply it in your own style.

19.   Attending Conferences:

There are lots of conferences going on in many cities. So, attend the conference that you prefer it would be helpful for you to learn something new or better. At least be aware of conference happenings.

20.  Keep practicing:

To me there is no term called an “Expert”. So, don’t have the mindset that you know many things or I am much experienced in something. The people whose names are most familiar in the world doesn't mean that they are an expert, they are keep on practicing things and they don’t have the mindset of stop learning. They don’t say themselves as an expert because they know the meaning for it.

Some of the skills listed below would be even more be better if you have/follow these.

21.   Caring for the product quality

22.   Interactions

23.   Honest in report

24.   Reading books

If I have missed something or misunderstood something, please feel free to send your feedback.

My Contact Details:

E-mail: ktg.pradeep@gmail.com

Phone:07639959901

Skype: pradeep.lingan