How to Switch From Non IT to Software Testing

Software testing is one of the fastest growing fields in the software industry, as people are moving towards the digital world, the demand for software applications has increased a lot, and to make them bug-free and give their customers a smooth experience there is a need of software testers in the organizations which make it a perfect opportunity for those looking to enter the IT industry. But to enter the field requires specific skills that we have discussed in this article.

Whether you’re a beginner in testing with little to no IT experience or a professional looking for a new path, if you follow the below-discussed path then definitely you will get clarity about this software testing career and where to start learning it.

What is Software Testing?

Software Testing is a process in software development that is used in the quality assurance of software applications. It is used to check the difference between the expected and actual behavior of a software application that is created by the developers. Since it is a subpart of the software development process, testing itself is a separate domain that involves several processes and has different workflows like designing and executing test cases. The main purpose of software testing is to make the software free from bugs and make the functions work correctly as they are designed to. Nowadays, Software testing has become a common todo task, and having a Complete Guide to Software Testing and Automation: Master Java, Selenium, and Cucumber is a must to have a skill.

To learn more about Software Testing, refer to this article: Software Testing

Know Your Reason to Switch?

If you are working in a non-IT company and want to switch to Software Testing then it is the right time to switch because of the high demand for quality developers. But you need to understand why you want to switch. Of course, everyone has different reasons, some of the common reasons are better perks, good salary, and future growth. And many people fail to make this switch due to one important factor and this is their interest in learning technology. If you have an interest in learning new technology in computer science then you should try it, otherwise you should reconsider your decision. 

Once you made a decision then it is time to execute the learning process, because this industry cares about skills, if you are good at the requirements for software testing then you will be accepted by the industry. In this article, you will find all the details required to become a Software tester.

Acquire Fundamental Skills

Before starting with the actual implementation of software testing, it is important to gain the fundamental skills and knowledge of software development that will act as a strong fundamental in your new career. This field is evolving at a very rapid pace and new tools and technologies are emerging almost every year testers have to adopt these not just for their survival but for the betterment of the software application, and if your fundamentals are strong enough then understanding these new technologies would be a piece of cake for you. So, let’s see some of the basic yet important fundamentals skills that you must know 

1. Learn the Basics of Software Development

Whether you don’t want to become a proficient programmer, having a basic understanding of coding concepts and development methodologies will always help you in this domain. Because the software development process touches every sphere, be it software testing, product development or UI/UX design, and understanding the basics software development process is a fundamental part of software testing. 

• Programming Language– Understanding programming language will help you in collaboration with the developers team, so try to learn the basics of languages like Python, C++ or Java.
• Software Development Lifecycle– If you want to learn about where and how testing fits into the software development process then try to learn about different SDLC models like Agile, Waterfall and DevOps.
• Version Control System– To manage and get an understanding of the codebase, you should know the version control system like Git.
• Databases– It is a very fundamental concept of computer science that revolves around data. So to manage and create data, try to learn SQL.

2. Basics of Testing Concepts

To learn about software testing you should understand very clearly all the basic concepts related to the testing. So below are some testing concepts that you should learn in detail, before actually diving into the core, it will give you a brief intro to this domain 

• Types of testing– Yes, testing itself is of different types and serves a different purpose in checking the quality of software, so try to learn about various types of testing including functional testing, regression testing, and performance testing.
• Test Case Design– Different factors should be considered while designing a test case like boundary condition and its coverage, so you should study the process of designing test cases.
• Testing tools– Various testing tools are highly used in the industry like selenium, JUnit, or TestNG, try to get familiarised with those tools.
• Defect Reporting– It is also one of the important skills to understand how to document and report any defect, using tools like a bug tracking system and communicate it with development teams.

3. Foundation of Testing Methodologies

Performing quality check of any software also include different types of methodologies and it is very important for checking different types of software. Let’s discuss some of them

• Manual Testing– This is usually the starting point for many software testers, so try to learn the basics of manual testing like test planning, test case execution, and defect reporting.
• Automation Testing– This will include the use of scripts and testing tools to optimise the repetitive tasks. SO learn frameworks like selenium which will help you in automation testing.
• Performance Testing – In this type of testing, you should understand, how to access software performance using various tools to ensure that the software performs smoothly.

Get a Certificate

Having a deep understanding of the basics of Software testing will give you an exceptional edge in learning the technology at its core. Online courses and certifications can provide structured learning and validation of your skills. So, you can learn the technology from open source like bootcamps and can also prefer some certifications like

• International Software Testing Qualifications Board
• Certified Software Tester Exam

To learn more about it, refer to this article: Certifications of Software Testing

See, having a certification in the field of software testing will not only help you in learning the technology in detail but also give proof that you have mastered the technology with a renowned institute by making some amazing projects. It will also help in your job searching process as well. Remember transition from non-IT to software testing takes time and persistence, so start with the basics and gain experience steadily with the online certification.

Gain Experience and Start Transition

Before directly applying to any job, first try to gain some experience either through internships or freelancing because it will not only enhance your skills but also give you an upper edge during interviews. At some point, if you feel that you are good at the testing then you can also contribute in the form of blogs, on websites like geeksforgeeks, which provide very good remuneration for your contribution. You should also make strong connections with the IT professionals and share your portfolio to get some improvement insights and referrals. And once you got a bit confidence in the software testing then you can start applying for the jobs online, in a different portal like Naukri, linkedin, and geeksforgeeks.

Conclusion

Switching from a non-IT background to software testing will give you growth and good perks but this journey requires a lot of hard work and persiverence. The role of a software tester is very important in the software development process because companies want to deliver bug-free software to their customers very quickly as well, so to give them a better experience with the software applications, the role of software tester become very important for companies. By gaining the fundamentals of computer science and some experience in testing, anyone can become a software tester. Whether you are an IT professional or working in non-IT, if you learn the basics of testing and follow the above guidance then you can get a high-paying SDET (Software Development Engineering in Testing) job.

FAQs

1. Why to choose Software Testing?

Choosing software testing as a profession could be a strategic decision which depends on several factors like futute opportunities, growth, and perks but most importantly if you are a critical thinker and have interest in quality assurance of software then you should choose the profession of software testing.

2. What is the scope of Software Testing?

Software testing is an emerging field and as the amount of software will increase the demand for software testers will also increase simultaneously to maintain the quality of software, hence software testing is an good career to explore.

3. What is the salary of Software Tester?

The salary of software tester vary with experience, but in startups the average salary of a fresher software tester is 5LPA and in large organisation the average salary is 8LPA.