Software Testing Career Planning

Source: Internet
Author: User

Software Testing Career Planning

The following is the content of the reprint.

Development error of software Testers "4"

The company developed a strong product expertise, software testers need to have a strong professional knowledge, software Testers now developed a kind of test managers do not want to see the scene:

1, the development of strong software testers to the software development (non-test tool development);

2. The testers with strong business ability turn to the software requirements;

3, strong communication skills and strong professional staff turned to the implementation of the software;

Why do not want to see, the outstanding personnel of their own training for other departments, other companies to work, and test this is always new, is always just the beginning of the software testing engineers: The development level general, business ability General, communication ability General. And those who change the test colleagues, the salary is not a qualitative leap, to the ' yonder ' results are mediocre, and soon buried. It is of course to rule out those fanatics who are really interested in development, business, and implementation who want to make a contribution in these areas. The question is, why do those people have to ' switch jobs '? There are no reasons for this:

1, the company's software testing has no technical content, no challenge;

2, think in the company can do test manager is already the highest state of testing development;

3, the test staff salary is lower than other;

4, want to know about the other positions outside the test, enrich their experience, for better management to prepare for the future.

So, is the company's software testing really low-tech? Is the work done? Does it really need to be challenged? Does the Test manager have a high and low grade? The tester's salary is not higher than that of the developer? The testers really need that much? Old road ' can not be changed on their own, perhaps some people complain that leaders are conservative, stubborn, but no one will stop us to innovate, to prevent us from exploring new models, new ideas, new working methods to change the status quo, no company is a fool, a person's salary and his reflected value is proportional to. So we should break the routine and explore new things, which include not only technological innovation but also management innovation. About career development, just according to the company's actual situation, and from everyone's ideas, talk about:

1, the development of strong skills of software testers can turn to automated testing tools, test management tools development, here not only requires a strong development capacity, but also need to learn more about the third-party testing tools, mining Test team testing personnel needs, understand the business;

2, strong business ability to do testing (use cases, planning) design engineers, as the company's product business is strong, demand for personnel can only provide the requirements of the test personnel documents, and what is the most important test point, test process to take what test method can make the shortest test path, coverage of the most complete, All these need to grasp the essence of software business;

3, to achieve the Test manager, can completely manage again superb, each person has what characteristics, how can each team member's ability to play to the extreme, how better to strive for the interests of testers, how to do the best resource deployment, how to let everyone no longer confused, in addition, how to enhance their prestige, improve executive power, leadership , how to manage to make people tut, to this degree, through the horizontal and vertical contrast, the advantages of nature came out.

In addition, to do development, demand, implementation, and then back to the test to do management, this I am more agree, but the degree is not good grasp, and if their level is too high, it is likely to let this kind of people produce upsets idea, the company's platform is too low, and I feel their level is high, So it is likely to lead to the departure of such people, so the development of individuals and the development of the company's testing department must be kept in sync, who can not be too fast, inconsistent pace of the two people how to walk in a way? So in the case of personal development, focus on the company's overall test development, the first to understand the direction of the development of

4, do test designers, automation tools, management tools developers is the ultimate? Of course, the test industry has consulting, consultants, experts, test management can also go to do the project manager, to do the department manager, really not, can go to start a business well.

In short, the development of No limit, the road is to come out of their own, do not just walk the way others stepped out.

Testers should have several ways of thinking "1"

1. Reverse Thinking Mode

· Reverse thinking is used in many tests, such as the inverse of the condition according to the results, so that the Equivalence class division of the input conditions is obtained.

· In fact, the reverse thinking in the commissioning of the use of more, when the discovery of defects, the further positioning of the problem is often upstream, and analysis

· Reverse thinking is relative, is to think in the opposite direction to the conventional thinking, testers can often use it to find developers thinking of loopholes

2. Combined thinking mode

· A lot of things single thinking is no problem, when the related things together can find a lot of problems, such as multi-process concurrency, so that the complexity of the program to a step, but also let the program defect rate increases

· The combination of sorting can be divided into: arranged (ordered) and combined (unordered), for different applications, you can consider using "arrange" or "combination" as appropriate.

· In order to make full use of combinatorial thinking and not to confuse the mind, we should pay attention to "fractal dimension", divide the relevant factors into different dimensions, and then consider its relativity.

