Software Tester Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Are you searching for a software tester job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a software tester. Feel free to use our software tester job description template to produce your own software tester job description. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a software tester.
Who is a Software Tester?
A Software Tester tests software for bugs, faults, defects, or any other issue that could impair the functionality of computer software or an application. A software tester is to test software for quality. They often have software development expertise and solid command of tools and procedures for testing software quality. The software tester ensures that the program operates functionally and non-functionally.
Software testers use manual and automated software testing methodologies to carry out software’s functional and non-functional testing as part of a software development team.
Software testers are crucial to the process of developing applications. They are Quality Assurance professionals who thoroughly examine new digital products to ensure there are no bugs, get rid of bad performance, and remove interface problems. At various phases of the software lifecycle, testers conduct a variety of tests to achieve this. These tests could include stress, performance, functionality, scalability, or user acceptability. Testers are typically brought in at the early stages, such as planning and design because software testing is so relevant to the quality and usability of the finished product. They stay involved throughout the entire procedure and later on while providing support. Testers frequently join development teams. The DevOps process, which mixes development and operations, is used to generate several software products today. This methodology employs a loop for development, testing, and delivery using agile, lean, or Scrum principles and methods.
Overall, software testers ensure that the program functions as promised and is appealing to clients.
Software testers handle the quality assurance phase of the software development lifecycle. They conduct various manual and automated tests to ensure that any new software created by developers is appropriate for end users and that they fix any kinks or problems before the product is delivered.
Depending on the software’s intended usage, their efforts will stop real situations that, in extreme circumstances, might result in serious reputational harm, monetary loss, or even human loss. They must have a thorough understanding of programming and coding languages because they are to identify discrepancies in new advancements and focus on technical solutions.
To fully grasp the project’s scope, a software testing function entails collaborating with stakeholders, including developers, project support teams, and system users. A software tester troubleshoots, documents bugs, gives developers comments and shares test results with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Depending on their abilities, credentials, and natural talent, your career as a software tester may advance quickly. In a graduate program, they can begin their career in software testing at an entry-level job; as they earn more expertise and necessary certifications, they can rise to more senior positions.
The workday for software testers is from 9 am to 5 pm or 8 am – 6 pm, depending on the firm and its culture.
Some employers may offer flexible hours to finish their work whenever it is most convenient. They can determine whether a firm is an ideal fit by looking at its culture. Around deadlines, they can discover that they have some overtime. Aside from that, it is not too hard for software testers to strike a healthy work-life balance.
Software Tester Job Description
What is a software tester job description? A software tester job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of a software tester in an organization. Below are the software tester job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a software tester job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a software tester include the following:
- Review the software’s specifications and create test plans.
- Examine test findings to determine effects on the database, faults or problems, and usability.
- Prepare reports and provide the design team with information on all areas of software testing.
- Interact with customers to comprehend product needs.
- Contribute to design reviews and ideas on specifications, product design, and potential issues.
- Work with project support teams and software developers.
- Determine the needs of the business.
- Keep track of software and application systems.
- Conduct functional, scalability, performance, stress, and performance testing.
- Write test scripts and run them.
Qualifications
- Get a bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related discipline. A person may have a degree in an unrelated field, as some firms may not mind, as long as the person is capable.
- Experience through an internship.
- Certificates in software testing.
Essential Skills
- Analytical
A software tester should be an excellent analyst. The skill is necessary to better comprehend and develop test cases for a complicated software system. It can be for requirement analysis, but it may also be useful when developing the test strategy to comprehend client input. The move will start the analytical process, which assists in solving challenging issues.
- Attitude
It takes a great attitude to be a competent software tester. Skilled software testers should update their technical software testing abilities to keep up with the rapidly evolving technologies because they affect the software industry. Their behavior must demonstrate independence to accept responsibility for the assigned task and finish it without much direct supervision.
- Basic understanding of databases and SQL
In the background, software systems have a lot of data. This information is kept in many databases on the backend. Therefore, there will be instances in which this data needs to be verified. If so, it is possible to perform basic or complicated SQL queries to determine whether the correct one is in the backend databases.
- Basic familiarity with Linux commands
Most software programs, including Web services, databases, and application servers, are installed on Linux-based computers. So testers must be familiar with Linux commands.
- Communication
A skilled software tester should be proficient in both oral and written communication. A software tester should have adequate communication skills to develop understandable test scripts and provide test reports that anyone can easily understand. A software tester frequently needs to engage with developers and other team members to analyze specifics and meet product objectives. Software testers should produce testing artifacts that are simple to read and understand. Dealing with developers will call for a certain amount of tact and diplomacy.
