By Prodigy Labs on Sep 7, 2018 10:46:42 AM
With the advances in digitization, it's much easier for IT testing to become automated. However, most IT firms are not yet willing to give up on their manual testing process. In fact, a recent survey from TEST Magazine shows slow growth for complete automated testing, from 9% currently to 14% in the next five years. The survey did show some level of growth overall, but not to the extent that many IT professionals may expect. The development of new systems, integration of multiple systems or similar aspects of IT testing means that manual testers will need to be around for years to come. Here's a quick overview of what you can expect and how to take advantage of your experience and education to get the most out of your career.
What impact will automation have on the manual workforce?
Though automation will continue to grow, opportunities will still abound. Someone will have to test the automated QA results, and there are certainly plenty of opportunities for those who can design, develop and manage automated QA systems. Whichever side of the divide you're on, you'll have plenty of jobs available once you meet the basic requirements. But what are those requirements and how do you go about meeting them? Keep reading to discover what it takes to become a senior automation tester and what education, courses and certifications will help you along the way.
Senior automation tester career path
So what's needed to become a senior automation tester? Generally speaking, you'll need at least six years of experience and comprehensive experience with several programming languages, such as Java, SQL, HTML, CSS, JavaScript or Python. If you're planning on working in test automation, you'll also need to be familiar with a number of tools and frameworks such as WebDriver, Appium, Selenium, Specflow, IBM Rational Functional Tester, RTC and similar tools.
But it doesn't stop there, as testing includes integrating a number of different systems, requiring additional knowledge. You'll need to have significant experience in implementing automation frameworks as part of the continuous integration (CI) process. This includes a number of CI automation tools like Teamcity or Jenkins, as a couple examples.
Best courses to improve test automation skills
What are the best resources that you should use to enhance your testing or software automation skills? With the wide range of options that are available covering a broad number of different topics, the possibilities are nearly endless. However, just because you don't have a college degree doesn't mean you can't get a great software development job, depending on your experience and technical competencies.
One excellent option for beginners is to peruse the number of MOOCS courses that are available for free, some which allow certification with the payment of a small fee. Udemy has several different courses available dealing with a number of different topics, and the University of Maryland also has a few available to help you on your way. Working on certifications and knowledge in Selenium and Jemeter will help you establish yourself well, as will a solid knowledge in Agile and DevOps, including the Scrum Alliance's Certified Scrum Master course and the Continuous Software Delivery and Automation Strategies.
To round out an intermediate education and experience, you may want to explore advanced levels of some of the other options listed or consider going to the experts and learning through Kochi. This will allow you to better round out your existing education while providing opportunities to better grasp the more advanced issues faced by senior testers.
By being aware of the shifts that are taking place in manual IT testing situations, you can quickly adapt to the changing environment and take advantage of it to better your own situation. Whether you have plenty of experience and are ready to step into a senior tester position or need more work experience to compliment your education, Prodigy Labs is ready to help you achieve your dreams . Learn more about what we do or take a look at the jobs we have available.
