Software testing is a popular job and is an excellent opportunity for people to get involved in an exciting industry. But how do you get a software testing job without experience?
To land a software testing job without experience, it’s crucial to practice testing in your own time while studying independently for a relevant qualification.
You can join crowd-testing platforms to collaborate on your first project before joining software communities to build a network.
These steps will make it easier to land a job without prior experience.
Keen to learn more about how to land a software testing job? Let’s check some of the things you need to consider going forward.
What Exactly is a Software Testing Job?
Software testing is required to test whether a specific piece of software meets its standardization prerequisites.
Its purpose is to identify errors, gaps, or missing requirements, ensuring that the software does as expected and marketed.
Given the rate at which new software is developed, the need for qualified testers has increased significantly.
Therefore, software testers are required to complete rigorous stages of testing, ensuring that the software created by the developers is fit for purpose and free from bugs.
While many companies look for testers with experience, others are willing to hire people who have yet to work in the industry. Potential candidates with a good eye for detail and a problem-solving mindset will often be given an opportunity.
As such, it’s an expanding field in which many software testers are being hired today.
Does Software Testing Require Coding?
In most instances, testers don’t need in-depth coding knowledge because the responsibility of writing the code and debugging lies firmly with the developer.
That said, a tester with coding experience is advantageous to a software firm. System and functional testing are crucial to the success of a product.
Testers with programmatic knowledge can deal with white box testing, which deals with issues like statement and code coverage and cyclomatic complexity.
As such, coding skills can open up more possibilities and offer higher-paying roles such as software strategists or senior developers.
So, while in-depth skills aren’t necessary to land a job as a software tester, it is advantageous to have a foundational understanding of coding, particularly if you don’t have any relevant experience with software firms to accompany your resume.
What Skills Does a Software Tester Need?
Of course, basic coding knowledge is just one skill that a software tester needs to land a role with a firm. Other skills that an employer looks for include:
- Knowledge of automation techniques and tools.
- Proficiency in programming languages.
- Knowledge of test management tools like TestRail and TestPad, among others.
- Understanding of software development life cycle (SDLC).
- Excellent analytical and communication skills.
- Project management and time management skills.
When hiring for a position, employers are often just as concerned about the skills a potential hire has as they are with the experience.
Therefore, you can compensate for your lack of knowledge by upskilling in the above areas.
It also makes sense to join online software networks to find opportunities to collaborate on projects. You can add these collaborations to your portfolio, showing potential employers that you’re serious about a career in software testing.
Is it Easy to Test Software for a Living?
Since extensive coding knowledge isn’t a prerequisite for a tester job, people often erroneously think software testing is easy.
But In reality, testing a developer’s latest creation is far from easy, and the role has intricacies and complexities.
Critical thinking is one of the core requirements of testing, as a good tester needs to holistically evaluate a product before observing and trying it out based on the expectations of the mass market about how the software should work.
Specialists are constantly looking for non-conformances, which requires investigating the software’s description and functionality.
So, while you may not need a lot of experience to land a paid software testing gig, you do need to exhibit the skills and traits that a firm is looking for to be considered for the role in question.
Is It a Well-Paid Job?
The average salary for a software tester in the United States is $79,000 per year. Of course, the pay rate depends on a candidate’s skills, experience, and credentials, and if you’re looking for your first job in the industry, you are likely to be offered a lower salary.
This is yet another reason why it’s a good idea to build out your credentials by working on software testing in your own time while collaborating with other testers via crowd-testing platforms that are prevalent on the internet.
But once you land a role and become more experienced in the industry, you can make a good living as a software tester, and it’s an excellent role to get into if you’re passionate about tech development.
Conclusion
If you’re keen to work as a software tester, the good news is that you don’t need a wealth of experience to get started.
You can work on projects in your own time and collaborate with other testers to help build your portfolio.
And should you land an entry-level software tester role, you can expect a good salary and an exciting career, which is reason enough to apply for the position in question.