Wondering what a prosperous path looks like for testing professionals?
Test professionals with some experience often contemplate and question their professional trajectory, whereas beginners may wrestle with uncertainty and doubts. Some of the frequently asked questions include:
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- What’s the time frame to become a QA or Test Manager?
- What steps are necessary to attain the position of a QA or Test Manager?
- Is progress to higher roles possible in my current organization?
- What is the salary cap in this profession?
- Should I persist in Testing or migrate to Development for better accomplishments?
Possibly, someone with ten to twenty years of experience in the Information Technology (IT) industry can easily answer these questions.
However, these might not be sufficient or convincing for the passionate testing professionals who are currently in the field, craving growth, acknowledgement and higher pay.
This piece is an attempt to guide you on your professional trajectory and provide advice for each career stage, aiming to help you gain rewards, acknowledgements from your superiors and achieve your ambitions. These stages encapsulate the following:
Key Takeaways:
- Tester to Manager: Professional Journey
- Tester’s experience and career aspirations
- True Tales of Tester’s Career
- Story #1
- Story #2
- Story #3
- How to Achieve Professional Success in Your Journey?
- Journey #1: (0-2 years)
- Journey #2: (2-5 years)
- Journey #3: (5-8 years)
- Journey #4: (8-10 years)
- Journey #5: (10+ years)
- Final Thoughts
Transitioning from a Tester to Manager: A Professional Journey
Tester’s Experience and Professional Goals
Journey | Phase | Roles & Duties | Ambitions & Objectives |
---|---|---|---|
Journey #1 | 0-2 years | Grasping test processes, composing and running test cases, involving in project and company initiatives. | To be an effective tester with excellent communication and people skills, and a team player. |
Journey #2 | 2-5 years | Inspecting and deploying test automation frameworks, motivating and leading testing resources. | Mature professionalism, positive attitude, proficiency in automated testing, and capability to guide testing teams. |
Journey #3 | 5-8 years | Leading teams, organizing review meetings, contributing in project and test managing activities, and enhancing QA procedures. | Becoming a domain expert, gaining knowledge of assorted technologies and platforms, and achieving recognition for QA endeavors. |
Journey #4 | 8-10 years | Continuously improving QA and test procedures, liaising with clients, delivering quality deliverables, implementing enterprise-wide process enhancements, and upholding organizational objectives. | Reaching the positions of QA Manager, Test Manager, or Senior Lead with substantial responsibilities. |
Journey #5 | 10+ years | Formulating QA and test managing strategies, encouraging teams for intelligent working practices, reviewing and implementing best practices, and constant professional and personal development. | Progressing along with the company and achieving personal objectives. |
Authentic Experiences of Tester’s Careers
To bring more clarity, I’ll narrate few real-life experiences of three testers who have accomplished their decade-long professional journeys starting from the position of testers.
Story #1
Vishal, a graduate in computer science engineering, embarked on his professional journey as a tester in a medium-scale software firm with a monthly remuneration of INR 15,000. He exhibited passion for his job and devoted himself to the testing profession right from the onset.
In the beginning, Vishal was a part of a small team working on a minor mobile project, primarily concentrating on manual testing. He efficiently carried out his tasks, often ahead of deadlines. He grabbed the opportunity to communicate with stakeholders belonging to various project roles to understand the complete project management workflow.
Through his impeccable work ethic and ability to deliver high-quality results on time, Vishal gained recognition from his superiors and progressively took on more important tasks. He remained committed to the company, intending to progress and develop within the organization through dedication and constant learning. He mastered automation frameworks, dedicating his weekends to enhancing his skills in this respect.
Eventually, Vishal’s hard work and expertise lead to his promotion as Test Lead within the company. After four years in the same role, he grabbed an opportunity to work in a different field which required his automation expertise, pleasant demeanor, and robust communication skills. Currently, he is stationed in the United States serving as a QA Manager handling a team of 50 testing professionals, drawing a monthly salary of $15,000.
Story #2
Niraj, a graduate in electrical engineering, commenced his career as a tester in a large multinational enterprise with monthly earnings of INR 20,000, due to limited job opportunities in his field of education.
Initially, Niraj encountered difficulties as he was tasked with testing an accounting module, despite having no prior knowledge or experience in the domain. Owing to his struggles, his motivation dwindled, which led him to be labeled as an inefficient tester, and he eventually resigned from the company merely six months into the job.
Throughout his professional journey, Niraj’s focus remained more on deciphering people’s behavior rather than improving his testing skills. Constantly hopping jobs, he pursued jobs offering higher pay without giving much thought to personal growth. Despite being distinguished as a senior tester in his last job, he is currently jobless and in search of a manual testing position.
Story #3
Mukesh, a post-graduate in computer science, kick-started his career as a tester in a small software organization, drawing a monthly income of INR 9,000 after having an employment gap of 2 years post completing his academic course.
