Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Tester/Software

  • 01-11-2005 4:12pm
    #1
    Gaz25
    Closed Accounts Posts: 164 ✭✭


    I'm fairly new to all this, how computers and broadband and how it works etc. I've just applied for a job with a irish ISP ( wont say who with) I'm thinking i could get some good experience. What i would like to do is to test software and that:)

    I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to get started or if the job would be very diffcult for a new be

    Any good advise welcome......No Smart remarks pls haha:mad:

    thanks


Comments

  • #2
    AARRRGH
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,382 ✭✭✭✭AARRRGH


    I started my career in software testing.

    There are different levels of testing - roles that require little technical knowledge and roles that require you to be a programmer-ish.

    I've done both. Apart from one requiring more technical knowledge than the other, the job is pretty much the same for both.

    The key to software testing is attention to detail and really enjoying breaking things. Also, you have to be comfortable testing the same thing over and over and over... although if you have the mentality that you really want to break it this time, you'll enjoy it.

    I really enjoyed my days as a software tester and I think I was quite good at it. It also set me up quite nicely for when I moved into development.

    It's a good way to start your IT career (rather than taking a tech support job...)

    There are a few ways to test, but the main ones are -

    Test as the user. Assume you know nothing about computers. Try to use the software the way a retard would...
    Test knowing what is supposed to happen and where it might go wrong (you'll need to study the functional specs written by the programmer to do this.)
    Test by overloading the software ("stress testing".) For example, if your piece of software reads log files every now and then, try to send loads of log files and see how it copes...
    etc.

    As you can see, it really is just a case of trying to think of everything that could happen. I don't really think being technically good has anything to do with that.

    I'm happy to answer any specific questions you might have.


  • #3
    kerinsp
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 201 ✭✭kerinsp


    I have been testing a while now fella. If you like computers you might be ok testing but its not a job I would advise anyone to take. It gets very boring at times and the technology changes all the time too. Its sometimes easy but there can be a lot of time spent staring at engineering documents sratching your head trying to figure out how it all works and developers can be tricky to deal with too. It will take you years to make any sort of money too. I'd say try it out but if you do not like it after a year then leave and try something else before you are considered an "IT" worker. Nice one dublindude getting into dev. That doesn't really happen a lot in my experience. I hope to leave the world of IT myself asap.


  • #4
    AARRRGH
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,382 ✭✭✭✭AARRRGH


    kerinsp wrote:
    ...developers can be tricky to deal with too...

    I know!!! It's incredible how arrogant and nasty some developers are. It's probably the main thing I dislike about IT.
    kerinsp wrote:
    ...I hope to leave the world of IT myself asap...

    I've actually kind of left IT. I'm now a project manager. It's much better. More sociable and you get to use your IT skills but in a more "thinking outside the box" kind of way.


  • #5
    RicardoSmith
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,264 ✭✭✭RicardoSmith


    I too started in testing, moved to graphics, then development, then analyst work. I would strongly recommend doing an IT course while you are working, and focus on where you want to end up in the long term. Testing is a foot in the door, but always be striving to move onwards. Some automation testing is pretty close to development work, using tools like Segue Silk etc. However a lot of this work is being outsourced, and so its a shrinkinh market. So you'd need to add other skillsets like development skills and business skills if you want to progress within IT.


  • #6
    Gaz25
    Closed Accounts Posts: 164 ✭✭Gaz25


    I have done 2 years in college studing e-business and computers. I could have gone on to do multimedia or a degree, but i got bored to quickly. I hated programming:mad: so if testing is involved, then maybe its no for me?

    I'm looking at doing a part-time course durning the evening's in something like networks etc.

    Im still not sure, i always remember someone telling that in IT there is always more to learn


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    AARRRGH
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,382 ✭✭✭✭AARRRGH


    Remember, in IT you're always competing with the freaks. So if you don't want to become a nerd (as you say, there is always more to learn in IT) then try to improve your business/management skills.

    It sounds like you are unsure if you want a career in IT?


  • #8
    Cake Fiend
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,335 ✭✭✭Cake Fiend


    dublindude wrote:
    "thinking outside the box"

    ... and corporate management gains yet another assimilation :eek:

    Next thing you know, you'll be blueskying, taking affirmitave action and raising the bar! Not to mention the synergizing... ;)


  • #9
    Gaz25
    Closed Accounts Posts: 164 ✭✭Gaz25


    I'm not sure if i do or, im not exactly geting any younger. I was thinking of geting apprentice plumber, but i would have feck off money when for 4 years.

    I dont mind IT i actually quite like computers, i just wish i knew a lot more and that.

    I know people who have degree's but no nothing about computers, i mean how they work etc ( i don;t mean everyone now, so no offence to anyone)

    Anyone recommend any companies that might consider taking someone with no experience for testing software or any other idea;s on what to?

    I


  • #10
    Eoin
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,263 ✭✭✭✭Eoin


    dublindude wrote:
    I know!!! It's incredible how arrogant and nasty some developers are. It's probably the main thing I dislike about IT.

    That can goes both ways I can tell you...


  • #11
    RicardoSmith
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,264 ✭✭✭RicardoSmith


    Gaz25 wrote:
    I'm not sure if i do or, im not exactly geting any younger. I was thinking of geting apprentice plumber, but i would have feck off money when for 4 years....

    Personally if I was doing it again, I'd do a trade.


  • Advertisement
  • #12
    AARRRGH
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,382 ✭✭✭✭AARRRGH


    RicardoSmith wrote:
    Personally if I was doing it again, I'd do a trade.

    Me too. My uncles wanted to train me but my snobby mother said no.

    Bitch!!!! :cool:


  • #13
    kerinsp
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 201 ✭✭kerinsp


    me three.
    To the original poster, if you don't like programming then you may not like testing. You would probably get a job easily enough but you will be bored in no time. Some of the better paid testers can whack out scripts for everything. I was always crap at that. Also you will hear an awful lot of "discussion" over the benefits one operating system has over another which of course you wont give a **** about.
    good luck anyways.


Advertisement