Getting Software QA Automation Experience

barca_123

Hi,

In my current QA role I do manually testing only on the software products we sell (doesn't seem to be a priority to introduce automation testing at the moment). Anyway, I'm looking for new job (new challenges, etc) and a lot of the QA jobs are looking for QA Automation experience in addition to manually testing experience. I've done couple of interviews but no luck. I've started to look up selenium and jira online myself and some scripting languages like perl, python and bash as these seem to come up on a lot of job adverts. Do people go about learning these tools themselves or is there any good taught courses on qa automation in Dublin? I feel not having these tools / languages on my cv is a real disadvantage. I've done the ISTQB certifified tester foundation level. I was thinking of doing the advanced level if it is worth it. Not really sure if it is?

Any advice welcome,
thanks,

Ray Palmer

ISTQB is really not worth much in real terms but important for having to apply for jobs. I would bother going for another level.

Automation is highly desirable but the problem is there is so many different ones in use. I would say go with Selenium as it is free, popular and relatively straight forward. It is more important you understand the use of automated tests and the general structure more so than a specific tool or language IMHO.

Unless you actually use scripting you won't think of enough examples of what to try. I suggest looking up queries people ask about how to do something as a way to get inspired.

Jira is more a tracking tool than a automated testing tool AFAIK. Who knows there are so many add-ons there might be test option now.
The best thing to do is actually learn on the job if you can.

Mr. Loverman

Selenium + PHPUnit/JUnit + an open source tool like AutoX.
Start automating stuff in your current job.

Jira is a bug tracking tool. I use it and it's simple.

irishguy

barca_123 wrote: »

Hi,

In my current QA role I do manually testing only on the software products we sell (doesn't seem to be a priority to introduce automation testing at the moment). Anyway, I'm looking for new job (new challenges, etc) and a lot of the QA jobs are looking for QA Automation experience in addition to manually testing experience. I've done couple of interviews but no luck. I've started to look up selenium and jira online myself and some scripting languages like perl, python and bash as these seem to come up on a lot of job adverts. Do people go about learning these tools themselves or is there any good taught courses on qa automation in Dublin? I feel not having these tools / languages on my cv is a real disadvantage. I've done the ISTQB certifified tester foundation level. I was thinking of doing the advanced level if it is worth it. Not really sure if it is?

Any advice welcome,
thanks,

I would go looking at the best functional automation tools and the concepts around that. So selenium , java, cucumber. Learn to code, they might train you at work?

Some companies might take you on and train you if your willing to take less money to learn. Stay for 12 months and then move elsewhere.

I worked with a few qas who just learned themselves, developed an automation tool asked for help off the devs and then ended up changing the whole QA process.

Any it company that doesn't have an interest in automatic is very shortsighted. They could have a lot of time, money and improve quality.

There are a few QA meetups in Dublin, it would be worth attending.

cronos

irishguy wrote: »

I would go looking at the best functional automation tools and the concepts around that. So selenium , java, cucumber. Learn to code, they might train you at work?

Some companies might take you on and train you if your willing to take less money to learn. Stay for 12 months and then move elsewhere.

I worked with a few qas who just learned themselves, developed an automation tool asked for help off the devs and then ended up changing the whole QA process.

Any it company that doesn't have an interest in automatic is very shortsighted. They could have a lot of time, money and improve quality.

There are a few QA meetups in Dublin, it would be worth attending.

Have you been to any QA meetups. If so where?