While Mukesh had a keen interest in coding and programming, he couldn’t secure a software engineering job due to his confusion between Java and .Net technologies. Eventually, he opted for testing as a career option, considering it as an easy alternative.
Despite his initial reluctance, Mukesh committed himself wholly to his responsibilities as a tester. He excelled in his initial project and emerged as a key tester in the company. Over a span of seven years, he acquired expertise in various testing processes and domains. His attempts to land a job with a higher pay, however, remained unsuccessful.
Currently, Mukesh is employed as a Senior Tester in the company, drawing INR 50,000 per month.
How can you attain your objectives?
Having heard these stories, you might be pondering about how to bring about changes in yourself and achieve your objectives as a fruitful testing professional.
How to Succeed and Find Contentment in Your Professional Journey?
Allow me to suggest some guidelines that can aid in achieving a successful career as a testing professional. These guidelines can be implemented based on your experience level:
Journey #1: (0-2 years)
#1. Kick-start your career with enthusiasm and curiosity: Embrace your professional role as a tester and approach it with enthusiasm right from the beginning. Absorb the knowledge about your roles and responsibilities, get acquainted with the project and testing life cycle, software requirements, and testing processes.
#2. Enhance your communication skills: Ensure proficiency in English as effective communication is vital for career progression.
#3. Develop amicable interpersonal skills: Effective teamwork, strong communication skills, and dedication can go a long way.
Journey #2: (2-5 years)
This phase is a turning point for your career growth as it demands personal development in addition to the fundamental responsibilities.
#1. Refine your attitude: Shed personal attitudes and ego to cultivate positive thoughts, engage with others and work towards a common project goal.
#2. Disseminate your knowledge: Share your insights with your subordinates as it encourages you to learn new nuances. Remember, disseminating knowledge doesn’t devalue your own proficiency.
#3. Grasp automation frameworks: Don’t miss out on learning about automation frameworks. Explore various automation tools, choose one and master it.
#4. Engage in organizational initiatives: Be an active member in the team. Contribute to projects, suggest improvements in testing strategies and automation frameworks, and aim to achieve accolades within the company.
Journey #3: (5-8 years)
#1. Reflect on your professional journey: Assess your level of experience, the projects you have participated in, domains and technologies you have worked with. If you find you are lagging in any areas, consider making changes.
#2. Assess your current position: Discuss with your current organization if there are opportunities for growth in the next 2-3 years. If not, consider seeking opportunities elsewhere.
#3. Grasp expertise in quality assurance and project management: Take on additional duties, engage in review meetings, enhance quality measures, and introduce best industry practices to the team and management.
- Audit projects and propose simplifications and improvements to the testing procedures and automation frameworks.
- Aim to be nominated as the “Employee of the Month” and actively contribute to the project’s success.
By the conclusion of this journey, you should have become an expert in quality assurance, testing frameworks boasting excellent leadership abilities and be recognized as a domain expert.
Journey #4: (8-10 years)
This stint provides abundant opportunities for career advancement. You might be offered manager roles by your present company or other employers.
Considering job offers, meticulously evaluate the roles, duties, remuneration packages, and employment benefits.
Do keep in mind that manager is not the only route to success. Concentrate on showcasing leadership qualities in your existing role, irrespective of the title, and excel at your job with dedication, the offers will come to you.
Journey #5: (10+ years)
Upon reaching this stage, you would have accomplished being a successful IT Test Professional. Efficiently plan your schedules, display excellent leadership skills and guide your team to accomplish their goals.
Rather than creating followers, strive to nurture leaders. Mentor your juniors, and assist them in reaching their potential. Scour for opportunities to work overseas, negotiate remunerations, and other employment benefits.
Identify the dream company, and work towards growing with it. Maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life, spend quality time with your dear ones and be available for the company when they need you, even beyond working hours.
Remember, your flourishing life is attributable to the company, but refrain from turning into a corporate robot.
And bear in mind, the journey is not over here. Your professional life continues with further excitements and occasions.
Back in the 80’s, most IT organizations did not have distinct testing or Quality Assurance (QA) departments. Testing was not given prominence. However, as software failures and bugs escalated, organizations soon understood the significance of testing. Independent testing teams were set up and testing was incorporated as a critical aspect of software development.
Presently, the developer-to-tester ratio is significantly reduced and the software industry acknowledges the importance of quality assurance and testing.
Final Thoughts
Although realigning personal attitudes and professional aspirations can expedite your journey to become a test manager or QA manager, it is imperative to remember that we all are humans and our abilities and priorities differ.
Personal attitudes, commitment, and concentrated effort differ significantly amongst individuals, which is why only a small fraction of professionals attain their goals within a certain timeline.
About the Author: Balu A. is an accomplished IT professional with two decades of software experience, including ten years in project and test management. He has delivered enterprise applications and mobility solutions across varied domains using Microsoft, Oracle, Java, and Mobile technologies.
So, are you geared up to begin your journey as a testing professional, carrying a unique and focused approach to accomplish your objectives and targets?
Wishing you the best!