Feb 28

The Different Phases of QA Testing

QA testing can be confusing to anyone who doesn’t work in tech – and even many who do. For those who are unaware of what QA testing entails, the vague concept might be “looking for problems in a website or app.” But there are many different phases of QA testing. Some of them happen before a product is even ready to test!

Read on to find out more about the different phases of manual QA testing.

The Design Phase

One of the first steps that QA can help with is the design phase. This might seem surprising, as QA testers aren’t exactly known for being graphic designers. But testers can provide valuable insight into user experience issues with design.

If QA can anticipate design and user interface issues before development begins, the team will save money, time, and effort. Continue reading →

Jan 31

Wes Silverstein

Automated Testing

Top 5 Test Cases to Automate

Automating Registration Test Cases (three people standing next to a mobile device with registration fields open)

Top 5 Test Cases to Automate

Automated testing has a big reputation. In fact, it’s not uncommon for teams to think their entire QA process can or should be automated. But no matter whether you have an app, website, or both, it’s unlikely that this is possible — or even a good idea. So how do you decide which test cases to automate?

Different types of software have different features and flows. In some cases, the exact same feature might even have different priorities at different companies! But there are certain core features that are common across many websites and apps. Whenever possible, these are good candidates for automation.

Even if you have the budget, staff, and resources to automate as many flows as possible, the test cases below are usually the most important to start with.

1. Registration/Signup Test Cases

Most websites and apps have the ability for users to sign up. And if your users can’t create an account, it’s unlikely that they can fully use your product. Continue reading →

Dec 28

Wes Silverstein

QA Engineering

What’s the Deal with QA Certifications?

QA Certification (certificate icon with award)

What’s the Deal with QA Certifications?

There are several major QA certifications online. What are the most popular software testing certifications, how do you achieve them, how much do they cost, and how important is it to get Agile QA certifications?

Types of Certifications

The two biggest sources of QA certifications are the ISTQB and the QAI. Each offers multiple types of software testing certifications.

If you’re looking to specialize in a particular type of QA (such as security testing or management), it’s worth getting the certificate specific to that position.

However, any of the more general QA certifications should be suitable for most testers. Further, if you decide to focus on a different area of QA, having a certification that only applies to your old specialty may not be useful. Continue reading →

Dec 8

Wes Silverstein

Company Culture / QA Process

How to Deal With Negative Perceptions of QA

Developer Respect for QA (person sitting at desk with computer open showing bugs and errors)

How to Deal With Negative Perceptions of QA

When you work in the field of QA testing, you’re inevitably going to encounter folks who don’t respect the idea of QA. While this can happen frequently, there are ways to work around it. If you can determine when to persist through the noise and when to push back, you’ll be able to accommodate whatever is thrown your way.

Developers

The overall QA and developer relationship can be collaborative, and working with a developer that respects QA is amazing. However, the most common role that perceives QA negatively tends to be engineers. It’s helpful to keep in mind that this isn’t always the engineer’s fault.

Some QA testers can be condescending in their manner of reporting bugs, as if it’s a personal critique on the developer’s self-worth. Naturally, if a developer feels that they are being personally criticized, they may react defensively. (Learn more about how to collaborate with developers in our guide to the QA and developer relationship.) Continue reading →

Nov 16

Wes Silverstein

Company Culture

How to Set Boundaries at Work (And Respect Others)

Office Lunch at Desk (person sitting at a desk looking at a laptop)

How to Set Boundaries at Work (And Respect Others)

When you spend the majority of your hours working, setting boundaries at work is vital. Equally important is respecting boundaries set by others. This can cover a lot: communication, workload, availability, and countless areas in between.

It won’t always be possible to lay down the law in every scenario that you’d like. But by knowing what your ideal boundaries are, and implementing them from the beginning, you’ll have a fighting chance at reducing work stress.

Slack

In modern QA, Slack can play a big role in communication. And with all of the expectations that come with live messaging, boundaries are often needed. These can include:

Keeping the Slack app off of your phone
Turning notifications off at certain hours
Not checking Slack before or after work
Keeping Slack closed when in the middle of urgent work

Timing is also important. If you don’t set Slack boundaries early on, people will think that they can reach you at any time of day – and it can be difficult to re-set expectations at that point. Continue reading →

Oct 30

Wes Silverstein

QA Engineering / QA Process

The Role of QA in the Software Development Life Cycle

QA Testing SDLC (webpage/mobile app wireframes with magnifying glass icon)

The Role of QA in the Software Development Life Cycle

The role of QA in the Software Development Life Cycle isn’t always clear. Sure, there’s a QA testing phase. But what about all of the other stages? What role do software testers play in those, if any? First let’s go over what the Software Development Life Cycle is, and then take a look at the roles and responsibilities for QA at each step.

