Testing is an integral part of software development. Experts are required to check all aspects of a product, in order to iron out bugs and to ensure the final product is faultless.
Work environment
Most tester careers start out with a role as a test analyst, moving up to become test manager. From there, it’s possible to go sideways and become a business analyst or move into another area of IT.
Salaries are similar to development roles, depending on each specific role, which includes performance testing and automated testing. And the great thing about testing - besides being in demand - is that the hours tend to be in line with most offices. The only time you might have to give up your weekend is before the launch of a new product.
Qualifications
There are two main routes to getting a testing job. The first involves gaining a technical degree in a field such as computer science, getting experience as a programmer within a software house and then moving across into a quality assurance role.
The second is to work your way up within a business and look out for an opportunity to help test some of its IT projects.
However it’s important to note that to move upwards and onwards employers now expect to see an ISEB Foundation Certificate in Software Testing on candidates CVs before they will even consider offering an interview.
Experience
Tester jobs tend to attract professionals looking to break into new developments and enjoy the buzz of liaising between business analysts on one side and technical people on the other.
It’s also a magnet for IT professionals who have a good attention to detail and who can identify a small problem before it develops into a big one.
