How to become QA Engineer? (original) (raw)

Last Updated : 20 Aug, 2024

Suppose, we are using any app and we find some glitch in using any function then we write a review on the app. Have you ever think who handles these errors and bugs in any application, or website? A QA Engineer's job is to test software to make sure that it works correctly and is free of bugs before it reaches users. In this article, we are going to discuss what is QA, and how we can pursue our career in this field.

Table of Content

• What Is Quality Assurance?
• Who Can Learn Quality Assurance?
• Skills Required to Become a Quality Assurance Engineer
• How to Become a QA Engineer Without Experience?
• How to Become a Certified QA Engineer?
• Quality Management Courses to Fill Your Skills Gaps
• Why Should You Consider Becoming a QA Engineer?
• Conclusion

What Is Quality Assurance?

Quality assurance (QA) is all about making sure that products, especially software, work what they are designed for. QA engineers test software to catch bugs, ensure features work properly, and verify that everything meets the required standards. It is like being the last stage of testing before the product is launched into the market.

Who Can Learn Quality Assurance?

Any person with a curiosity for how things work and an eye for detail can learn quality assurance. We don't need a degree in computer science to get started, although having a technical background can help a lot to get this job role, but skills matter a lot. If you enjoy problem-solving, have patience, and are willing to learn, then go for the position of QA Engineer.

Skills Required to Become a Quality Assurance Engineer

To become a QA engineer, we need to learn a few key skills which are mentioned below:

• **Strong analytical skills: Strong analytical abilities are essential to the QA engineer's position. They must be able to analyse every part of a product and system in order to discover any potential flaws that may have an impact on overall quality and user response.
• **Attention to Detail: We must notice even the smallest issues that others might miss.
• **Critical Thinking: We will need to think of different ways the software might be used or misused.
• **Basic Programming Knowledge: We should know how to write and understand code because it helps in writing automated tests.
• **Communication Skills: We will often need to explain problems to developers or other team members.
• **Patience: We should be very patient because testing can be repetitive, and finding solutions might take more time than expected.

How to Become a QA Engineer Without Experience?

It is a bit challenging to start without experience but one can definitely make it:

• **Learn the Basics: Start by learning the fundamentals of software testing. There are many free and paid resources online.
• **Get Hands-On Practice: Practice testing open-source projects or create your own small applications to test.
• **Build a Portfolio: Document your testing process and findings. This can be shared with potential employers.
• **Network: Join QA communities online or attend meetups. Networking can help more in finding job opportunities easily.

How to Become a Certified QA Engineer?

Obtaining certification can increase our credibility and increase the chances that we will be hired. The International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) certification is one of the well-known certifications. These certifications usually involve studying and passing an exam that covers different aspects of QA.

Quality Management Courses to Fill Your Skills Gaps

If you want to improve your skills or learn from scratch, follow the courses given below:

• **ISTQB Foundation Level: It is a great starting point for beginners.
• **Certified Software Tester (CSTE): It mainly Focuses on principles of testing.
• **Certified ScrumMaster (CSM): It is useful if we are planning to work in agile environments.
• **Online Courses: Websites such as Coursera, Udemy, or LinkedIn Learning offer courses in QA and testing.

Why Should You Consider Becoming a QA Engineer?

There are different reasons why we should consider becoming a QA engineer:

• **Demand: The number of software engineers is increasing in this evolving tech industry so the demand for QA also grows.
• **Problem-Solving: Here is where QA can be really satisfying appeals to the nature of solving a puzzle and thinking logically.
• **Different Types of Work: Since each project is unique, the work does not become routine.
• **Career Growth: QA - >QA Lead, Automation Engineer -> and even Product Manager.

How to Gain Experience as a QA Engineer?

• **Internships: Find internships that allow hands-on experience.
• **Volunteer: Test for small startups or open-source projects.
• **Freelance QA Work: Try your hand at freelance jobs to get more experience in the field.
• **Advice: Get advice from a startup mentor who has seen this all before and knows how to avoid the pitfalls.

What Are All the Job Roles/Titles That You Can Apply For?

There are different job roles for which we can apply as a QA engineer. Some of them include:

• QA Analyst
• QA Tester
• Automation Tester
• QA Lead
• Test Engineer
• Software Tester
• QA Manager

How to Prepare for QA Engineer Interviews?

• **Study Common Testing Situations: Always be ready to discuss how you can perform different types of tests.
• **Practice Problem-Solving: Sometimes interviewers ask to solve problems on the spot. We should practice enough to encounter problems asked in interviews.
• **Review Tools and Technologies: Be familiar with common QA tools such as Selenium, JIRA, or TestRail. Also, put these skills in your resume.
• **Prepare Questions: Research different types of questions and the company’s testing process, the tools they use, and what they value in a QA engineer.

Conclusion

QA engineer is a rewarding career that combines technical skills with critical thinking. If we are starting our career on this path or thinking of switching from another career, there are plenty of opportunities to grow in this field.