Is testing as hard as the experts make it seem or is it something that anyone can do? My answer is both yes and no. This subject is something I am passionate about and have wanted to write about for a long time and I know that what follows may put some of my readers offside but please read the full posting before judging me.
In short I believe testing can be a relatively easy career to get into and this has been made much easier with the current process to get ‘accepted’ as a ‘qualified’ tester. Regular readers will know my opinion of project failure which is, “No matter the root cause, if a project fails, we all fail”. The same goes for the process for becoming a tester. I will not point the finger at ISQTB or any other ‘standard’ as I believe they were a step in the right direction and to date nothing else has gained acceptance within our craft. But are they enough?
My issue is with what resources, like LinedIn, have helped to highlighted and perpetuate over the years with their groups. That is anyone can be a ‘TESTER’. Don’t get me wrong, I agree that they can be, just like anyone can be a carpenter, but have they earned or deserved the right to be out there representing the rest of us?
Some people have little or no interest in testing other than the ease of entry and the dollars that could come with working in IT. They have no respect for what real testers do. How many entries in news groups asking for a Test Strategy\Plan\Report have you seen posted by people with Senior or Test Manager in their job title? A simple Google search returns multiple results that they could use but they don’t have the basic understanding that their job title entails. Perhaps they get so many results that they get overloaded and are looking for a quick fix from other sources. Get real.
Going back to the carpenter scenario, I would not want to live in a house where the senior carpenters or project managers were Googling how to put the frame up. Completing the testing foundation level really should be a minimum requirement to adding ‘Tester’ to your job title. Prior to that we should demand something like ‘Apprentice Tester’.
The next step up to Test Lead or Senior Tester takes time and proven experience and doubly so for being a Test Manager. I have seen so many complete the advanced training and the exam that just cannot cope when projects don’t follow the prescribed method that they learnt, so they drop out of the project and leave it for someone else to clean up. When this happens, they can find it follows them for some time and makes it hard to find more work. It also harms the testing industry’s reputation as a whole.
Like most careers there is a pyramid effect and there are few positions for those earning and deserving the best dollars. The only way you will get to the top is by being dedicated and the best in our field. Courses are good but there is no substitute for training in the field and learning what you can from the experts. I have already posted about the fact that I have over 25 years of experienced in testing and I am still learning. I have also posted that I love my company’s mentor program and the satisfaction it brings. If you are serious about testing, get fair dinkum about it and your job title. Post questions that suit your job title and we (your network) will be glad to assist you. The rest of you should think about being carpenters during your spare time. This is a career not a hobby. I am sorry if this seems harsh but after almost 6 months off due to illness it was disappointing to return and find some people still posting and doing jobs that they just weren’t suited for. At the same time I am always surprised and impressed by where some of the best testers come from. It is a job where everyone should be given a chance but it is up to the ‘real test management’ to see these rising stars and separate the wheat from the chaff.
Next Post…. If you think I am exaggerating then I hope one of my of next posts will reinforce the fact by quoting some of the cries for help. I will not be making fun of the authors but just reinforcing my point. If you enjoyed my rant then feel free to read my other postings @ http://www.revolutionit.com.au/blog. There are a few that relate to this subject that offer some practical advice. I hope you all keep coming back for more as the time off has given me lots of time to think about other topics related to testing that I will be sharing in future posts.
Till next time Happy and productive testing to you all.
Peter B
