The higher professional qualification of a tester is, the wider choice of jobs he will have. It concerns both onshore and offshore software testing teams or companies. So let’s focus on qualification characteristics of a tester.
From the very start of the career, any specialist (software tester is no exception) has once been an apprentice. At this stage it is enough to understand what the test cases and reports of defects are, to be able to read the requirements, to apply a couple of tools and to get along with a team.
Gradually a tester gets a deeper insight into every aspect of project development, gripping it fully, and he starts actively using as well as developing the project documentation. Now he can make responsible decisions!
So the primary aim of the tester of onshore or offshore software testing company is to understand project’s needs, to find out whether they are entirely satisfied, and in case they are not, he should know how to change things for the better. It sounds like a role of a project leader, doesn’t it? It’s right! On an individual level of their development IT-specialists differ only by a set of technical skills and how competently they provide QA and testing services.
So what are the technical skills needed to become a successful tester of software QA outsourcing and web testing center? Here is the list of fundamental skills any tester should possess:
1) Knowledge of foreign languages. It is a non-technical skill, but it is #1 in this list. Consider the phrase “There is no a career in IT without English language skills” an axiom! Other languages are welcome, but English is primary.
2) Advanced computer skills and desire to constantly grow in this area. There is no an IT specialist who is not able to type a neatly formatted text, to share files via the network, to deploy a virtual machine or to perform any other daily routine activities. Otherwise, he won’t be able to provide QA and testing services.
3) Programming. It is impossible to make QA software outsourcing and web application testing without knowledge of programming. There is a variety of programming languages: C / C ++ / C #, Java, PHP, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, etc. If you are a newbie in IT, then start with JavaScript.
4) Databases and SQL. At least minimal skills of working with most common databases and the ability to write simple requests are required.
5) Understanding the principles of networks and operating systems work. A tester should have at least minimal skills to be able to diagnose the problem and solve it on his own if possible.
6) Understanding of the principles of web applications and mobile applications work. Software QA outsourcing and web testing are impossible without it. Effective offshore software testing will be possible if a tester possesses this sort of skills.
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