"How do you start working in IT?" I'm sure you've asked yourself this question many times, realizing that this is an industry that provides great opportunities and is constantly in demand for new employees. I'm sure you've also believed that working in IT requires having a degree in computer science or programming skills. I may surprise you, but this is in no way true! What's more, your previous education can even be very far from IT.
This statement perfectly describes the situation of manual testers, who are in great demand on the job market right now. The chance to find a new job and jump into IT - fully assured, even without the ability to understand code (at least at the beginning of your career).
Does a tester only test? A few words about duties of a manual tester
At the very beginning, let us answer the question of who a tester is and what his or her responsibilities are in the IT team. The first answer that comes to mind is checking whether "everything works as it should". If we were to list the responsibilities of a manual tester, this list would include:
- verifying correctness of software operation through exploratory testing,
- creating test scenarios of the system,
- accurate description of software bugs,
- assessing whether a solution will meet user expectations,
- checking the compliance of the software with received documentation.
In a very colloquial way, we can say that the role of a tester is simply to "spoil" the software created by developers, which is done in the most numerous ways, followed by reporting of the bugs found and their correction by developers.
Why is the role of the manual tester so important?
You already know how important the role of a manual tester is in an IT company implementing B2B and B2C online stores - such as ours. Now it's time to find out if this profession is something for you. How to do it? First, you need to determine whether you have the necessary character traits and skills. If you like to look for holes in everything, you are inquisitive at every turn, you are highly perceptive and you think you can get along well with other people, you are well on your way to becoming a tester. Open communication and the ability to present a problem clearly and understandably must not be a challenge for you, as well as the ability to express your own opinion and stand your ground - after all, a tester is in the habit of pointing out others' mistakes. In a few words? Add to it a dash of assertiveness, a handful of analytical thinking, and a pinch of creativity and you can confidently say: "Tester as you look at it!".
Recruiting for a manual tester - what does it look like in our company?
Interest in responsibilities? Check. Relevant skills? Check. Knowledge of the hiring process? Not yet check - but we're already changing that by presenting how this issue looks at Advox!
The first step is very classic - simply send your resume, from which we want to learn about your previous work experience, skills and the tools you know. Also, don't forget about the courses you've completed - in this profession (and in fact the entire industry) it's very important to continually educate yourself. The second step is feedback on the continuation of the recruitment process or its completion. We try to make sure that each time the feedback is objective and specific.
The third stage is of course a recruitment meeting - but don't worry, it only sounds so threatening! There will be an HR person at the interview, who will ask you some questions about soft skills, and a technical recruiter, from whom you can expect questions about the most important aspects of testing. You'll also have practical tasks to solve - we'll check your perceptiveness and some skills in DevTools.
The fourth and final step is to inform them of your desire to be hired as a tester or provide extensive feedback to help them become a tester and present themselves better in the next recruitment!
The basic question - is it worth becoming a manual tester?
Now you know what the role of a tester in IT projects looks like, what skills and knowledge you must have to perform this profession, and what the recruitment for this position in our company looks like. So it's time to ask yourself the most important question of all: "but is it really worth it?".
No one needs to be convinced that the IT industry is a market segment that is constantly evolving. Such dynamic development will be hard to stop (due to the increasing demand for new job positions), new areas (due to the development of technology), and new solutions (due to the changing needs of customers and Internet users). Nowadays, from all sides, you can hear hints that it is simply worth entering the IT sector.
But if you still had any doubts, here are a few arguments that will no doubt encourage you to take that leap into the deep end:
1.Ease of re-qualification - even if you are working in a completely different field at the moment, you will undoubtedly find courses on the market (onsite and online) that will help you find your way in the industry and reach a level of testing skills good enough to find your first job in the profession.
2. Endless opportunities for growth - the truth is that in IT every project is different (even if the basics are similar), each test is different from the previous one and the subsequent one, expectations and needs of each customer are fully individual. Working as a tester, you simply cannot get bored!
3. Stability - pandemic has shown that there is no other market as resilient to uncertain times as IT. What's more, remember that your salary will grow in proportion to your skills, so it's really worth it to grow in this industry.
4. Visible results of your work - you have a real impact on the course and final result of projects. Thanks to your work something works better! Nice feeling, right?
5. Promotion prospects - you do not have to climb only up the Junior-Senior ladder as a tester. Thanks to your experience in the IT environment, you can become a developer or deal with project management (we have such a case in our company!).
The prospect of promotion - deep water in IT?
Projects for large, diverse clients, a wide range of skills, a reputation as an "industry titan" - all this may tempt you, but you need to be aware that every tester starts his or her career in manual testing. - All this may tempt you, but you must be aware that every tester starts his/her career with manual testing. This is nothing more than playing the role of a user and scouring the software for bugs. As time goes by and you gain experience, you become familiar with programming languages and the "secret" skills of developers. This opens the door to career paths for you - can you think about developing as a Frontend or Backend Developer, or even maybe a Project Manager? At Advox, we offer many opportunities for growth - as in the case of Mateusz, who started with us as a tester and now works in a different position.
Nothing like first-hand information, right?
We must also mention that at Advox we value a culture of feedback - not only during your probationary period, but throughout your employment. Your comments, beliefs about the direction of development, and suggestions will never be met with a lack of response. What's more, our training budget will allow you to grow in the direction you want! Nothing to do but get started, right?
That being said... 3, 2, 1... START!
In a word of conclusion, we must point out that we always try to provide our clients with online stores that meet all their requirements. Such software requires a testing phase - for this reason, the demand for testers is not decreasing and companies need to ensure that the team is constant and eager to grow. So this is undoubtedly the best area to start your career in IT.
I hope this has cleared up your doubts about becoming a tester - also at Advox. However, if you feel you don't know everything, feel free to email me at: p.wozniak@advox.pl. Hope to see you in future HR articles!
