Software Testing – The profession I chose.
If you type in software testing and Google, you will come across different materials giving a wide spectrum of details related to this topic. One must have a good knowledge about the terms and definition of things related to testing before entering in quality testing. For computer science students, testing is very easy.
But what one should know is software testing is a career that is very easy but if you are not interested in this, this can easily become monotonous and annoying to oneself, and also because of the false tag attached to the field. When you say “I am a tester” the response is often “Oh”. It’s because even a middle school student can do test analysis. It’s that simple.
A person wanting to get into this career must know one thing. TEST ANALYST IS BORN WITH THIS SKILL. It is a gift. This involves critiquing developers or architects work.
There is a lot of work involved in this.
You should know what you are doing i.e. you should know the Business – if you are testing a piece of work, then you should have a good knowledge on what that piece stands on.
When you say there is an issue. You should be able to substantiate your findings with solid proof. Nobody likes being criticized. You should always consider your developer a friend and not a foe. You are there to enhance the work and not to put the developer down. But that does not mean that he is going to consider your criticisms as something that would help develop his code a better one. He is going to defend his stand tooth and nail. This is where your knowledge on Business would come in handy.
No one should expect a test analyst to be an expert at the code. But you should have a good knowledge on the language you are working on. Or at least you should know the logic. This would let you understand better what the developer is talking about. Or incase you see the code you will understand what that code is written for.
You should have some knowledge on the system and the platform you are using.
You must have a keen eye. When you are writing a test case or executing one you should know why you are doing it. I have come across people who say “that s what my test case says so that why I am doing that” or “that s external to my test case so I don’t have to bother about it”. These people are here only for the job and they have no interest in the career. Such people are dangerous for this field.
A good architect, developer, tester plus requirement together can create wonders. Unfortunately, they are very difficult to find. Especially that’s true for testers.
There is a lot of fuss on Automation. Automation is good for regression testing but that also not so much. It’s good to know about automation but that s not the main criteria for testing. This is to help the tester to rerun the function.
Take testing as this. A Singer. Every one of us can sing but to be a singer you need to be born with the ability to sing. You should have a sense of Taal and Sur. The Test plan and Test cases are like the musical instruments. Now let’s take automation. It’s like the microphone. Automation is very expensive and so an Organization must properly decide on whether they really need the tool or not. Whether they want the in-house tool built or they want a license to an outside tool.
When looking back at the interviews that I underwent they were in no way capable of finding out whether I am a good tester or not. They will ask you few questions as to basics of testing and may be SQL. This in no way to let them know, whether you are getting a good tester or not. Only on seeing the work one can understand whether you made the right choice in selection or not.
I enjoy testing so much and I don’t know how to word it. Software testing is a field where you need to keep upgrading yourself. You need to have a good knowledge on various programming languages, data warehousing and different tools in the market. Mind you, not an expert but there is no harm in it. This is especially a requirement if you are a consultant. Each company will be using different packages.
In brief, a software tester is a given talent. Also, just because you are a critique does not mean that you don’t need to improve on this skill. You need to practice the skill productively. You need to be ready to learn new technology that comes in. Several materials are available on the net. You need to be proactive.
All the best.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
the trouble we go through
USA is a dream come true.
Here people cannot make any long term plans at all. Life is so uncertain here. I am talking about the Indians trying to root to here. Its not that easy as it seems. For some people everything falls into place but not for all. You know the life of consultants. Its tough. Esp if you are with a baby who is going to school. The number of people that we have go through. Don't think of working in USA without 1000 years of experience. Also you must have experience on all known and unknown tools. Only if you have these many things on your resume then only we will get through a small consultant, this is the start of the ladder. There will be more than one such middle vendors. Finally we get to the client. So the pay barely able to make the month. The next month is a mystery. At least this is my story.
I don't know if I came to USA with a dream but I really like this place. But its not easy to survive here. Many job contracts starts with 3 month contract, its very difficult to get an apt for 3 months lease. Many cheap affordable apt start at 6 month lease. So in case your contract don't extend you must be prepared to pay another 3 months rent or the lease breakage.
You find a good school for your kid and then what happens when the lease ends.
Anyone who is willing to take an uncertain life over no life in the native must try this.
