For any software project to be successful, it needs a talented team of testers. After all, even a tiny bug can financially affect the company. To avoid such situations, most companies have a QA team dedicated to finding issues, reporting, and verifying fixes before any major release.
But what are the qualities of a good tester?
1. Flexibility
A tester’s duty does not end after an error is reported. The developer must also reproduce and check it after a fix is done. If there are any misunderstandings, the tester and the developer check the issue together to remedy the problem faster.
Flexibility is a must-have to be able to offer support whenever needed.
Testers should also be comfortable with various testing techniques, such as manual or automated testing.
2. Clear communication
Many think this job is an isolated role that rarely involves communicating with others. This is not true. Testers must communicate effectively with customers and their colleagues, not only when issues are found but during the entire software development life cycle.
They need to know how to communicate with technical and non-technical people and ask the right questions depending on the situation. Otherwise, they risk losing a lot of important information.
Information such as: what the requirements are, what changes need to be done, what needs to be implemented, and what needs to be fixed.
3. Critical thinking
A company’s product must meet the customer’s requirements.
A good tester should be able to create a multitude of “what if” scenarios to ensure that the software not only responds positively to everyday situations but that it does not crash in unusual situations.
They must think from a user perspective, put themselves in their shoes, and correlate the testing with real life throughout the development cycle.
4. Growth mindset
Software testing is a challenge because there are always new things to learn. QA testers must quickly adapt to new tools and keep up with the latest technologies. Not only because changes are always part of the software development but because different ways of testing need to be constantly added to avoid the pesticide paradox: testing precisely the same scenarios all the time will only mean that some particular areas are bug-free, but not the entire software.
5. Teamwork
Being a team player is a must for every job.
After all, the best QA testers work closely with those outside their expertise to ensure a successful product.
These are just a few skills that a good tester has. Any company’s top goal is creating and delivering high-quality products, and a QA tester plays a vital role.
