How to Be Application Tester - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Oct 4, 2020 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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The lack of thorough application testing can lead to major consequences for businesses, including lost customer trust, financial losses, and reputational damage. Poor application performance can cause customers to switch to a competitor and have a negative impact on customer satisfaction. software defects can cause a financial burden due to the need for extra time, resources, and labor to fix the issues.

Furthermore, when applications fail or have security vulnerabilities, businesses can suffer reputational damage due to negative publicity. Therefore, it is essential to thoroughly test applications before they are released to ensure they meet customer expectations and industry standards.

Steps How to Become

Obtain the proper education. To become an application tester, you must have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent. Specific coursework in computer science and programming can be beneficial.
Gain the right experience. To become an application tester, you must have hands-on experience with software and applications. You may gain this experience through internships, volunteer work, or part-time jobs.
Master the necessary skills. Application testers must have strong problem-solving skills and analytical thinking. They also need to be able to think critically and make decisions quickly.
Get certified. Obtaining a certification from a recognized institution can validate your knowledge and experience in the field. Many organizations offer certifications specific to application testing.
Take an entry-level job. Once you have the necessary education, experience, and certifications, you can start looking for entry-level jobs in application testing.
Advance your career. Once you have a few years of experience under your belt, you can start looking for more advanced roles in application testing. You may also want to explore opportunities in related fields such as software engineering or quality assurance.

Testing applications is an important part of the software development process, as it helps to ensure that the software meets its intended purpose. Without proper testing, applications can contain errors that could cause system crashes or other issues. Proper testing also helps to improve the user experience, as it ensures that the application works as expected.

A good tester is one who is able to identify areas of improvement and develop strategies for improving the application. They should also be able to use a variety of testing methods, such as unit testing, integration testing, and usability testing, to ensure the application meets all standards. Furthermore, an ideal tester should have strong communication skills and be able to work well with both developers and other stakeholders.

With these qualities, a tester can help to make sure that an application is up to par and meets its intended function.

You may want to check Accessibility Tester, Integration Tester, and Web Tester for alternative.

Job Description

Software Tester: Responsible for testing software for defects and errors, creating detailed bug reports, and verifying that the software meets its design specifications.
Mobile Application Tester: Responsible for testing mobile applications for defects and errors, creating detailed bug reports, and verifying that the application meets its design specifications on multiple mobile platforms.
Automation Tester: Responsible for setting up and running automated tests to verify application functionality, creating reports, and ensuring that the application meets its design specifications.
Performance Tester: Responsible for testing the performance of applications, creating reports, and ensuring that the application meets its performance goals.
Security Tester: Responsible for testing the security of applications, creating reports, and ensuring that the application meets its security requirements.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of software development and testing processes.
Good understanding of software quality assurance and control procedures.
Experience with automation and manual testing techniques.
Knowledge of common testing frameworks such as Junit, TestNG, etc.
Ability to interpret technical documentation and specifications.
Proven experience in using bug tracking systems such as JIRA and Bugzilla.
Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency in one or more programming languages such as Java, Python, etc.
Proficiency in database technologies like SQL.
Ability to identify and analyze potential software problems.

Good application testing requires a number of skills, but the most important is the ability to think logically and systematically. This means being able to critically analyze code and identify potential problems, as well as having a deep understanding of the system being tested. the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with developers is essential in order to ensure that any issues identified during testing are addressed in a timely manner.

Furthermore, having a comprehensive understanding of the coding language used in the application is often important, as this allows testers to detect any flaws or issues that may exist in the code. Lastly, having an eye for details is crucial for testers, as it allows them to identify any potential flaws or errors that may be present in the application. All of these skills combined ensure that the application is tested thoroughly and accurately, resulting in a high-quality product for users.

Usability Tester, Regression Tester, and Database Tester are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have in application testing?
What tools and techniques do you use to test applications?
How do you ensure that applications are meeting user requirements?
What strategies do you use to prevent issues from occurring in the future?
Describe how you use bug tracking systems to document and monitor issues.
How do you ensure that the application meets security standards?
What do you consider the most important part of application testing?
What have been some of the biggest challenges you have faced while testing applications?
What processes do you follow to ensure the accuracy of your testing results?
How do you handle multiple tasks and prioritize them in order to meet deadlines?

Common Tools in Industry

Selenium. Automated testing tool for web applications (eg: Automated tests for user logins and navigation).
JMeter. Load and performance testing tool for web applications (eg: Simulate high traffic to determine application performance).
Appium. Automated testing tool for mobile applications (eg: Automated tests for user logins and navigation).
Postman. API testing and development tool (eg: Automate requests to test API endpoints).
Ranorex. End-to-end testing tool for desktop, web, and mobile applications (eg: Automated tests for user logins and navigation).
SoapUI. API testing tool (eg: Test RESTful and SOAP web services).
TestComplete. Automated testing tool for desktop, web, and mobile applications (eg: Automated tests for user logins and navigation).
QTP/UFT. Automated testing tool for desktop, web, and mobile applications (eg: Automated tests for user logins and navigation).

Professional Organizations to Know

International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB)
Association for Software Testing (AST)
Automated Software Quality Association (ASQA)
Society for Technical Communication (STC)
The British Computer Society (BCS)
Special Interest Group on Software Testing (SIGIST)
Quality Assurance Institute (QAI)
Software Quality Association International (SQAI)
World Quality Assurance Group (WQAG)
International Institute of Software Testing (IIST)

We also have Compatibility Tester, Network Tester, and Performance Tester jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Regression Testing. Testing of existing functionality after a change is made to ensure that the change did not cause any unintended effects or break any existing features.
Smoke Testing. A type of software testing that determines whether the most critical functions of a program are working correctly.
Acceptance Testing. Testing conducted to determine whether a system satisfies its acceptance criteria and to enable the customer to determine whether to accept the system.
Integration Testing. Testing of integrated components of an application to determine if they operate correctly together.
System Testing. Testing of a complete, integrated system to evaluate the system's compliance with its specified requirements.
Exploratory Testing. A type of software testing in which the tester actively controls the design of the tests as they are performed, rather than following pre-defined test cases.
Usability Testing. A type of testing that focuses on how easy it is to use a product and how well it meets user needs and expectations.
Performance Testing. A type of testing that evaluates how quickly a system can respond to requests and process data.
Security Testing. A type of testing that verifies whether an application is secure from malicious attacks.
Compatibility Testing. A type of testing that verifies whether an application runs correctly on different hardware or software platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary responsibility of an Application Tester?

An Application Tester is primarily responsible for validating the accuracy, functionality, and usability of software applications.

What types of tests does an Application Tester typically perform?

An Application Tester typically performs unit tests, integration tests, system tests, regression tests, user acceptance tests, and other types of tests to ensure that software applications are functioning correctly.

What tools do Application Testers use to test software applications?

Application Testers typically use a variety of tools such as automated test frameworks, version control systems, debugging tools, bug tracking systems, and other test management tools to help them test software applications.

How long does it take to complete an Application Testing process?

The length of time it takes to complete an Application Testing process depends on the scope of the project, the complexity of the software application, and the number of tests that need to be performed. Generally, it can take anywhere from several weeks to several months to complete an Application Testing process.

Are there any certifications available for Application Testing?

Yes, there are certifications available for Application Testing such as the ISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level and the Certified Software Tester (CSTE) certification.

Web Resources

10 Types of Application Security Testing Tools: When and How to insights.sei.cmu.edu
ISTQB® Mobile Application Tester (CT-MAT) | EDU Trainings edutrainings.eu
How to Become a Software Tester - Western Governors University www.wgu.edu