Here people cannot make any long term plans at all. Life is so uncertain here. I am talking about the Indians trying to root to here. Its not that easy as it seems. For some people everything falls into place but not for all. You know the life of consultants. Its tough. Esp if you are with a baby who is going to school. The number of people that we have go through. Don't think of working in USA without 1000 years of experience. Also you must have experience on all known and unknown tools. Only if you have these many things on your resume then only we will get through a small consultant, this is the start of the ladder. There will be more than one such middle vendors. Finally we get to the client. So the pay barely able to make the month. The next month is a mystery. At least this is my story.
I don't know if I came to USA with a dream but I really like this place. But its not easy to survive here. Many job contracts starts with 3 month contract, its very difficult to get an apt for 3 months lease. Many cheap affordable apt start at 6 month lease. So in case your contract don't extend you must be prepared to pay another 3 months rent or the lease breakage.
You find a good school for your kid and then what happens when the lease ends.
Anyone who is willing to take an uncertain life over no life in the native must try this.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Making the RIGHT choice
I am turning 33 this year(2009). Within the blink of an eye time flew by. So much has taken place. Now I know who is the LUCKY person. Anybody who has a good parent(s) is the lucky one. As I said in another post, anybody can be a parent but to be a good parent is rocket science. Its not all of us blessed with have good parents. All parents are nice but only few of us know how to grow the kids in the right way. The child who has had such a parent is a blessed person.
Everyone has his own cross to bear but the way they carry it depends on how they are taught to. Sometimes because of our parents many of us are protected from the many problems in life.
As kids we are learning. I would say till the age of 15. Then we are to put into practice what we learnt. From the age of 15 decisions we make are crucial. What to study, what type of friends we need, what to wear, what to think, what we want to be, what we eat, what should be our belief etc.,If we made the right decision then we are set for good life.
The major decision in ones life is the career and then the marriage. If you make the wrong decision in any of these you should know you are not in a good position.
Career is needed so that you have a time table in life as you did have as a child. This disciplines your life. It also puts in challenges that are set by others, this helps you intelligence to grow.
Marriage, this brings you a partner whom you can share your life with. Someone who is there for you. Life is lonely without one of these. A person must have either a good career or a good marriage(as far as I believe). I am a workaholic. I like to learn and keep myself busy. I like the aspect of setting a table for my everyday living. You are lucky my friend if you have both of these or happy with one of them.
To achieve this you have to make the right decision. This decision is made over a period of time. What you want to be or whom you want to be is something we set our minds initially itself. If we don't know this end up in unhappy life.
Its too late for me. But we can teach our kids the importance of SOLID dreams. They should know what they want and how they are going to achieve this. Everyone has a will but not the way.
Making the right choices in life is what makes your life beautiful. Remember we live only once this life. We don't cross this path another (at least that is what we see).
All the best.
Everyone has his own cross to bear but the way they carry it depends on how they are taught to. Sometimes because of our parents many of us are protected from the many problems in life.
As kids we are learning. I would say till the age of 15. Then we are to put into practice what we learnt. From the age of 15 decisions we make are crucial. What to study, what type of friends we need, what to wear, what to think, what we want to be, what we eat, what should be our belief etc.,If we made the right decision then we are set for good life.
The major decision in ones life is the career and then the marriage. If you make the wrong decision in any of these you should know you are not in a good position.
Career is needed so that you have a time table in life as you did have as a child. This disciplines your life. It also puts in challenges that are set by others, this helps you intelligence to grow.
Marriage, this brings you a partner whom you can share your life with. Someone who is there for you. Life is lonely without one of these. A person must have either a good career or a good marriage(as far as I believe). I am a workaholic. I like to learn and keep myself busy. I like the aspect of setting a table for my everyday living. You are lucky my friend if you have both of these or happy with one of them.
To achieve this you have to make the right decision. This decision is made over a period of time. What you want to be or whom you want to be is something we set our minds initially itself. If we don't know this end up in unhappy life.
Its too late for me. But we can teach our kids the importance of SOLID dreams. They should know what they want and how they are going to achieve this. Everyone has a will but not the way.
Making the right choices in life is what makes your life beautiful. Remember we live only once this life. We don't cross this path another (at least that is what we see).
All the best.
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