Are testers still needed?

Computers are replacing people — we have been hearing it for decades and, if we do not panic outright, we at least start thinking about our own career prospects. Is it worth carrying on in your profession? Perhaps it is time to move to something less technical and settle for a lower-paid but stable position? While the sceptics and the alarmists insist that automated tests will replace qualified specialists, we are ready to put those fears to rest and explain why automation and new technology do not merely fail to threaten testing but actually help it.

Why testers are needed and what they do

A tester's key job is to find defects and, where possible, get them fixed. Why does a company need one?

• They look at the finished product through a user's eyes, which means they often notice things developers miss.
• In fields where a failure means not an inconvenience but a catastrophe, the question does not even arise. If a product touches finance, medicine or government services, a team of specialists reduces the risk to a minimum.
• Defects are best found as early as possible. Otherwise fixing them costs far more time and money. Faster development is another reason to answer the question in the affirmative.

Look at what a tester actually does and it becomes clearer why any software needs one:

1. They can check the product by hand. A system's behaviour cannot always be anticipated through automation.
2. A QA automation specialist writes scenarios for checking repetitive tasks. The machine does the checking, but testing under a professional's direction is faster, more accurate and of higher quality.
3. A tester studies the requirements and the proposed improvements and works on the software accordingly. They remain the link between the client and the product.
4. Having found a defect, they can describe it in detail and predict its consequences. That helps developers understand the bug and fix it more effectively.

The answer, then, is plain: yes. These are the people who can professionally assess a product's interface, its performance and its functionality. It works properly, developers can improve it and the company protects its reputation.

Why testing is an ideal way into tech

Starting a tech career from nothing is not easy. You have to acquire technical skills, work on your soft skills, get to grips with the particulars of the profession and put considerable effort into the job hunt. Early on, many people wonder which profession to settle on — data analyst or tester, or perhaps design is worth a try? Which do you pick to avoid a mistake? We would recommend testing, and here is why:

1. The barrier to entry is minimal — you do not need a full command of programming languages.
2. Testing courses take less time, so you can start a tech career sooner.
3. Testers remain in demand and their skills are highly valued.
4. In a testing role it is easier to learn both the industry and how software work actually goes. Once you know the field, you can move on.
5. With experience you can develop in other directions: move into analysis, learn programming or become an automation engineer.

Finding defects in a finished product carries less responsibility than building it. That makes it a comfortable way to settle into the field, after which you can choose — designer, tester or analyst — what suits you best. Let's look briefly at what distinguishes each.

Data analyst or tester?

Which should you choose to start a tech career? It helps to understand what an analyst's work involves:

• they deal with large volumes of information;
• they find patterns and trends within it;
• they can work with databases;
• they have a full command of SQL and Python.

The main thing to understand is that the first means a great deal of work with numbers, while the second means checking software. For a quick way into tech, the second is the better bet.

Designer or tester?

Creative work requires not only technical skills such as command of graphics software but taste and a well-trained eye. Developing those takes considerable time and effort, which is worth bearing in mind when choosing between the two.

QA Manual or QA Automation?

Suppose you have settled on testing. Now you need to decide which direction to learn: QA Manual or QA Automation. At PASV manual testing takes two months and automation eight — though the QA Automation course covers QA Manual along the way.

Is a testing course worth taking?

A course lets you learn the field well and quickly. At PASV we put the emphasis on practical skills. Students work through homework regularly, reviewed by programmers from Silicon Valley. You will also work on a real project and can take an internship at an international company, which substantially improves your chances of getting hired.

You can read more about the programmes, the details and the prices on the course pages. You can also sign up for a free lesson to get a better sense of whether the teaching style and the direction suit you.