3. Global thinking Mode

· Things tend to be multi-faceted, when we have mastered the more level, we understand it more clearly, the more conducive to our grasp of its essence, the global way of thinking is to let us from a multi-angle analysis of the system to be tested, try to see the system in different roles, to analyze whether it can meet the needs

· In fact, in the process of software development, we conduct various reviews, that is, through the way of global thinking, so that more people participate in thinking, brainstorming, as far as possible to achieve a comprehensive review of the correctness of a solution and other features

4. Bipolar Thinking Mode

· Boundary value analysis is an example of bipolar thinking mode

· To see the stability of the system, we used a stress test

· Bipolar mode of thinking, in extreme cases, see if there is a flaw?

· Attention is two poles, not one pole.

· Testers do long, often easy to go to extremes--occupational diseases, not conducive to communication with people

5. Simple way of thinking

· Stripping off some of the non-key features, chasing the essence of things, so that things simply left "fundamental"

· Test the nature of things (the nature of the problem) so that we do not deviate from the direction

6. Comparative thinking Mode

· When you know things, people tend to compare them with certain concepts in the mind, find the same, different, or classify them into the knowledge system in the brain and, if possible, build a good search method for later use.

· Application mode is a very common example of "comparative thinking", now the mode is very fire, there are design patterns, architecture patterns, test patterns, and so on, some experts for some of the common problems of the solution to find out, after the name, can let everyone convenient reuse

· It is important to have experience here and experience in testing, and comparative thinking is a way of using experience.

7, move up, more wonderful

· Focus on the run-time state of the program

· Traditional structure-based programs can more easily reflect the way in which future programs run in code, while object-oriented code and runtime are significantly separated

· Let's focus on the static structure of the code (such as the class structure) while also paying careful attention to its dynamic (object interaction Network) performance

In fact, these ways of thinking, everyone in the conscious or unconscious use, they each have their own beauty, will our thinking divergent, consciously use them in the question of thinking, sometimes can give us a "vista" feeling.

The advanced path of the test engineer "2"

From a narrow-minded understanding, the advanced direction of the test engineer's job is roughly as follows:

That is, the direction of management and the direction of technology.

From the broad sense of the development of the test personnel, that is, not only confined to testing their own work, there are roughly 6 broad categories of direction. There are three core skill elements that determine the different directions of development, namely:

Three core elements: management skills, test skills, business skills.

According to the mastery of three skills and the intersection point between the two, roughly divided into 6 broad categories of direction:

Management direction

Test technology Direction

Business Technology Direction

Technical Support Direction

Quality Assurance Direction

Other directions

Six directions for the core three skills of the approximate requirements, please refer to the following:

(Note: Only for the six categories of development, three core skills to do a simple illustration, does not represent specific values, there is no horizontal contrast value.) )

The six major development directions and corresponding positions of the testers:

(Note: The specific direction of the main direction, the parties are not identified between the level of the subordinate, horizontal hierarchy relationship)

In the six directions of the various positions, can not describe each of the learning to master the point of knowledge. If an interest in a certain direction, in the network resources so developed today, the heart of the words, will naturally find the test personnel need skills knowledge, to summarize, so in this article no longer repeat.

Software Test engineer Career Planning "3"

Because of the rapid development of domestic software testing industry, strong demand, in the domestic software testing job promotion generally faster than abroad, but because the industry itself is too young, we have not enough knowledge of software testing career development, resulting in a lot of young people who are interested in this development. So the following describes the overseas companies mature software testing industry position distribution, some in the software testing industry in the front end of the company and it is similar, this can be used as a reference for software testing career planning, give new people a guide.

First stage: ( tester ) Junior test Engineer

Self-condition: an individual who has a degree in computer science or some experience in manual testing.

Specific work: Execute test cases, record bugs, regression tests, record regression test scripts with test tools such as QTP, and execute regression test scripts.

Learning direction: Develop test scripts and become familiar with test life cycles and testing techniques.

Phase II: ( test engineer ) program analyst

Self-condition: A test engineer or programmer with 1-2 years of working experience. Have the initial automation test ability, perfect the automation test script.

Specific work: Design and write test cases, write automated test Scripts and act as a leader in early test programming.

Learning direction: Develop skills in programming languages, operating systems, networks and databases.

Phase III: ( Senior Test engineer ) program analyst

Self-condition: A test engineer or programmer with 3-4 years of experience. Have a certain business knowledge of the industry, reserve the ability of the system analyst.

