To start, pursue a bachelor's degree in a math, science, or engineering field. This degree helps you secure a position while you consider earning your master's degree or doctorate. If you have an associate degree, look for internships while you earn your bachelor's degree to accelerate your learning.
If you want to start right away, university "boot camps" provide your education and degree in a shortened time frame. You'll have to pass your courses in half the time or less, but you'll graduate quickly and start your journey toward a six-figure salary. Plus, college gives you networking opportunities that help you find jobs.
Supplement your resume with certifications, such as Certified Quality Assurance Professional (CQAP). You'll have to meet educational and experience qualifications to take the exams, which cover various aspects of quality engineering. Some employers require certifications for high-value projects. Once you earn a certification, keep track of renewal dates so that it doesn't lapse.
Additionally, learn about new technologies and methods with online courses. Some courses take a month or less to complete and are more affordable than college classes. You can even find free courses, but be sure to verify their legitimacy first.
skills and competencies
QA engineers are expert problem solvers. You calculate risk, identify potential issues, find out what went wrong, and propose changes. While you find obvious problems, you also identify minor bugs that no one would have noticed before the release. Afterward, you document your findings and communicate your solution to software developers, keeping the project moving with as little downtime as possible.
Similarly, QA engineers are detail oriented. If you've ever written code, you've seen how a single mistyped digit could throw off the entire program. Sometimes, the project still works, but users could crash the software by exploiting holes in the code. You study every digit to make sure that everything's in place.
Logic comes naturally to you. QA engineers study challenges step by step to find the correct solution. You look at issues objectively, perform quick math calculations, notice patterns, and easily comprehend lines of code. However, you also use creativity when you consider different ways to improve the design.
Clients rely on your communication skills. You clearly discuss problems and solutions, leaving no room for error, and create organized reports that developers can reference later. Likewise, you respond quickly and professionally to emails and produce informative presentations.
