Learning how to start your software quality assurance career can be one of the best decisions of your life if you give it the kind of energy which the logistics of its pursuit will require. The software quality assurance is a tech aspect that forms the basic level of growth for anyone who is interested in making a startup career in the tech world.
The SQA is a means and practice of monitoring all software engineering processes, methods, and work products to ensure compliance against defined standards. It encompasses the entire software development process which includes the following:
- Requirements engineering
- Software design
- Coding
- Code reviews
- Source code control
- Software configuration management
- Testing
- Release management
- Software integration
The Quality Assurance Engineer
The QA engineer is someone that has a strong flair in technical knowledge and understanding. Sometimes, you don’t need to have the full knowledge; the will itself is something that positions you ready to amass the needed command to dispense the skills in organization or company.
A quality assurance engineer is responsible for ensuring that new software products work correctly before their release to end-users. Through testing the application and actively looking for problems, they make sure all software meets company standards. If you enjoy problem-solving and working in technology you may thrive as a QA engineer.
The truth is, the SQA engineer must be versatile in the following approaches which constitute the term:
- Organization-wide policies, procedures and standards
- Project-specific policies, procedures and standards
- Compliance to appropriate procedures
Roles of a QA Engineer
- Create guidelines for company quality standards for the developers
- Ensure products meet these standards
- Implement both manual and automated test scripts
- Research and identify possible solutions to software bugs or problems
- Follow up on issues to ensure the software development team makes necessary corrections to the product prior to release to the client
- Keep detailed documentation and records of all test cases
- Ensure the entire development team meets all necessary timelines and due dates
- Conduct thorough security testing to ensure software and system security
- Verify that finished products meet all government regulations and market guidelines
- Manage the release of the software or application and follow up on further releases and corrections
How then Do You Start the Journey in Quality Assurance
To start a career in software quality assurance, here are the things that you must follow or do:
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Go To School
Consider the qualifications required for the industry you’d like to work in to figure out which type of degree or certification you need to earn. Most software quality assurance tester positions require a minimum of an associate degree and recommend a bachelor’s degree to be a competitive candidate.
Research the accredited institutions near you that offer the qualifications you need. Many provide statistics on their graduation rates and employment rates after graduation that can help you decide where to enroll.
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Prioritize Education
It’s important to choose a good major if you want to become a QA engineer or tester or any career that is fit in the SQA. Consider which industry you want to work in, and choose a relevant major from that field. For example, if you want to work as a software tester, consider getting a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering or Math.
While you’re in school, keep in mind that this is an excellent opportunity to network and earn qualifications. Networking with your classmates and instructors is important for future employment and collaboration opportunities.
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Try Internship
An internship is a program used to give students and new graduates professional learning experience with employers in their field. Some positions may be paid, while others are unpaid, and they can last anywhere from a few months to a year. Internships are a good opportunity for new SQA engineers or testers to build their resumes and try out their skills in a given industry.
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Apply for jobs
After meeting all educational requirements and gaining some experience, you can apply for open software quality assurance positions. Look for job openings in an industry that interests you and matches your qualifications. Craft your resume and cover letter with the job description for each position in mind to make them feel personalized.
To find openings and professional recommendations, make sure to interact with your professional network. If you receive multiple job offers, you can narrow them down based on where you want to live and what each employer offers in regard to salary and benefits.
