Know What It Takes To Become A QA Engineer In 2021
Do you dream of being a QA engineer in a reputed Engineering firm with high growth prospects? Here are details about the skills and qualifications you need to bag a job in a good Engineering firm as a Quality Analyst. Read on to know more.
Are you aiming to be a QA engineer? If yes, then this entire article is for you. But before we launch into the details, you must know some facts about the software testing market. In 2020, the US software testing market exceeded a turnover of $40 billion and is now expected to grow at a CAGR of 7% from 2021-2027.
The software testing market is also constantly evolving. With new players like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, the tech landscape is shifting and creating more challenging job opportunities. Needless to say, the requirement for talented candidates to fill up vacancies for QA jobs in the USA is on the rise. For more details about QA jobs in the USA, you can visit our website Techfetch.com
So what should you do to become a highly-skilled QA engineer? Let's walk you through your career pathway.Understanding QA And The Role Of A QA Engineer
By simple definition, Quality Assurance (QA) is the process of monitoring every stage of the software development cycle. QA ensures that an organization's software products and services are compliant with quality standards. So, what is your job as a QA engineer? Your prime job is to monitor the progress of other developers in your team and alert them to issues in their code.
There is no software development without QA. It is the very lifeline of every stage in the process because it helps identify bugs and potential issues with the software. QA engineers play an instrumental role in software development that includes tasks
such as:
However, a QA engineer's role is not limited to these tasks. Your job is demanding because there are multiple ways to do it when it comes to QA. Therefore, you can expect the following responsibilities as part of your job:
Front-end testing
It is the most common type of QA testing which focuses on the application's user interface. Front-end testing uses graphic and command-line interfaces to manually interact with the software.
Back-end testing
It deals with the database structure, the business perspective, and other software parts that the end-users can't see or interact with.
Integration testing
This testing method explores the various components of an application. Each component is first tested for its functionality, and then it is tested to check how it works as a whole. Integration testing is done before system testing.
System testing
System testing is generally done when the other phases are complete and the development nears the final phase. It is used to test each component's functionality before the product is released to the user market.
Feature testing
QA engineers do feature testing for updates in an application. Their objective is to
identify issues and negative user experiences in the updated software.
Usability testing
QA engineers test the usability of an application before it is released into the
consumer market. This testing is crucial because it helps engineers ensure the
product is glitch-free and functions as per the user's expectations.
All these tests are done by QA engineers or by their team members. Under their
expert supervision and guidance, all the final changes are implemented before the
product is launched.
Understandably, the job of a QA engineer is no walk-in-the-park. You need a specific skill set that's a perfect blend of technical and soft skills.
List Of Skills To Excel As A QA Engineer
The foremost skill for a QA engineer is the knowledge of computer languages. The more languages you have in your arsenal, the better. You can choose from:
In addition to these languages, you need to arm yourself with common applications
like:
Beyond your knowledge of apps and tools, you also require domain knowledge in areas such as:
You must also consider getting rudimentary training after reviewing the technology skills employers seek. There are many textbooks, videos, and courses available. If possible, look for opportunities to get some hands-on experience from vendors, open sources, and repositories. Entry-level engineers can also look for companies and staffing agencies that are eager to train you.How much will you earn as a QA engineer?
Your next big question will probably be about your salary. How much you will earn as a QA engineer will be determined by the following factors:
On average, QA engineers earn between $57,000 to $108,000, with the median salary being $82,000. Large software companies with large codebases, such as Google or Oracle, often pay their QA engineers higher salaries than startups. You also need to consider factors like benefits, incentives, stock options, and employee perks for QA jobs USA. For QA and other skillset related I.T. jobs, you can visit our website Techfetch.com
Before we wrap up, we leave you with some tips to prepare for the interview to bag
your dream job as a QA engineer.Getting Ready For Your Interview In 5 Easy Steps
reputed organization.The Parting Shot
A QA engineer is a high-level tech position that doesn't require a formal engineering degree, although it doesn't hurt to have one. Many candidates aim for this job by attending a coding boot camp. If you desire to be a part of the software development process and have a passion for software, this might be the right job for you.
QA is an important function not only in the software industry but also in other industries. Initially, people used to adopt quality control as a tool to maintain quality. Produce, test and reject the bad one is the procedure they were adopting. But later on, the Quality Assurance(QA) concept has been developed. Here production and quality checks will go hand in hand and modifications will be incorporated in the process itself so that final rejections will reduce considerably.
In software development, QA has become a very important tool for knowing the suitability of the programme developed for the desired application. The personnel in this department will play a key role in connecting customers and the developer and bringing them on to a common understanding.
In this article, the author has very nicely brought all-important requirements for an engineer to become a QA engineer. A nice article that is very useful to the engineers who wanted to be QA Engineers in the Software industry.