Presentation on API testing for undergraduate students on 18.10.2023
1/30/2020
(Un)Common Traits of a Good Tester
"Any one can test" is a common (mis)perception in the software community. In a way it's true, but not for a good tester.
A 'Good Tester' can be generally defined as someone who is efficient, effective, empathetic, advocate, authoritative person who becomes an asset to the team who can work under minimum supervision with high dependability
Testing is a skill. A skill that needs to be acquired and master with passion. How does a good tester differs from an 'anyone' who can test ?
A person who joins the industry as a software tester will spend first few years in his life doing actual testing with the applications. During this time, he/she will learn , acquire, apply the knowledge gained to produce better software. You get a chance to work with different applications, domains, tools, methodologies, processes etc. The time he spends as a tester will allow him/her to clear out his future and will pave the way to climb up in the profession either to move in to management or technical avenue or change track.
Here I identify four traits of a good tester who can produce exceptional results in his/her project during his/her initial years as a tester. These observations are based on my personal experiences working with many people, domains, applications, technologies and tools.
I have not considered traits like Technical skills and Communication & interpersonal skills which are being talked about in large and are well known characteristics.
Trait 1: Attention to detail: Disciplined, and Undivided Concentration
One of the challenges we face during testing is to deal with repetitive tasks. We easily get bored, loose our concentration, and we start to overlook things which we shouldn't. It's also very easy to get distracted by external stimuli. Your most productive time get wasted if you try to respond to them.
Which can lead to reading a requirement and understand it incompletely. Log a bug without adequate steps. Writing an e-mail with spelling/ grammar mistakes, Missing an important issue in your application because you have not concentrated enough, incomplete status update , half baksed reports to customer, or not properly update tracking systems and many more lousy mistakes.
These will result in rework, loss of credibility, loosing trust from the stakeholders etc.
A well-disciplined and concentrated tester can achieve remarkable results and complete much of work on time with high quality and more time is available for your other investments
Trait 2: Having an investigative eye: Look for unexpected
A good tester will look at something with an investigative eye and mind. Always be pessimistic professionally. Check for happy and unhappy paths. Go beyond his perimeter ones in a while to see something is fishy . All his testing techniques both written and heuristics will be used. His/her senses are sharp. Do not get satisfied with what he/she has done so far. Expect some action can break the system. Its an perpetual cycle of curiosity and find new information out of the system that is given to you.
A good tester will never stick to the test case document hoping to finish it as soon as possible, but also to use his/her instinct, experiences and passion, like a craftsman creates an exquisite sculpture from a bare wooden log.
Trait 3: Perseverance : Never give-up
A good tester will not give up easily. Hunting a bug, quite vague in nature, needs to drill down to the bottom to find something is not correct and get beaten by its disguises, asking help from a busy developer who is reluctant to dedicate time on a 'non- trivial' issue that this person is pursuing but anyway offers his/her help may finally pay off after it turns out to be a decent bug which could have been embarrassing if it gets caught by a user. All this time the tester has been so persevered to go to his goal.
This person is so persevered that he'll always look for answers, advocate others , be little authoritative to get something done. Look for improvements at work, suggest, act on them and get them executed
Trait 4: Be mindful and have peace: Inner tranquility
Your mind is behind your every thought and action. If it's volatile, rest-less, your deeds will reflect them.You have bad days at works unable to satisfy yourself with what you've done and not feel so productive and efficient.
Have a mind that is exciting , but not too shiny with inner calmness when you start your day. This calmness and tranquility will open up your mind to explore and execute your ideas, think better, feel less fatigue or bored and you keep yourself energized until you end your days work with a happy note.
On a final note, can we still say 'Any one can test' ? I guess, it's more serious business than most of us think.
A 'Good Tester' can be generally defined as someone who is efficient, effective, empathetic, advocate, authoritative person who becomes an asset to the team who can work under minimum supervision with high dependability
Testing is a skill. A skill that needs to be acquired and master with passion. How does a good tester differs from an 'anyone' who can test ?
A person who joins the industry as a software tester will spend first few years in his life doing actual testing with the applications. During this time, he/she will learn , acquire, apply the knowledge gained to produce better software. You get a chance to work with different applications, domains, tools, methodologies, processes etc. The time he spends as a tester will allow him/her to clear out his future and will pave the way to climb up in the profession either to move in to management or technical avenue or change track.
Here I identify four traits of a good tester who can produce exceptional results in his/her project during his/her initial years as a tester. These observations are based on my personal experiences working with many people, domains, applications, technologies and tools.
I have not considered traits like Technical skills and Communication & interpersonal skills which are being talked about in large and are well known characteristics.
Trait 1: Attention to detail: Disciplined, and Undivided Concentration
One of the challenges we face during testing is to deal with repetitive tasks. We easily get bored, loose our concentration, and we start to overlook things which we shouldn't. It's also very easy to get distracted by external stimuli. Your most productive time get wasted if you try to respond to them.
Which can lead to reading a requirement and understand it incompletely. Log a bug without adequate steps. Writing an e-mail with spelling/ grammar mistakes, Missing an important issue in your application because you have not concentrated enough, incomplete status update , half baksed reports to customer, or not properly update tracking systems and many more lousy mistakes.
These will result in rework, loss of credibility, loosing trust from the stakeholders etc.
A well-disciplined and concentrated tester can achieve remarkable results and complete much of work on time with high quality and more time is available for your other investments
Trait 2: Having an investigative eye: Look for unexpected
A good tester will look at something with an investigative eye and mind. Always be pessimistic professionally. Check for happy and unhappy paths. Go beyond his perimeter ones in a while to see something is fishy . All his testing techniques both written and heuristics will be used. His/her senses are sharp. Do not get satisfied with what he/she has done so far. Expect some action can break the system. Its an perpetual cycle of curiosity and find new information out of the system that is given to you.
A good tester will never stick to the test case document hoping to finish it as soon as possible, but also to use his/her instinct, experiences and passion, like a craftsman creates an exquisite sculpture from a bare wooden log.
Trait 3: Perseverance : Never give-up
A good tester will not give up easily. Hunting a bug, quite vague in nature, needs to drill down to the bottom to find something is not correct and get beaten by its disguises, asking help from a busy developer who is reluctant to dedicate time on a 'non- trivial' issue that this person is pursuing but anyway offers his/her help may finally pay off after it turns out to be a decent bug which could have been embarrassing if it gets caught by a user. All this time the tester has been so persevered to go to his goal.
This person is so persevered that he'll always look for answers, advocate others , be little authoritative to get something done. Look for improvements at work, suggest, act on them and get them executed
Trait 4: Be mindful and have peace: Inner tranquility
Your mind is behind your every thought and action. If it's volatile, rest-less, your deeds will reflect them.You have bad days at works unable to satisfy yourself with what you've done and not feel so productive and efficient.
Have a mind that is exciting , but not too shiny with inner calmness when you start your day. This calmness and tranquility will open up your mind to explore and execute your ideas, think better, feel less fatigue or bored and you keep yourself energized until you end your days work with a happy note.
On a final note, can we still say 'Any one can test' ? I guess, it's more serious business than most of us think.
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