What is the Software Development Life Cycle?

The Software Development Life Cycle (often abbreviated to “SDLC”) is a framework for, well, developing software. The SDLC methodology is a structured process that splits each aspect of software development into different phases.

In an Agile Software Development Life Cycle, the team can jump back and forth between SDLC phases. (Learn more about the Agile QA Process, which we’ll be focusing on below.) Continue reading →

Sep 28

Wes Silverstein

QA Engineering

Resume Advice for QA Testers

Resume Advice for QA Testers

So you’re ready to apply for your first QA job. Or maybe you’re already in QA, but looking to start at a new company. Where do you begin? The first step is putting together a stellar resume and LinkedIn profile. And the best part is, you don’t need years of job experience to do so. Read on for our resume advice for QA testers.

Do You Really Need a LinkedIn Profile and a QA Resume?

In a word, yes. There are some careers where a LinkedIn profile might not be necessary. But in the world of tech, beyond being expected to have one, a LinkedIn profile can provide invaluable job and networking opportunities.

Which Do You Start With?

It only takes five minutes to register on LinkedIn, so it’s an easy first step. And if someone wants to add you, you’ll have a link to give them even before you add profile details. However, when it comes to completion, it’s more important to finish your resume first.

Although it’s beneficial to have one, you can still apply to many jobs without a LinkedIn profile. The same can’t be said of a resume. Continue reading →

Sep 8

Wes Silverstein

QA Process

How to Have Effective QA Communication Skills

How to Have Effective QA Communication Skills

Communication is important in any career or area of life. But in the world of QA, it’s even more essential. Testers have to communicate with people at all roles and levels of the company. And on top of that, QA is at the front line when it comes to finding bugs and user experience issues — all of which need to be communicated well. It’s hard to understate the importance of effective communication skills for QA testers.

Read on to find out how to follow best practices for communicating anything and everything as a QA Engineer.

Communicating Bugs

Writing bug reports alone requires all kinds of communication skills. (Learn more about Best Practices for Reporting Bugs.) But even after you’ve created a bug report ticket, the bug-related communication doesn’t end there. It’s also good to follow these practices:

Sound the alarm for showstoppers. A showstopper bug means that it must be fixed immediately. For example, maybe the mobile app is crashing every time a user logs in. When you spot something like this, you’ll want to go above and beyond filing a bug report ticket. While that should be your first step, once you’ve done so, it’s time to make sure your team is aware. Continue reading →

Sep 1

Wes Silverstein

Automated Testing / Manual Testing / QA Engineering

What Are the Different Types of Software Testing?

What Are the Different Types of Software Testing?

QA testing may sound like a catch-all term — and in some ways, it is. “QA” stands for Quality Assurance, and all of the different types of software testing have this goal. But each type of testing achieves it differently. As a result, they’re best used for different purposes. Find out how what the different types of software testing are, and when to use them.

What Are the Different Types of Software Testing?

The main types of software testing are:

Manual Testing
Automated Testing
API Testing
Performance/Load Testing

These types of testing can be done on websites, mobile apps, and other software.

Manual Testing

Manual Testing is done by hand. This doesn’t mean not using technology — far from it. But it does mean manually going through different sections of a mobile app, websites, or other software, looking for any problems. Unlike automated, API, or performance testing, all you need for manual testing is access to the website or app. The other main types of software testing typically involve using other software or tools to test and/or find bugs. Continue reading →

Aug 23

Wes Silverstein

Company Culture

Career Advices for QA Testers

QA Career Advice (graphic shows magnifying glass over briefcase with checkmark icon)

Career Advices for QA Testers

Whether you’re at the start of your QA career or thirty years in, it’s always a good idea to know how to negotiate salary, advocate for a promotion, and navigate difficult situations in the workplace. On top of general career best practices, there are also aspects specific to software testing careers.

Taking QA Careers From Junior to QA Lead to QA Manager

When starting a QA career, many testers have the word “Junior” in their job title. Even if it’s not part of the official title, it’s usually a given that your first QA position will be entry level or close to it. But after you’ve learned the ropes and started to enhance your QA skills, you may set your sights on becoming a QA Lead.

Tips for Becoming a QA Lead

Continue reading →