Specific work: Help develop or maintain test or programming standards and processes, analyze software requirements, and obtain testing requirements. Determine the test requirements corresponding test methods, to obtain a test strategy scheme. Participate in peer reviews (software requirements, software test plans, etc.) and serve as advisors to other junior test engineers or programmers.

Learning direction: Continue to expand your programming language, operating system, network and database skills.

Stage four: head of the test group

Self-condition: A test engineer or programmer with 4-6 years of experience. With a wealth of industry business knowledge, with the ability of the system analyst, specialized performance testing.

Specific work: Responsible for the management of the name of the test engineer or programmer. Focus on skills, with some scheduling and job size/cost estimation responsibilities. Analyze the cause of the performance bottleneck and provide a bug resolution strategy for the development team.

Be responsible for scheduling, work size/cost estimation, delivery of product according to schedule and budget target, responsible for the technical method of developing project, can provide support and demonstration to users;

Learning Direction: Performance testing, testing skills

Fifth stage: Senior director of Test/programming ( Senior safety or performance Test engineer )

Self-condition: A test engineer or programmer with 6-10 years of experience.

Specific work: Responsible for the management of 8~10 technical staff. Performance testing of the overall scheme design, software system performance problem location and performance optimization, memory optimization and analysis of data overflow, such as analysis of system security loopholes. Responsible for scheduling, work size/cost estimation, delivery of products by schedule and budget targets. Responsible for the technical methods of developing the project. Provide support and demos for some users.

Learning Direction: Developing technical expertise in specific areas

Sixth stage: Testing/Quality assurance/Development (project), Manager

Self-condition: have more than 10 years of working experience.

Specific work: Manage 1 or more projects attended by 8 or more people. Responsible for the entire development life cycle business in this area (testing/QA/dev). Provide interaction and a lot of demos for some users. Responsible for project cost, schedule, plan and Personnel Division

Seventh stage: (company-level quality director) Program Manager

Self-condition: More than 15 years experience in development and support (testing/quality assurance) activities.

Specific work: Manage the people who are engaged in several projects and the entire development life cycle. Responsible for grasping project direction and profit and loss responsibility

Career planning is a major event in life, and below I combine my own experience to talk about my point of view:

Step1: Campus Stage (1 years before graduation ~1.5 years)

Many people's career planning is to work after the start, in fact, to do so, there are great limitations. Those who have worked, have an experience, is their first job, will affect the development trajectory of 5-10 years, and even will have an impact on life. Therefore, choosing a suitable job as a starting point is a problem that must be considered clearly in the campus.

Because China's education is basically a theoretical education, everyone in the work of the practical ability is mostly weaker, although there are shortcomings, but there is a good side, that is plasticity is better. Plasticity good represents the choice of room can be very large, therefore, everyone in the selection of the first job, we should fully combine their education background, personal ability, hobbies, long-term goals and so on, make rational decision.

Software testing, especially black-box software testing, is a low-start, fast-starting, and relatively large-space career, so for many students, as the entry into it employment is very suitable for the primary position.

The planning of the campus stage, the main choice is the big entry direction, of course, at this time can also give themselves a long-term goal, but do not plan too much, because, before the entrance, all are still unknown, grasp the route can.

The following assumes that you are choosing software Testing ~ ~

Step2: Entry Stage (3 months to year)

For the new recruits, this period is a comprehensive understanding of the period, the most able to learn new knowledge, but also the most hard-fought enthusiasm and motivation. We suggest that you can take this momentum, as far as possible to understand the area of the full picture, understand the main branches of the content, characteristics, advantages, limitations and so on, and examine their current work environment, combined with personal matching degree and interests, according to the foregoing content to adjust their plans.

For the test industry, there are generally several types of technical aspects: black box testing, white box testing, automated testing, testing tools, specialized business skills, etc. related management aspects are: test management, Quality management, project management.

In the face of the various directions above, we suggest that you can understand the connotation of a little, and then determine one or two, as the medium and long-term main direction, up to this standard, the basic has achieved the introduction, as to whether to enter the hall, it is necessary to look at the late efforts.

Step3: Improvement phase (3 years after entry)

After the introduction of the choice of management or choice of technology, in fact, this problem is Wucken, the key is to look at their own long-term positioning. However, I personally suggest that the current stage is still technology-oriented. After all, in a technical environment, to do a good job of management, there is no solid foundation, but also difficult to serve the public.

