Traits of a Successful Tester That Will Never Change
What it takes to be a successful tester is no new topic. However, the role of the software tester has been subject to a lot of change in recent years, mostly due to the widespread adoption of agile, the move to global delivery models, the embracing of a more services-oriented development style, and the need for greater collaboration.
With these changes, some traits that used to make a tester successful are no longer as relevant, and some new traits have been added. But there is a set that will never change—these are characteristics that are essential for a tester to be successful in any day and age.
Curiosity: A curious mindset goes a long way toward giving a tester an edge. Curiosity in the work he does, understanding product requirements, executing his tests, understanding end-user needs, and analyzing competition differentiate a successful tester from the rest. While curiosity is an important trait for anyone on the product team, it is most important for a tester, and its value will be constant regardless of the changes the development landscape may undergo.
Communication: A significant portion of the tester’s role relies on effective communication. Voicing end-user needs and concerns, standing up for defects filed, negotiating for time and resources to ensure quality is not compromised, and working with the marketing team all require effective communication skills. A tester works closely with a lot more people than most others on the product team, so it is a major benefit for him to master the art of effective communication.
End-User Empathy: Testers continue to be the voice of the end-users on the product team. This will never change. As customer representatives, testers ensure product quality and user needs are met and exceeded. This empathy for end-users is an important trait that not all testers possess, but those who do are of great value to their teams.
Thoroughness: Being thorough is a core attribute that helps the tester ensure quality. Whether it is in regressing defects completely, filing defects with the required amount of detail, communicating the quality message accurately, or handling constraints on a project, thoroughness goes a long way in helping the tester succeed.
Being Self-Driven: Being proactive is an important quality for a tester. The passion to move ahead and do the right things at the right time, such as learning a new tool or technology, being results-oriented and getting things done, or asking for help when needed, is great for a tester within a team, and the drive of a go-getter will be advantageous at any point.
While this is not an exhaustive set of qualities, in the current dynamic landscape of software testing, these traits are some of the most important. And based on their timeless nature and consistent usefulness, they should be important for years to come, regardless of any industry changes.
