If you’re interested in a tech career with exponential growth potential, software testing is a great choice. But how do you get started and advance in this field? In this guide, we’ll cover all the steps you need to take to become a successful software tester.

What is Software Testing?

Before we dive into the steps, let’s define what software testing is. It is a process of validating and verifying to check if the software application is bug-free and ensuring that it does what it needs to do. This is a crucial step in software development and is essential to prevent glitches like the Bloomberg terminal crash in 2015. it affected more than 300,000 traders on financial markets and It forced the government to postpone a 3bn pound debt sale.

Steps to Start a Career in Software Testing:

1. Get a Degree: A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related discipline like Information Technology is essential to ensure a marketable option for employers. You can go a step further by acquiring a master’s degree in a relevant course. Focus on developing practical skills during your studies.
2. Get Certifications: Apart from having a degree, you need to have software testing certifications. We have listed the top certifications such as Certified Software Tester (CSTE), International Software Testing Qualification Board (ISTQB) Certification, Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST), Certified Manager of Software Testing, and Advanced Level Security Tester. It’s crucial to note that there are many more reputable certifications, especially if you want to get certified for specific jobs.
3. Understand Other Things: You must have a working knowledge of programming languages such as Python, Java, Ruby, Scala, PHP, JavaScript, C#, Kotlin, Linux, databases, SQL, and software testing tools.
4. Internship/Projects: Get an internship to learn more practically and learn from professionals who can correct the mistakes you make. Embark on mini projects during the internship to build your portfolio.
5. Develop Soft Skills: Soft skills are also crucial, so prioritise time management, problem-solving, proper communication, and team-leading skills.
6. Specialise and Grow in the Industry: As the start of your career, specialise in a field with a high demand rate. You can specialise as a performance tester, test architect, quality engineer, software delivery engineer, and DevOps engineer.
7. Get a Job: After earning the degrees, certificates, and multiple projects and internships, it’s time to gather all the knowledge and experience to secure a job. While at this stage, you can be working on multiple gigs at the same time.

How to Prepare for Your Certification Exam

Follow these steps to pass your software testing certification exams with flying colours:

•  Practice model questions
•  Move closer to professionals for guidance
• Know the latest trends in software testing
• Get enough rest before the exam

How Much Will You Earn as a Software Tester?

According to Glassdoor, the expected pay for 2023 is:

• Junior Software Tester – $54,353
• Senior Software Tester – $ 101,421
• Test Architect – $110085
• Test Manager – $114,225
• Software delivery engineer – $77,881
• Quality engineer – $ 75, 379
• DevOps engineer – $104,117

What to Expect When Building a Career in Software Testing

Businesses don’t just need to build software; they need to improve it and evolve with its needs and goals. Keep this in mind while working on software for a particular company to ensure it functions efficiently as it was meant to. Learning never ends, so keep acquiring more knowledge and skills to your arsenal, choose your field, and ensure you are outstanding. The sky is probably your starting point.