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Q: I am totally new to this field, where and what should I begin with?

A: Several Software Quality Assurance Engineers are from the non-IT background. It indeed can be very hard for any new person to understand the terminologies if that person is entering the IT field for the very first time.

My advice to the new QA Engineers with a non-computer background would be to take training from reputed training institutes like SigmaSoft, which offer classes that are practical and relevant to the workplace. The classes teach you the basics of software testing and you will be introduced to software testing terminology and principals.

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Q: What is software testing?  

A: The specialists in this field are responsible for finding defects (bugs) in computer software. Working in cooperation with programmers, Software Testers make their contribution to the quality of computer applications. This is done before the product is released to customers.

Mostly a tester can rely upon a written specification to explain what the software is supposed to do or how it is supposed to respond to errors. Software testers have to write a test case to follow; that indicates exactly what the tester is supposed to do and what the software should do. Often (in consumer products) when written specifications do not exist; the tester must figure out what to test and what the software should do on their own. To do that they use a combination of asking questions to the product manager and engineers, their knowledge of how software and computers work and their intuition based upon their experience.

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Q: Who should take the software testing classes?
A: People entering software testing for the first time, business and system analysts who prepare specifications, developers with no formal training or experience in testing and project managers (business, IT etc.,) who want a better understanding of testing.

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Q: What are prerequisites to taking this software testing course?

A: There are NO prerequisites for this Software Testing course, where basic computer knowledge (Knowledge of Windows) is recommended.

 

Q: Do I need to know how to program in order to be a tester? 

A: No, you don’t need to know how to program (write code or write software) in order to start your testing career. Beginning testers typically test the application from the user perspective. As you grow in your career you may want to investigate programming as a way to further your career by either doing test automation, white box testing (writing code to test code), or becoming a development engineer.

 

Q: Does this course give me practical insight on how to write test cases, test plans etc.?

A: Yes, all of our testing courses will give you practical information on writing test cases and test plans, plus many other practical considerations of software testing.

All of our courses are very practical and show how to do the tasks covered in the course.

 

Q: Will you please send me a free electronic copy of your course material?

A: No. We have invested a great deal of time and effort in developing our training materials, which have great value. It would not be fair to us or our paying students to give these materials away.

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Q: After successful completion of the course will I have sufficient knowledge to apply for jobs in the software testing area?

A: You will know the terminology and the processes, and will have had some practice in applying them. However, to enter the testing workforce will depend on your other skills and attributes, such as an eye for detail, creativity, curiosity, etc. Many companies do hire entry-level testers and having training is a big plus. You will also need to practice testing until you are hired. One way to do that is to be a beta tester.

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Q: Do you provide job placement?

A: Yes. We do have a relationship with clients looking for testers.

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Q: How much do testers earn?

A: The amount of money a test can earn depends on several things:

Are they an employee or a contractor?

What are their skills, experience, previous products tested and training?

What is their total benefits package? (Some knowledge workers negotiate a lower salary for more stock options.)

Where is the job located?

You’ll have to do some research to determine what tester salaries are in your area. Here are some places to start:

Scan your local paper’s want ads. If the salary is not listed, call the company.

Call a local technical recruiter and say that you are researching a career in software testing and would like to know what starting salaries are in your area.

Scan the career websites, start with Dice and Monster.

Check out salary surveys at salary.com.  Just for fun, check out this salary calculator to see the cost of living salary adjustments for different areas of the country.

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Q: Do you give any kind of certificate on completion of this course?

A: When you successfully complete a course, your achievement will be recognized with a Certificate of Completion, signed by the Instructor.

To get the Certificate, you need to attend all four classes that will verify that you have mastered the testing principles and techniques covered in the course. The Certificate should be helpful with your career advancement as well as looking nice on your wall.