If it is hard to find a good software developer, it is harder to find for a good software tester. What does it take to become an excellent software test professional? There are certain attitudes and qualities that one must posses to become an effective software testing person. Here are five qualities that would define a good software tester.
1. Attitude Matters: In any kind of endeavor attitude is always the key to success. The innate passion for what you do would always define your enthusiasm and interest toward your work. Successful and efficient software testers often describe themselves as tenacious, thorough, and uncompromising and have strong passion for analysis and testing. Generally, passion is an innate substance in a person rather than acquired characteristic.
2. Intellectual and Technical Capability: He must have a good (maybe above average) analytical and logical ability. He must be able to deal with complicated logic and must be able to carry out at a high level in this type of setting in short a good software tester must be smart. Aside from intellectual capability, a good test engineer must have a excellent background in coding in order to grasp the concept of the system being tested.
3. Flexibility: Ability to adapt and willingness to learn is one of the most essential qualities of a good software tester. He must have an embedded inclination to be continuing learners and have dedication in upgrading and developing their skills. For instance, the Visual Basic platform change dramatically from VB6 to VB.Net, a good software tester must be flexible enough to cope with the changes of new technology.
4. Communication Skills: An effective test engineer should have strong written and verbal communication skills. He should have the ability to listen critically and speak rationally convey the message clearly in person-to-person meetings. A good software tester must be able to read and analyze product documentation, write test plans, write clear bug reports, write coherent status reports to management both in formal reports and ad hoc e-mail reports.
5. Business Sense: It is important for good software to have a good business sense. He should have the ability to see the larger picture of a company’s overall business strategy. This enables a great software tester to actively participate at a level higher than just an individual contributor.