This stage is the most easy stage for people to slack off. After all, the enthusiasm has already been the day after day of the complex work to cool, have a certain work experience, competent, for most people, is not a problem. Family, entertainment began to occupy the mainstream of amateur life. However, after all, we are still very young, most people at this time is only more than 20 years old, this slack is also very scary. Therefore, planning to improve their core competitiveness at this time is particularly critical.

Improvement is to improve, but for most people, there is no need to struggle, at this time in a relatively stable position of you, you can consider to refine their own medium-term planning. According to the chosen direction, develop a self-improvement plan and define a milestone for self-examination (e.g. quarterly or semi-annual), and learn a regular lesson every day or week. Cling to a goal-"progress a little every day", a few years is not a problem.

I am personally opposed to quick success, inclined to stabilize the tie, this stage bogey to do "Tiger Balm", but should strive to become a skills "experts."

For those who choose to do technology, this phase of the standard, generally at least to be familiar with the technical direction of the majority of the technical details of your choice, "the details of success or failure" well, although the ability to grasp the global is necessary, but as a technology, if not drill very deep, I am afraid it is difficult to pose as a master.

For those who choose to do management, my personal inclination is: this phase of the concept of contact management, and can intervene in management, but this stage is not suitable for full access to management (unless you have a deeper consideration, you can not stabilize the tie). The concept of learning management is very important, in fact, the management of more a way of thinking and doing things, the knowledge is very deep, and not like technology, it will be so significant, therefore, it is recommended to read more and learn from each other, and strive to form their own style of doing things. Senior Software testing engineers, test leaders, etc., are good technical features of the management positions, at this time you should be able to do this.

After this phase is reached, you can also join the ranks of veteran, do not need to worry about the job, you should be able to easily jump or be harassed by headhunters, to achieve this stage, you have to do more in-depth planning.

Step4: Sublimation stage (5 years after the veteran)

At this time, you are about to enter middle-aged, regardless of whether it has been focused on technology or preference management, are facing the double pressure of family and society, you can not like the young people struggle all day, you need stability, therefore, can not frequent job-hopping, suggest considering more formal and potential enterprises, to consider giving yourself a long-term development plan.

Because there is the background of the early details of the support, at this time, you need to improve their macro-grasp ability. Even if the technology, but also to consider the appropriate transformation management (Chinese characteristics are: engineers can hardly exceed 35 years old, the average person to 30 years old is not transfer management is to turn business). Of course, the average person is the technology to do the better, management, the more easily hit the key to the project. But the key to people who come from technology is to start developing the ability to deal with people. The key to this phase is the need to evolve your own management style, with the ability to coordinate parallel transactions.

Of course, there is a difference between pure management and technology-based management. For the pure management of the people, skilled application of the scientific concept of management, the formation of their own style is particularly important. Pure management of test managers, not only can do a good job in the management of testing, in fact, can also do the project and even other management. In fact, regardless of the management of the object is what, their management philosophy is still interlinked. From the test management to explore a lot of experience, can be well promoted in other areas of management. And for the technical management of the people, mainly with good technical team, at the same time, continue to add new technical knowledge, with the tight technology trend. At this time, you have a strong technical background support, do not need to delve into the details, just insight into the core, reasonable arrangements for your team members can be.

At this stage, perhaps a few people will choose to leave the specific enterprise, and began to engage in testing consulting, it is a new beginning full of challenges, but also must have a pre-accumulation to be competent.

For most people, one of the issues that needs to be considered in this phase is whether to put the test as a lifetime position, and if so, basically achieve the above goal, maintain the status, basically can be retired. If not, it would be more frightening. In fact, I do not recommend this stage of transformation, unless there are good reasons and excellent opportunities. After all, at this stage, you have been paying for at least 5 years of effort, but also the prime time of life, time is gone. It is important to be cautious when changing careers in the current state.

Reference

"1" testers should have several ways of thinking http://www.233.com/pm/Know/IT/20090729/113936752.html

"2" test Engineer's Advanced road http://www.51testing.com/html/98/n-229998-2.html

"3" Software Test engineer career Planning http://wenku.baidu.com/view/fd035accda38376baf1fae61.html

The development misunderstanding of "4" Software Testers http://www.51testing.com/html/48/n-85348.html

"5" Software Testing Basics: Concept article http://tech.it168.com/focus/200902/testconception/index.html

Software Testing Career Planning

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