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

Mar 5, 2023 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

Professional Organizations

FAQ

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The increasing use of technology in the modern world has had a profound effect on our society. With the growth of technology, people are able to access more information, connect with each other more easily, and engage in a variety of activities in ways that were not previously available. This has led to an increase in productivity, efficiency, and convenience for individuals and businesses alike.

the use of technology has enabled more people to have access to education and resources, resulting in a decrease in poverty and an increase in overall quality of life. However, it has also caused a decrease in privacy and security, as well as an increase in digital distractions.

Steps How to Become

Develop a strong understanding of the software development process, including the roles and responsibilities of developers, testers, and other stakeholders.
Learn how to write and execute test cases, test plans, and bug reports while working with development team members.
Learn to use various testing tools and techniques to identify potential software issues.
Develop your problem-solving skills to be able to identify, investigate, and troubleshoot complex software issues.
Develop an understanding of different types of testing (e. g. , unit, integration, system, acceptance) and how they relate to each other.
Become familiar with the various software development methodologies in use today (e. g. , Scrum, Agile).
Utilize exploratory testing techniques to uncover hidden issues in the software.
Keep up-to-date on the latest technologies and trends in the software industry.
Participate in industry events and conferences to build relationships and learn from experienced testers.

In order to stay ahead and competent as an Exploratory Tester, it is important to continually develop and expand your knowledge. Keeping up with the latest trends and technologies in the testing field is essential to staying ahead of the curve. it is important to constantly practice testing techniques and take part in discussions with other professionals in the industry in order to stay current on best practices.

Finally, becoming certified or attending conferences and workshops related to testing can provide a great opportunity to gain valuable insights and be exposed to industry leaders. By taking active steps to stay informed and engaged, Exploratory Testers can remain competent and competitive in the ever-changing world of software testing.

You may want to check Load Tester, Compatibility Tester, and Database Tester for alternative.

Job Description

Develop and execute test plans to identify software defects and verify product functionality
Analyze and document test results, troubleshoot and report software defects
Design, create, and maintain automated test scripts
Participate in peer reviews of test plans, test cases, and test results
Work with development teams to ensure software meets quality objectives
Reproduce customer issues in lab environments
Perform user acceptance testing
Develop and maintain testing standards, procedures, and methodologies
Investigate new technologies for potential use in automation
Provide technical support for software applications and systems

Skills and Competencies to Have

Strong problem-solving skills
Experience with exploratory testing techniques
Knowledge of software development life cycle
Knowledge of software testing best practices
Ability to use defect tracking software
Ability to write comprehensive test plans and test cases
Strong analytical and communication skills
Knowledge of scripting languages like JavaScript and Python
Knowledge of automation tools and techniques
Ability to work independently and in a team environment

Being an exploratory tester requires a variety of skills and abilities. One of the most important skills to have is the ability to think critically and analytically. This means being able to identify potential problems, ask the right questions, and identify any logical inconsistencies.

it's important to be able to test hypotheses and draw conclusions from the results. Being able to effectively communicate these findings is also key to success in this role. Good problem solving and troubleshooting skills are also essential, as they can help testers identify and address issues proactively.

Finally, having a good understanding of the technical aspects of the product or system being tested is necessary in order to thoroughly evaluate its performance. All of these skills are important for successful exploratory testing, and can help testers uncover issues that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.

Application Tester, Performance Tester, and Accessibility Tester are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have with exploratory testing?
How do you approach understanding an unfamiliar application or system?
What strategies do you use to identify potential bugs?
How have you improved your exploratory testing skills over time?
Describe a time when you discovered a major bug during an exploratory test.
How do you prioritize tests and determine which areas to focus on?
What tools have you used to support exploratory testing?
How do you document your exploratory testing sessions?
What techniques do you use to ensure that all areas of the application are tested?
How do you proactively prevent bugs from being introduced into the application?

Common Tools in Industry

Selenium. An open-source automated testing framework used for web applications. (Eg: Automating browser tests for a website)
TestNG. A testing framework for Java that helps to organize and structure test cases. (Eg: Writing test cases for a Java application)
Postman. A collaboration platform for API development that helps to test, develop and document APIs. (Eg: Testing an API endpoint for correctness)
JMeter. An open-source load testing tool used to analyze and measure the performance of a variety of services. (Eg: Analyzing the performance of an e-commerce website under load)
Bugzilla. An open-source defect tracking system used to manage bug reports and feature requests. (Eg: Tracking bug reports and feature requests for a software project)
SoapUI. An open-source functional testing tool used to test SOAP and REST web services. (Eg: Testing the functionality of a web service)
Appium. An open-source mobile app testing framework used to test native, hybrid and web apps on Android and iOS platforms. (Eg: Testing a mobile app on Android and iOS devices)

Professional Organizations to Know

Association for Software Testing (AST)
Special Interest Group on Software Testing (SIGIST)
International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB)
International Association for Software Testing (IASQT)
Software Test Professionals (STP)
American Software Testing Qualifications Board (ASTQB)
Institute of Software Testing (IST)
International Institute of Software Testing (IIST)
International Software Quality Institute (ISQI)
The Consortium for IT Software Quality (CISQ)

We also have Acceptance Tester, User Interface Tester, and Mobile Tester jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Regression Testing. A type of testing that is performed to verify that modifications or changes to a system or application have not caused unintended consequences or broken existing functionality.
Acceptance Testing. A type of testing performed by the customer, client, or user to determine if a system meets the specified acceptance criteria and is suitable for use.
User Experience Testing. A type of testing that assesses how easy a system or application is to use and how it meets users' needs.
End-to-End Testing. A type of testing that verifies that an application works as expected from start to finish.
Risk-Based Testing. A type of testing that focuses on areas of the system that are prone to errors or have the highest potential for financial or operational impact.
Exploratory Testing. A type of testing that combines test design and execution into one activity in order to uncover defects that are not found through scripted tests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is an Exploratory Tester? A1: An Exploratory Tester is someone who focuses on discovering new information or uncovering bugs while executing tests in an agile environment. Q2: What is the purpose of Exploratory Testing? A2: The purpose of Exploratory Testing is to find unknown issues, evaluate software quality, validate assumptions, and provide feedback to developers. Q3: What techniques are used in Exploratory Testing? A3: Techniques used in Exploratory Testing include ad-hoc testing, model-based testing, and risk-based testing. Q4: How long does Exploratory Testing typically take? A4: The duration of Exploratory Testing varies depending on the complexity of the project and the number of test cases. Generally, it takes several hours to several days to complete. Q5: What type of documentation is typically required for Exploratory Testing? A5: A detailed test report that includes steps taken and the results should be submitted after each Exploratory Testing session. This helps to identify and track any issues found.

Web Resources

(PDF) Exploratory Testing Explained - Academia.edu www.academia.edu
(PDF) Exploratory Testing Explained | Jieyu Zhang - Academia.edu www.academia.edu
Major Exploration | Advising | USU www.usu.edu