18 Software Tester Skills

Information technology is a rapidly expanding field with many specialized careers available. These positions often provide a good salary and appear in a variety of organizations, from government agencies to nonprofit companies and global corporations. Software testing is an IT career that allows professionals to use their creativity and problem-solving skills to help businesses offer fully functioning programs and services to employees and customers. In this article, we discuss what a software tester is and important skills for software testers.

Read more: 25 Testing Interview Questions (With Sample Answers)

What is a software tester?

A software tester is an IT professional responsible for the testing phase of software development to make sure systems, programs and applications perform as expected. They perform the following functions:

• Determine the ideal system operations
• Identify the types of tests and tools to use
• Create and document a test plan
• Run multiple tests and document the results
• Communicate with IT team members and company stakeholders about project status, budget and complications
• Make recommendations for software improvements

It's possible to find a computer software tester position without a degree if you have extensive experience. Some employers require a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Math or a related field.

The national average salary for a software test engineer is $97,586 per year. (For the most up-to-date salary information from Indeed, click on the salary link.)

Read more: How To Create a Software Testing Resume

18 software tester skills

Here are 18 different skills that are beneficial to be successful as a software tester:

1. Creating documentation

As a software tester, you need to document your thought process and testing procedures. Your organization may use specific documentation protocols, so you should be able to understand and adapt quickly to these templates. Proper documentation provides you with an organized, clearly-defined explanation of your work for supervisors and other members of the IT team.

2. Preparing software tests

Software test preparation incorporates three significant components: the test plan, test scenarios and test cases:

Test plans

One of the most important phases of software testing is test preparation, as this plan determines what you're testing, who is responsible for each step and the main objectives of the test. This documentation allows all stakeholders to see the testing plan. Your preparation should include:

• Project name
• Project identifiers, such as draft or series number, date created and author
• Introduction with an overview of the project, the plan's objectives and possible limitations
• Input references
• Test items, including the modules used, version, scope and out of scope
• Testing methodology, including tools used, bug tracking protocol and testing levels
• Pass/fail criteria
• Suspension and resumption criteria
• Required deliverables, such as the test case, test reports, defect reports and test metrics
• Discussion of the test environment
• Testing team
• Scheduling estimates
• Risk mitigation plan
• Any necessary supervisor approvals

Test scenarios

Your test preparation also includes test scenarios, which outline exactly what you're testing and the priority level of the task (high, medium, low). For example, you may want to test the system access level of an entry-level employee. You'll document the following information:

• The module or component you're testing, like login credentials, contact forms or admin functions
• Scenario ID
• Description of the scenario, such as "access level for tier 1 employees"
• Importance of the scenario

Test cases

Test cases detail the step-by-step process of software testing and the test results, usually documented as positive or negative. Many software testers input this information into spreadsheets, but some companies may require additional documentation. Test cases generally contain the following information:

The scenario ID from the test scenario documentation

• Unique test case ID
• Brief description of the test
• Detailed list of steps used in the test
• Test data provided to the system
• Anticipated result
• Actual result or status of the test, such as pass, fail or blocked
• Tester's name and date
• Defect ID, if applicable
• Configuration, such as particular operating system or browser

3. Understanding the testing process

Software testers must select the most appropriate testing type and process based on the following considerations:

• Time allotted for the testing phase
• Testing budget
• Nature of the business
• Type of application
• Client's priorities

Read more: Understanding Different Software Testing Methodologies

4. Composing defect reports

Creating detailed defect reports, or bug reports, is crucial to understand software issues and provide a thorough explanation of the software's current status for other team members. A proper defect should include the following information:

• The defect ID as defined by the system or organization
• Brief description of the defect
• System location of the problem
• Version and code build number
• A list of steps that led to the defect
• A ranking of how severe the problem is and the priority level to fix it
• The party responsible for addressing the defect
• The tester's name
• Status of the problem

5. Following sign-off procedures

Closing out a project properly ensures that the IT team and company owners know the most updated status of a project. Accurate reporting and signing-off can help avoid miscommunication and wasted time.

6. Analytical and logical reasoning

Software testers must analyze computer processes and results and make deductions based on the information available. The testing reports may not state conclusions explicitly, but good testers should be able to determine what must follow reasonably given the current status.

7. Business mapping

While a software tester primarily focuses on the technical aspects of a program, it is important for a tester to understand the flow of business in an organization. This helps a software tester make the systems relevant for their organization and create a hierarchy of functions. For instance, if a tester understands that a company's sales require customers to create online accounts, they will prioritize this function to ensure the company doesn't lose any revenue because of technical defects.

8. Using a "glocal" perspective

A "glocal" approach to software testing means that testers understand both the individual components of systems and the larger global perspective of how the system works. Using this perspective can help you identify problems and solutions quicker.

9. Automating software tests

As a software tester, you should be proficient in running manual tests, but you should also recognize when and how to incorporate automated testing processes to enhance efficiency and reduce expenses.

10. Understanding DevOps and Agile methods

DevOps and Agile methods promote collaboration and flexibility in software testing. These newer approaches encourage testers to work through problems with a range of team members and focus more on working software and less on rigid documentation standards. Promoters of these methods report more efficient and more rapid software testing.

11. Understanding programming languages

Software testers should be familiar with the most common programming languages so they can better communicate with members of the IT team. A basic knowledge of coding can enhance your understanding of systems and their operations.

12. Fitting into the systems development life cycle (SDLC)

As a software tester, it's important to understand the complete life cycle of a system or application, even if the testing phase is only a portion of the life cycle. Having a more global perspective can help you predict and prepare for challenges and understand how to plan and document your duties to best prepare the system for the next step in the cycle.

13. Working within project management standards

Project management is an important tool for the project-based work of software testers. Adhering to project management strategies and contributing effectively to the team can help the project progress efficiently and ensure everyone stays updated on project status.

14. Learning current technology trends

As technology continues to move forward, software testers must understand how current tech trends may affect their organization and its systems. This can help stakeholder estimate and plan for future needs. You can stay updated on current trends by:

• Reading industry publications
• Attending conferences and workshops
• Following major industry figures and tech companies on social media

15. Running cross-browser testing

With the availability of multiple browsers for end-users, software testers must implement cross-browser testing to test systems across multiple browsers and settings.

16. Willingness to learn

Working in information technology requires a constant acceptance of learning new technologies quickly and adapting to ever-changing processes, trends and best practices.

17. Incorporating testing tools

Software testers should be familiar with testing tools that can speed up testing and enhance accuracy. These tools include:

• Bug tracking tools
• Automation tools
• GUI testing
• API testing tools
• Security testing tools
• Mobile testing tools
• CSS validator tools

18. Networking with other professionals

Software testers can use social networking to connect with other IT professionals, learn about upcoming events and classes, collaborate with other testers and promote their services.