Want to switch gears from tech support to QA,Testing. How to start and what software to learn? Thank you Alex

Alex Kozlovsky's picture

Hi, my name is Alex. I am a signor tech-support specialist with 16 + years of experience supporting web application.

Want to switch gears from tech support to QA / Testing, but don’t know how to approach the task. Would appreciate the help. Basically need to understand how to start and which software / application - automation to learn to start with?

1 Comment

Hey, Alex.  Would you mind explaining a little bit of what's motivating you to switch over to QA?  I made the transition from Support myself about two years ago, but it was kind of spur of the moment.

Sorry, still learning this site.

4 Answers

Daniel Sillitti's picture

Hey, Alex.  Would you mind explaining a little bit of what's motivating you to switch over to QA?  I made the transition from Support myself about two years ago, but it was kind of spur of the moment.

Jackie Nichols's picture

Three months ago I moved from my company's Technical Support Sept where I was for 17 years to the same company's SQA dept.  The SQA manager asked me to apply for the position because I knew the software, users and markets better than anyone else. I am using MTM (Microsoft Test Manager) and VSO (Visual Studio Online) for our proprietary software and will be learning Selenium and JIRA very soon as I have been asked to do testing for our new web app. 

My advise is for you to talk to the SQA department where you work - what do they use, need?  Sell your knowledge of and experience with the web apps being tested.

Richard Prost's picture

Hey Alex,

for a good start you should inform yourself about why software should be tested and which software standards exist that can be tested. Which one of these are important for your test is always connected to the application you test and the expectation in your work (from customer, your testmanager or even yourself).

There is a difference beween the depth in how you test a calculator (more functional less performance tests) compared to testing a missle guidance (definitely more reliability).

Next step would be in my optinion to check how these standards can be manually tested and how to automate testing (afterwards/in parallel). But these aspects depend on the technology you are working with.

 

 

Eric Beggs's picture
Eric Beggs replied on October 20, 2015 - 4:43pm.

Hi Alex,

     I worked my way into ITQA about six months ago from Clinical Applications (and before that desktop technician).  First in order to sell myself, I highlighted the testing I had done previously, in the absence of an actual testing department.  Once I was allowed to try my skills in the ITQA department, I immediatley set out understanding what the tech sub-culture of software testing is all about; man was I blown away.  I had no idea of the volume of communities (like Stickyminds) to refer to.  I learned the language, techniques and gained an understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and what the true objective of software testing is.  I have read some excelent books as well.

     I say this to answer your question "Basically need to understand how to start and which software / application - automation to learn to start with?"  by telling you my experience. I did not have to learn any specific software, or application or tools to be given the chance at learning testing.  My advice is to discover the testing you have already been doing (without knowing what specific terms to call it) and get a preliminary understanding of the different techniques testers use; combine this with highlighting your successes in testing on previous pojects ot daily activities.

I wish you best of luck.

Eric Beggs

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