How to Get into QA Testing from a Non IT Background? (2024)

There are multiple reasons why someone from a non-IT background would want to switch to an IT career. It could be out of curiosity, financial needs, a better work environment, or personal needs. Some of the skilled testers are from non-IT backgrounds like journalism, arts, research, and so on.

This article provides a comprehensive approach to switching to an IT job from a non-IT background by focusing on the three key pillars – mindset, training, and practice.

How to Get into QA Testing from a Non IT Background? (1)

1. Mindset

Attributes of an IT Professional

Every career has its own set of values, skills, challenges, and opportunities. For any career – be it IT or non-IT, everyone would encourage and welcome the following attributes of the professional:

  1. Trustworthiness
  2. Skill
  3. Curiosity
  4. Learning attitude
  5. Coachable
  6. Positive attitude

Importance of a tester mindset in the software testing industry

When one switches to a software testing career, in addition to the above attributes, one needs to understand that testing is a search for information about the quality of a product. It is both an art and a science. There is a structure to the investigation and exploration. Skills like questioning, making notes, quick learning, working well with people, and working with computers and technology play a key role in a software testing career. One should be prepared to encounter chaos, and confusion and bring clarity to multiple stakeholders. A good software tester should look at everything with a critical eye, be up to date with technology, understand user emotions, learn to conduct experiments on the product, be a good investigator and have the courage, to tell the truth.

Tips for building a tester mindset

How do you build a tester mindset from Day 1?

  • Be observant. Ask questions. Be insanely curious.
  • Learn to describe an object or an event in various ways and dimensions.
  • Make notes and learn to tell a convincing story of why your experiments are worth your time
  • Talk to people, and users, and pay attention to their expectations, emotions,, and words.

As a mindset is a continuously evolving concept, do not be disheartened or feel overwhelmed by reading all these points. Take it at your own pace and be happy knowing that if you have a strong tester mindset, you will succeed in the testing industry for a long time.

2. Training

Once you have taken the steps to build a tester mindset, it is time to begin training. We are lucky that there is no one institution or industry standard that dictates how everyone should test. This now brings in so many training avenues – blogs, videos, courses, books, training, and so on. When you ask someone about the variety of options available in software testing, you will be bombarded with combinations from these blocks. Refer https://www.thetesttribe.com/software-testing-career/ to make sense of these exploding combinations.

How to Get into QA Testing from a Non IT Background? (2)
The Testing Landscape (condensed)

The testing landscape and the changing trends

The testing landscape is vast and the trends change rapidly. The good part is that if your fundamentals are strong and you can learn quickly, you can switch across the combinations from the above table. Believe in the journey and start small with realistic goals.

  • Recommendations for self-study, including a 20-day syllabus for newbies in testing

You could also start on a self-study journey by using the mind map as a guide. How to Get into QA Testing from a Non IT Background? (3)

20 Days Syllabus for Newbies in Testing

Another key contributor to your learning is an association with like-minded testers and learning from different contexts. One of the easiest ways to get a breadth of the software testing landscape is to binge on testing videos that are short and varied.

You can watch videos from TestFlix 2020, 2021, and 2022. Do make a note of the topics that interest you and you can then dive deep into the specific topics. You can take the help of the Library of Testing to know the different types of resources for a specific topic along with the votes by the community.

Importance of association with like-minded testers and learning from different contexts

While learning, one might be tempted to try out multiple topics simultaneously. Beware of learning everything now. Take it slow – both breadth and depth-wise for any topic. Also, do not hesitate to take guidance from a mentor. They not only help you get unblocked soon but also alert you of the traps you might get into.

Once you have learned the fundamentals and become strong in a specific topic, it is time to consciously include practice in your daily routine.

3. Practice

Every professional practice regularly – doctors, lawyers, firefighters, writers, and others. As software testers, we also need to practice regularly.

Some of the practical ways to sharpen your skills through practice are as follows:

Pair Testing

Pick an accountability partner, test together, and share feedback with each other. In addition to learning about different approaches for the same problem statement, you also build your network. This will help you in learning, brainstorming, and job switching too.

Online Portfolio

As you learn, keep adding the samples to your GitHub. When you test, add the test reports, notes, and bugs to your portfolio. You could also add your learning notes.

Contests, Hackathons

A good test of your daily practice can be assessed in the hackathons and contests held within your company or the testing communities. You can also learn from other testers on what kind of bugs they discover and which tools and techniques they used for the contests.

Blog or video

Do start a blog highlighting your experiences. When testers usually hesitate that the topics have already been covered, we should remember that every tester’s experience has not been covered. One’s unique perspective will always be the first read for someone. If not for others, write for yourself first.

Meetups and Talks

It is also recommended to attend meetups and conference talks, and also to present your ideas to a wider audience. You can discuss with testers from other companies, those who have already traveled your path and can relate to your journey. The ones who leverage the power of communities grow stronger quicker compared to the testers who restrict themselves to their own companies.

Conclusion

Having understood the mindset change required for a shift into a testing career, made peace with the multiple learning opportunities, and created your plan for practicing testing, it is time to take that leap. All the best and feel free to ask the community to help. We all welcome you wholeheartedly to the testing community.

