Hello Reader,

Hope you're having a great day!

This is the fourth edition of the Newsletter I am writing for Software Testers on this platform.

​

Usually, we think QA or Testing means only about Executing Testcases and logging Defects observed during the Testing phase in the Overall Software Development Lifecycle. The project maybe using the Water Fall methodology or the Agile methodology with Sprints (2 or 3 weeks).

​

In my Newsletter articles, I would also discuss about Automation testing as well in future, But as Software Test Engineer or Quality Analyst or SDET, whatever is your Job title is - you should be thinking about the Overall Project release goals, your role as QA and not just about Test Execution part. In Junior levels it may be okay as you might be getting started, so people only talk about work on Execution.

​

As you grow into Senior QA or Quality lead, or SDET - there are Expectations to think in terms of Overall Quality process improvement and not just about Test Execution.

​

I will give some thoughts about Quality mindset and could also help you think beyond just Test Execution.

• On a daily basis the Unit, Integration (API) and Automation Tests (UI, API, Mobile) would be run in the Project Test environments, if it is larger MNC there would be dedicated Infrastructure setup to manage these. You should be monitoring the Test results for any failures. Collaborate, discuss with team members - Developers, QA, DevOps folks - to get the issues fixed. Think about Unit, Integration tests as well and not alone about UI automation. Even if you do not contribute there as of now, understand what is going on currently in your projects. If developers are actively taking care of the Unit Tests, it is fine. Some projects in my Earlier experience do not even write Unit Tests, this is important to avoid bugs to the Test environments. Being on top of the fixing test failures, help to avoid Regression bugs.

​

• Thinking about Overall Testing Processes, Strategy for the Product release. Usually in an Agile - scrum model, the Product release could happen Weekly or Monthly or Quarterly basis. I have worked on 3-to-4-month release cycles. As QA engineer - we might need to think about different areas of Testing - Functional testing (manual), Automation testing, Performance testing, Security testing, Accessibility testing, etc. You may not be working on all these areas currently - there could be dedicated teams in few projects, but wherever possible contribute here and during interviews discuss that these are our Testing processes, these areas I had contributed.

​

• Now Let's take Functional testing, participate in the Requirements grooming. You might have heard of Shift Left testing means Understanding Requirements and finding Gaps in the Requirements based on your existing product knowledge. This helps in creating Test Data early and work on Automation test activities as well since you understand the product workflows properly.

​

• Perform Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for the defects observed in the Testing phase, or in the production. Even if you are not currently doing in Project. Suggest this as an Improvement area and contribute here. There are popular RCA Techniques like 5 Why analysis and others. Search about them.

​

• Whenever you log new Defects in the Tracking tool, provide all information about Test Data, Test Steps, Expected and Actual Results, Attach Server logs, API logs. Sometimes it could be environment issues, first of all analyze the Logs before raising any new Defect in the tracking system. This is one way to find out your analysis during Interviews about how you debug defect, before reporting them.

​

Although at Junior level QA experience, most of us look for only technical work and don't want to work on other areas of Testing process. There would be expectations from the Leads and Management on these aspects while working in a Company. If you want to get into Good product based companies, having good understanding about the Quality Mindset and how you present the Quality process knowledge to the Interviewer, in one of the Interview rounds.

​

What are your thoughts about Quality mindset or Quality process improvement, that you are following in your project? Do reply to this email.

If you want me to write about any specific topic in Software Testing and Automation, reply to this email.

​

Let's meet in the next Newsletter article.

You can read the previous newsletter articles here.

Best wishes,

Swaroop Nadella

Test Automation Engineer, Tech Educator, YouTuber

You are getting this email as you subscribed to my Newsletter here​

Schedule 1:1 Call for Career guidance here​

Swaroop Nadella Find me on LinkedIn, YouTube, SN Academy​

​