What is QA Testing?
QA testing guarantees that you can yield the highest-quality products to customers. QA testing is particularly crucial in the case of an application or software.
QA testing involves simple techniques to detect issues with your software. The issues are fixed before making the software available for customers.
As a result, customers are able to enjoy a great user experience. QA testing can be automated or manual.
Manual testing covers an extended range of scenarios and situations. It is usually preferred for ad hoc, usability, and exploratory testing.
If your software needs repeated testing, it’s better to go with automation. Automated testing is the best for performance testing, white box testing, and load tests.
Things to Look for in a QA Tester
Here is the list of qualities you should look for in a QA tester:
High-quality Technical Training
Several organizations prefer a QA tester with a bachelor’s degree in computer science or engineering. However, candidates from other backgrounds can be considered too.
But a little knowledge about programming languages is advantageous for the role. Prefer candidates with knowledge of basic programming languages like HTML, JavaScript, and Python.
Special Certifications
Candidates with a special certification in QA testing will be a better match for the role. They will hold more specific knowledge about performing the job.
Recommendations from Top Professionals
Candidates with recommendations from top professionals in the field are a good match. But verify the recommendations before blindly trusting a name.
Moreover, a recommendation is not everything. You should also assess other skills of the candidate before selecting them.
What Do You Need to Know Before Hiring a QA Tester?
Before you hire a QA tester, you should know the following:
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QA testing should involve testing one feature at a time.
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The process can include different types of testing like user acceptance testing and load testing.
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Regression tests are necessary because testing the main feature only once isn’t enough.
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The way of reporting bugs and the data required for it should be predetermined.
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QA testers should document every test and identify the bugs likely to occur.
Skills to Look for While Hiring a QA Tester
A QA tester must possess the following skills:
Critical Thinking
A QA tester should think from a customer’s perspective. They create different scenarios during the development process to ensure that the software reacts well to every possibility.
When the customer comes across one of these possibilities, the software works efficiently. It improves customer satisfaction.
Flexibility
A QA tester should be comfortable with different testing techniques. Having manual testing skills isn’t enough.
At times, automation will be required during the testing. Look for evidence that the candidate knows about the different tools required for the job.
Good Communication Skills
A QA tester’s job is not an isolated role. It requires regular communication with stakeholders and company executives.
Software testers will have to communicate with various non-technical people. In that case, they will need good verbal communication skills to explain everything in layman’s terms.
Ability to Learn Fast
QA testers have to work on multiple projects during their career. They won’t be able to handle every issue using a single method.
QA testers will have to embrace new tools and techniques quickly. They will always have room for self-improvement.
They must be ready for self-directed learning. Moreover, they will also have to work as per the company’s schedule and not theirs.
Analytical Skills
A strong analytical power is necessary for a QA tester to succeed. They have to analyze different aspects of a product and system.
It helps identify possible weaknesses that can affect the overall quality of the software. QA testers focus on the strengths to help the development team focus on them.
Steps to Hire a QA Tester
The steps to hire a QA tester are as follows:
Specify the Requirements
You must specify the requirements of the job role before hiring a QA tester. It will ensure that people willing to perform all those tasks apply for the job.
Check Skills and Qualifications
You must check the skills and qualifications of a QA tester before hiring them. While technical skills are necessary, you should also focus on soft skills like discipline.
Check Relevant Experience
Verify whether the candidate has relevant experience in the field. You should also consider volunteering and freelancing experience as long as it’s valid.
Interview the Candidates
You must formulate certain technical questions for the QA tester to verify their knowledge. But also ask a few questions for personality assessment.