This post is a guest blog by Ajay Balamurugadas. We’d like to thank him for contributing yet another informative piece for The Test Tribe. You can connect with Ajay at :

How to Get into QA Testing from a Non IT Background? (2024)

FAQs

How to become a tester from a non-IT background? ›

Get a Certification

Having a software testing certificate will show employers that (1) you have the requisite knowledge, (2) you have put in the work, and (3) you are ready to make the transition you desire.

Can a non-IT person learn testing? ›

Some of the skilled testers are from non-IT backgrounds like journalism, arts, research, and so on. This article provides a comprehensive approach to switching to an IT job from a non-IT background by focusing on the three key pillars – mindset, training, and practice.

Is testing good for non-IT background? ›

suggest best it course to non it background student. Ans: Yes, software testing is an excellent entry option for students with no IT background in the IT industry. It provides a tangible introduction to IT processes and quality assurance.

Can I be a QA tester without experience? ›

The qualifications that you need to become a quality assurance tester (QA tester) with no experience include a computer-related degree, the ability to undergo training, and computer coding skills.

How to switch to it from non-it? ›

  1. Mar 8, 2024. 10 Proven Tips to Switch Your Career from Non-IT to IT. ...
  2. Understand why you want to switch to IT. ...
  3. Assess your skills and experience. ...
  4. Plan your path in IT. ...
  5. Improve your skills and get certified. ...
  6. Build a strong foundation in technology. ...
  7. Network actively. ...
  8. Highlight your transferable skills.
Mar 8, 2024

How do I start a career as a QA tester? ›

There are a lot of different ways to get into software testing, but you'll need to take these steps to launch your career:
  1. Invest in Education and Learning.
  2. Learn To Code.
  3. Build the Necessary Skills.
  4. Learn the Essential Tools.
  5. Remember: Practice Makes Perfect.
  6. Pursue a Certification.
  7. Expand Your Network.
Sep 5, 2023

Can I learn QA testing on my own? ›

Becoming a quality assurance tester, engineer, or specialist is possible, even without formal education. You can learn the necessary skills on your own via online courses, bootcamps, and learning from experts in the field!

Is testing easy than coding? ›

Deciding if testing is easier than coding varies for everyone. Both roles need different skills. Coding demands creativity and problem-solving, while testing requires attention to detail and effective communication with coders. Both coding and testing are essential in software creation.

Can anyone be a QA tester? ›

Most commonly, they study computer science, business, computer applications, or information technology. You can also become a QA tester without a degree by meeting other employer qualifications, like industry certifications or hands-on experience.

Is testing jobs going away? ›

Unless technology improves much faster than anyone expects, organizations will still need non-automated testing if they want to deliver first-rate products. However, that doesn't mean manual testers can or should continue doing what they've been doing throughout their careers.

Why is it difficult to do a testing job? ›

Software testing can be stressful. Causes can vary from deadlines, lack of communication, or internal pressure. It is also the relentless nature of the job. As much as we love our job, here are some of the struggles that only a tester will understand.

Is testing a low profile job? ›

Yes! It's a Myth. Testing profile has vast exposure, responsibilities and respectful profile, if we can take it positively as if Testing team say NO to any product or provided signoff that will not go to production. Testing/ quality team is an quality gatekeeper.

How fast can you become a QA tester? ›

Software assurance QA testing is easy to learn and not code intensive. You will have to learn some coding, but not to the same extent as a software or web developer. Software QA test training typically takes six to ten weeks, whereas web development training takes anywhere from 12-26 weeks.

How to become a QA tester with no experience online? ›

How to Become a Junior QA Tester?
  1. The first is to complete your Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, gain experience, apply for an internship, etcetera.
  2. The second way is to complete a bootcamp and online courses, earn real-life work experience, and submit your portfolio to land a job.

How to be qualified for QA? ›

Entry-level quality assurance analyst positions typically require a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. They generally focus on subjects such as database management, systems analysis, and technology planning.

How do I get into tech from a non tech background? ›

How to Transition to a Tech Career from a Non-Tech Background
  1. Identify Your Motivation and Goals. ...
  2. Research the Tech Industry. ...
  3. Gain Relevant Skills and Knowledge. ...
  4. Build a Portfolio. ...
  5. Leverage Transferable Skills. ...
  6. Network and Seek Mentorship. ...
  7. Apply for Internships and Entry-Level Positions. ...
  8. Stay Persistent and Keep Learning.
Jul 22, 2024

What qualifications do I need to be a tester? ›

To pursue a software testing career, it can be beneficial to hold an undergraduate degree in a relevant field like engineering or computer science, develop strong coding skills and acquire relevant experience in quality assurance or data analysis positions.

How do I qualify as a tester? ›

Most commonly, they study computer science, business, computer applications, or information technology. You can also become a QA tester without a degree by meeting other employer qualifications, like industry certifications or hands-on experience.

Can a non IT background become a business analyst? ›

In conclusion, while a technical background may offer certain advantages in the field of business analysis, it is not a prerequisite for success. Non-technical candidates bring a diverse array of skills, perspectives, and experiences that can enrich the BA role and contribute to project success.

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