Becoming a QA Automation Tester: Your Path to Quality Assurance Excellence
Software quality assurance relies heavily on the work of QA automation engineers who develop and run automated tests. The development of test plans, test cases, and automation frameworks is under their authority. In this in-depth blog, we will discuss why you should become a QA automation engineer and the step-by-step process of how to become a QA automation tester.
QA engineers- what are they contributing to the software world
To test and guarantee the quality of digital goods, QA engineers play an essential role in the software development life cycle. Their responsibilities include working with interdisciplinary teams to create winning tactics, reviewing system requirements, and finding and documenting functional bugs. As the digital world grows, their meticulous work ensures that software continues to run reliably.
But how promising is the QA tester profession?
The profession of a Quality Assurance (QA) tester is undeniably promising and holds a significant role in the software development landscape. With the growing reliance on technology and the continuous evolution of software applications, the demand for skilled QA testers is on the rise. Here are some key aspects that make the QA tester profession promising below.
Firstly, quality assurance is paramount in the software industry. Companies understand that delivering high-quality software products is essential to meet customer expectations and maintain their reputation. QA testers play a critical role in ensuring that software applications are free from defects, function as intended, and provide a seamless user experience. Their work helps prevent costly post-release issues and customer dissatisfaction, making them indispensable team members.
The QA testing offers excellent career growth opportunities. As QA testers gain experience and expertise in software testing methodologies, automation tools, and industry-specific domains, they can advance into various specialized roles. These roles may include QA lead, automation engineer, performance tester, or even transitioning into other areas of software development, such as development or project management. The diverse career pathways available in QA testing provide ample room for professional development.
This field is adaptable and relevant across industries. While software development is a primary domain for QA testers, their skills can be applied to various sectors, including finance, healthcare, e-commerce, and gaming. This versatility allows QA testers to explore different industries and domains, expanding their career horizons and opportunities for specialization.
Thus, the QA career is promising due to its critical role in ensuring software quality, its potential for career growth, and its adaptability across industries. As long as software continues to be an integral part of modern life, the demand for skilled QA testers will remain high, making it a secure and fulfilling career choice for those interested in technology and quality assurance, as you can learn here: https://aw.club/global/en/blog/learn/roadmap-for-qa-automation-testing.
Roles of QA Testers
To become an automation test engineer, you should be proficient in the following areas:
Review system specifications
QA testers check that new software products are up to standard by conducting various tests. These tests validate functioning in the target environment, such as a development computer, real-time simulator, or embedded microcontroller, covering fundamental operations and system constraints.
Identifying bugs
QA testers play a crucial role when it comes to finding bugs in the product and fixing them with debugging tools. Before releasing the product to the public, they perform further testing after addressing issues.
Reporting bugs to development teams
Quality assurance testers provide detailed bug reports that include the kinds of faults found and the solutions implemented after careful documentation of the details of each fault. They can also maintain and update databases that contain information on testing phases and faults.
Collaborate with QA engineers to make effective strategies
Throughout a project’s lifecycle, QA testers work closely with cross-disciplinary teams. They verify software quality throughout the software development life cycle by collaborating with developers to evaluate risks, identify possible operational issues, and fix them.
Skills and knowledge required for QA automation testing job
The following are the skills necessary to become a QA automation tester in 2024:
Coding languages
A strong command of computer languages such as C#, Java, Ruby, Python, or JavaScript is essential for aspiring QA automation engineers. These languages are fundamental for testing applications, automating test cases, and developing test scripts.
Automation Framework and Tools
If you want to be successful with quality assurance automation, you need to learn how to use Selenium WebDriver, Appium (for mobile), Rest Assured, SoapUI, UFT, and TestComplete. Learn the ins and outs of the three main automation frameworks: data-driven (keep test data separate), keyword-driven (make your code more precise by using keywords), and Behavior-Driven Development (BDD).
Web technologies
Learn the fundamentals of web development with languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Having this knowledge while dealing with web elements and running automation scripts will be helpful.
Version controls
Git and other version control systems are crucial for developer collaboration and test script change tracking.
Database and SQL
You can connect with databases to validate data during testing if you understand SQL and databases.
Agile testing certifications
Software development and testing benefit greatly from a background in computer science or another closely connected field. These certifications convey your understanding of the concepts and methods of agile testing.
Web driver certification
This certification verifies your proficiency with Selenium WebDriver automated testing.
ISTQB Tester certification
It is an internationally acknowledged certification for those working in software testing.
How to become a QA automation engineer
If you plan to become an automation tester, you should follow these steps:
Step 1: Getting the required degree
In most cases, a bachelor’s degree is necessary for this position. A degree in computer science or engineering provides the necessary coding and programming experience for quality assurance duties on software applications. To understand programming from a variety of angles, take software development courses. For a well-rounded career, round out your education with database administration, project management, and information technology security courses.
Step 2: Gaining experience with testing and development
A software development and testing background is a must for aspiring QA automation engineers. To obtain real experience in coding and testing, look for internships or volunteer opportunities at local IT firms or your college’s computer science department.
Step 3: Getting certifications
Improve your QA automation engineer career by earning the ISTQB certification designed specifically for software testers. Earning the Certified Tester credential proves that you have mastered the testing fundamentals. Obtaining it requires completing an exam that includes test strategy, design, execution, evaluation, and reporting.
Step 4: polishing communication skills
As they work with multiple teams across departments, QA automation engineers need to interact effectively. The skill of accurately describing testing procedures and their outcomes is enhanced through regular practice. Paying close attention to directions and communicating accurately is crucial for successful project completion when interacting with clients or managers with specialized software needs.
Step 5: Staying up to date with the latest tools and technology
To become a test automation engineer, you must keep up with the ever-changing technologies. It is now possible to test more complicated apps thanks to new programming languages. Read tech blogs, follow influential people on social media, and go to conferences and seminars to know what’s happening in software development right now.
Final Verdict
Beginning a career in quality assurance automation is exciting because engineers with the right skills can rise quickly and have their names in the spotlight. To stay up with the dynamic business landscape, companies are investing more and more in test automation to ensure their apps and systems are up to standard. The future of this profession is filled with hope and promise. To become a QA automation engineer who outshines the competition, you need all the skills discussed in the blog.