- Empathy
Software testers must approach the software with an analytical mindset while viewing it from the perspectives of the product engineer or development team as well as the user of the software. To identify any bug a client would discover and to understand the requirements so they can make ideas for changes. Software testers that exhibit a high degree of empathy are able to see the software from various angles and create products that more closely satisfy client needs.
- Knowledge of the usage of test management tool
An essential component of software testing is test management. The software testing process will not succeed without appropriate test management techniques. Managing their testing-related artifacts is test management.
- Knowledge of the usage of any defect tracking tool
The life cycle of a defect and defect tracking are components of software testing. The appropriate management of defects and their systematic tracking is essential. Defect tracking is necessary because management, developers, and testers should all be aware of a defect.
After a few years of working on manual testing, they must master a tool and have in-depth, practical knowledge of automation tools.
Those that want to specialize in automation should know any scripting language, such as VBScript, JavaScript, C#, or Shell/Perl scripting. It depends on the business and the tools that the business employ.
- Open to learning
Even though they have extensive project knowledge and our authority on the subject, pay attention to everyone. There is always room for improvement, therefore it is sensible to solicit advice from other software testers. They could release software that is free of bugs if everyone provided feedback to enhance the project’s quality.
- Organizational and Time Management Skills
Testing can occasionally be difficult, especially when new code is being released. Software tester needs to manage workload effectively, be very productive, and display excellent time management and organization abilities.
- Patience
Their work is frequently monotonous. They need to focus when reviewing code for extended periods. Being patient will help them maintain concentration and keep looking for problems and errors in the software.
- Passion
Any profession or job requires a passion for one to excel in it. Software testers need to be passionate about what they do.
- Risk assessment
With any project, there are risks. Risk identification, analysis, and mitigation are the three stages of risk management. Add a process for risk-driven testing. Risk assessments determine software testing priorities.
- Negotiation
Negotiations between parties are required at every stage of a project’s lifecycle. It is crucial to bargain with the developers. Developers are free to take any measure to demonstrate that their code is correct and the testers’ reported flaw is invalid. To persuade the developers of the flaw and get it fixed, they need to have excellent persuasive abilities. Although some testers of software believe that this is not their role, describing the true impact of any problem is crucial for developers to immediately grasp the overall circumstance and its ramifications.
- Observation
Look around and note what is going on. Keep a record of every detail, big and small, in your project. Watch how the code is written, the many kinds of testing, and the goals. Observe and comprehend how the test is going, and if the timetable or testing activities are off, make the appropriate adjustments.
How to Become a Software Tester
The following are the actions a person can take to become a software tester:
Obtain a bachelor’s degree
It can be advantageous to have an undergraduate degree in a relevant field, such as engineering, math, or computer science. Although some businesses and organizations may hire a software tester based on relevant expertise and training, this can be advantageous. They can better prepare for various parts of a job in software testing, depending on the subject of study they choose to pursue. To make their job more effective, they might be able to discover more effective techniques to produce computer software by majoring in computer science. They might even learn how to develop your testing programs or algorithms.
Learn to program
No matter what degree they pursue, learning more about computer coding will help them develop their professional skills and quickly spot potential problems with the software. They look for online classes or reach community colleges and institutions or reach community colleges and institutions when they want to improve their coding skills. This is to discover a coding course or certification program that can help them advance their credentials.
Gain experience
Getting relevant experience might advance your career as a software tester and attract the attention of recruiters. There are various career paths to help achieve the necessary expertise for a software testing job, depending on which degree one wants to pursue.
Those with a degree in engineering or mathematics should look into the quality assurance that will assist them in identifying consumer demands and honing their analytical skills. Most occupations that allow them to work directly with computer programs or code can help them to gain significant relevant experience for a career in software testing.
Obtain Certificates
Although certificates are not usually necessary for a career in software testing, a person can pursue the position by earning the following two key certifications:
International Software Testing Qualification Board (ISTQB): It teaches and assesses the knowledge and abilities necessary for many different types of software testing.
The Certified Software Tester (CSTE): One needs a bachelor’s degree, two years of relevant experience, or six years of experience without a degree to take this. Then the testing service assesses one’s understanding of quality assurance, software testing capabilities, and IT industry expertise.
Where to Work as a Software Tester
A software tester can work in almost every industry, including information technology (IT), education, finance, government, healthcare, media, and telecommunications.
Software Tester Salary Scale
A software tester’s salary depends on geographical location, industry, company, years of experience, and skills.
In the United States
An entry-level software tester may earn from $34,000 to $42,000. It increases after a few years of experience and may fall between $68,000 and $75,000. After a couple more years of experience, it may fall between $84,600 and $91,000. It can be a bit less or more.
In the United Kingdom
An entry-level role may earn from £24,000 to £28,000. It increases after a few experiences and may fall between £48,000 and $55,000. After a couple more years of experience, it may fall between £62,600 and £71,260. It can be a bit less or more.