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

May 20, 2021   /   5 Minutes Read   /   By Albert
  • How to Become
  • Job Descriptions
  • Skill & Competencies
  • Interview Questions
  • Common Tools
  • Professional Organizations
  • FAQ
  • Links

    • The increasing demand for software applications has resulted in a rise in the number of manual testers. Manual testing is the process of manually testing software for defects, or bugs, by executing test cases that have been created. This process helps ensure that software meets the requirements set out by the customer and works as intended.

    Manual testers are highly sought after due to their critical eye and attention to detail, which is essential for quality assurance. manual testers are often able to identify bugs that automated testing processes may not be able to detect. As manual testing becomes increasingly important in the industry, the need for skilled manual testers continues to grow.

    Steps How to Become

    1. Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. It is important to have a strong understanding of software engineering principles and computer programming languages.
    2. Consider pursuing a certification in software testing. This will increase your chances of obtaining a job in manual testing and is also beneficial in establishing yourself as an expert in the field.
    3. Research the job market for manual testers. Companies are often looking for experienced testers with a solid understanding of the software development process.
    4. Get familiar with the different types of manual testing techniques such as functional, non-functional, usability, and regression testing.
    5. Build a portfolio of your work that showcases your skills and experience in manual testing. This will help you stand out to potential employers.
    6. Network with people in the industry and attend relevant conferences or seminars to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies in software testing.
    7. Apply for manual testing jobs at companies that you are interested in working for. Be sure to highlight your skills and experience on your application and résumé.
    8. Interview for manual testing jobs and demonstrate your knowledge of the software development process and manual testing techniques.
    9. Once hired, continue to stay up-to-date on the latest software development trends and best practices in manual testing.

    In order to stay ahead and competent as a manual tester, it is important to stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in technology and the software testing industry. This can be accomplished by regularly attending conferences, seminars, and webinars, reading software testing books and blogs, and networking with other testers. staying organized and keeping accurate records of test results and bug reports is essential.

    Taking on additional learning opportunities, such as taking courses or obtaining certifications, can also help manual testers stay ahead and competent. Lastly, investing time in developing problem solving and critical thinking skills will help to ensure success in the software testing industry.

    You may want to check Beta Tester, Application Tester, and Security Tester for alternative.

    Job Description

    1. Analyze user stories, use cases, and technical specifications to create detailed, comprehensive, and well-structured test plans and test cases.
    2. Execute manual test scripts and analyze results.
    3. Log and track identified software defects using defined defect tracking systems.
    4. Participate in troubleshooting and triaging of issues with different teams to drive towards root cause identification and resolution.
    5. Create detailed bug reports with clear steps to reproduce and valid expected results.
    6. Develop and execute automated test scripts when needed.
    7. Stay up-to-date with new testing tools and test strategies.
    8. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure quality throughout the software development lifecycle.
    9. Develop and document best practices for software testing and quality assurance processes.
    10. Monitor application performance for potential issues.

    Skills and Competencies to Have

    1. Strong knowledge of software testing methodologies and processes
    2. Understanding of software development life cycles
    3. Ability to design and execute test cases, test plans, and test scripts
    4. Experience in identifying, documenting, and tracking defects
    5. Knowledge of various test automation tools
    6. Experience with regression and integration testing
    7. Ability to analyze user requirements and create test scenarios
    8. Understanding of coding principles and practices
    9. Familiarity with bug tracking systems such as JIRA
    10. Excellent communication and problem-solving skills

    Manual testing is a crucial skill for any software tester, as it allows them to identify and eliminate bugs and defects in software applications. Manual testing requires a professional to carefully examine every aspect of a software application to ensure that it meets all requirements and functions properly. This type of testing requires attention to detail, patience, and an understanding of how software works.

    It is essential for manual testers to have strong problem-solving skills, an eye for detail, and the ability to think logically so they can identify potential issues in a program or system. Manual testing also requires effective communication skills so the tester can effectively communicate any issues with the development team. Furthermore, manual testers must be proactive and willing to ask questions as they work through the testing process.

    By utilizing these skills, manual testers can ensure that software applications are functioning properly and are up to industry standards.

    Exploratory Tester, Performance Tester, and Compatibility Tester are related jobs you may like.

    Frequent Interview Questions

    • What experience do you have in manual testing?
    • How do you go about creating test cases?
    • How do you ensure that testing is comprehensive?
    • What methods do you use to debug applications?
    • Describe a project that you have tested successfully.
    • What is your experience with automated testing tools?
    • How do you handle competing priorities when testing?
    • How often do you review test results and logs?
    • How do you stay up to date with changes in testing technology?
    • What techniques do you use to document test results?

    Common Tools in Industry

    1. Selenium. Web automation tool used for automating web-based applications. (e. g. Automating web page navigation, filling out forms, etc. )
    2. Ranorex. Tool for automated software testing, including automated GUI testing, API testing, and data-driven testing. (e. g. Creating automated test cases for web and desktop applications. )
    3. SoapUI. Tool used for functional and non-functional testing of web services such as SOAP and REST APIs. (e. g. Testing web service calls, validating SOAP responses, etc. )
    4. JUnit. Java-based unit testing framework used to automate unit testing of Java applications. (e. g. Writing unit tests for Java classes, running unit tests, reporting results, etc. )
    5. TestLink. Test management tool used to manage test cases, test plans, and other aspects of software testing. (e. g. Creating test plans, assigning test cases to testers, tracking test results, etc. )
    6. LoadRunner. Performance testing tool used to test the scalability and performance of applications and websites under load. (e. g. Generating load on web applications, measuring response times, identifying performance bottlenecks, etc. )
    7. BrowserStack. Cross-browser compatibility testing tool used to test websites and applications across different browsers and devices. (e. g. Testing a website on different versions of Internet Explorer, testing a website on a specific device such as iPhone 5s, etc. )

    Professional Organizations to Know

    1. International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB)
    2. Association for Software Testing (AST)
    3. Association of Professional Software Quality Assurance (APSQA)
    4. Software Test Professionals (STP)
    5. American Software Testing Qualifications Board (ASTQB)
    6. International Institute of Software Testing (IIST)
    7. Society for Quality Assurance (SQA)
    8. The British Computer Society (BCS)
    9. The International Society for Software Testing (ISST)
    10. International Forum of Software Testing (IFST)

    We also have Usability Tester, User Interface Tester, and Load Tester jobs reports.

    Common Important Terms

    1. Acceptance Testing. Testing conducted to determine whether a system meets its acceptance criteria and satisfies the customer's needs.
    2. Functional Testing. A type of testing where the functionality of a system is tested against the requirements.
    3. Regression Testing. Testing of a previously tested program or system following modifications to ensure that the modifications have not caused unintended effects.
    4. Integration Testing. A type of testing where different components of a system are tested together to evaluate the system's overall functionality.
    5. System Testing. Testing conducted on a complete, integrated system to evaluate the system's compliance with its specified requirements.
    6. User Acceptance Testing (UAT). A type of testing conducted by end-users to evaluate a system's compliance with their requirements and assess its usability.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the main responsibility of a Manual Tester?

    The main responsibility of a Manual Tester is to identify and document software defects, report them to the development team and verify that the issues have been resolved.

    What type of skills should a Manual Tester possess?

    A Manual Tester should possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, strong attention to detail, excellent communication skills, the ability to work independently and knowledge of software testing methodologies.

    How long should a Manual Tester spend testing each feature?

    The amount of time spent testing each feature depends on the complexity of the feature and the testing strategy employed. Generally, a Manual Tester should spend enough time to thoroughly test all scenarios and uncover any potential issues.

    What is the typical salary for a Manual Tester?

    The average salary for a Manual Tester in the United States is $64,000 per year, according to PayScale.

    What is the difference between a Manual Tester and an Automation Tester?

    A Manual Tester is responsible for executing tests manually while an Automation Tester is responsible for creating and running automated tests. Manual Testers focus on functional and exploratory testing while Automation Testers focus on repeatable tests that can be automated.

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