Plan: Become a QA Engineer in 120 Days

Why do people choose the profession of a tester?

• Flexibility in learning
• Opportunity to start a career quickly
• Constant demand for specialists
• Variety of tasks and absence of monotony
• Development of analytical and critical thinking
• Opportunity to influence product quality
• Prospects for professional growth and specialization
• Access to modern technologies and innovations
• Working in a friendly team and collaboration with different specialists
• Continuous development and learning

The plan is structured, but many of the steps can be done in parallel.

First, you need to understand and accept that this is something you are truly interested in and want to pursue (this is the most challenging stage). At this point, you can read about the different types of testing, but the following plan is designed for those who want to start with the basics—manual testing.

Remember that competition among junior (beginner) testers is very high, so you need to study the theory of testing thoroughly and, if possible, practice it.

Read the classic, indispensable books:

• L. Tamre: “Introduction to Software Testing”
• S. Kaner, D. Falk, E.C. Nguyen: “Testing Computer Software: Fundamental Concepts of Business Application Management”

Follow blogs, subscribe to testing channels (this will help you quickly grasp the terminology, jargon, and the overall mindset of the profession). It’s also useful to find articles on interview questions and what to prepare for.

Take a free testing course. Free courses are good because they help you determine if the profession is of interest to you.

Enroll in a paid course. Personally, I am in favor of paid courses with solid feedback from instructors and assignments. It’s much faster than learning entirely on your own and prepares you much better for your first job and interviews.

Subscribe to job search groups and track trends. Study the requirements for entry-level testers and work on filling the gaps in areas where your knowledge is lacking (you can simply open vacancies on LinkedIn and read what’s written there, but don’t be scared—requirements are often exaggerated, especially regarding experience, and in reality, the company may consider candidates with less knowledge).

Intern. Many companies take on interns—some unpaid, some paid. If there are no internships available, you can test websites for friends or create a testing plan for your favorite online store. This testing plan can then be attached to your resume.

Networking is very helpful—being active in professional chats and groups helps a lot. The hardest part is finding a non-toxic group where there is no aggression or rudeness. Once you find that, the communication will become a great support for entering the profession.

Write your resume, publish it, and start going to interviews. This is actually the second most challenging step. Learning is not that hard, but learning how to pass interviews and gracefully handle rejections is extremely difficult. You should start this process as soon as possible—essentially right after completing your primary training and mastering the basics (testing techniques, databases, test design).

Remember, once you grow in the profession to the middle level (mid-level), you will begin to choose jobs based on your interests, salary, and other perks like health insurance, reimbursement for courses and sports, beautiful views from the office, the ability to work remotely, etc. This is the reward for working hard during your studies and your first job.

Comparison of Learning Paths:

Path	Pros	Cons
Self-learning	Flexibility, free, learn at your own pace, access to a vast amount of information	No support and feedback, hard to structure learning, high risk of missing important topics
Free course	Free, structured material, access to basic knowledge, chance to try the profession	Limited knowledge, lack of in-depth support and practice, no personalized approach
Personal mentor	Personalized support, individual program, fast skill acquisition, solving specific questions	Expensive, finding the right mentor can take time, dependent on the mentor’s schedule
Paid course	Structured learning, support from experienced instructors, practical assignments, diploma or certificate	Fixed class schedule, requires financial investment

Knowledge Required from an Average Beginner Tester (there is no exact list as all companies have different needs):

Testing Theory

• Knows what testing is
• Understands types of testing

Test Design

• Can analyze requirements
• Can apply test design techniques
• Able to write test cases and checklists
• Can prioritize tests
• Knows how to use cheat sheets

Testing

• UI (knows the names of elements, can conduct exploratory testing)
• API (understands how REST works and can create testing strategies)
• Can create bug reports
• Can test according to pre-made test cases

Soft Skills

• Can “Google” and find answers online
• Can ask colleagues questions
• Able to explain their point of view

Development Methodologies

• Understands how the software development process works
• Knows the most popular development methodologies
• Understands the role of testing in these processes

Tools

• DevTools
• Postman
• Mind Map
• SQL DB
• Confluence & Jira
• Test Management System (TMS)

In addition, a tester should be attentive, persistent, communicative, eager to learn, and adaptable.

Ultimately, the goal is clear: a stable job with a white-collar salary that’s well above average, with health insurance, and other great benefits. It’s a career that’s in demand worldwide, and it’s a tremendously interesting field where you can grow both vertically and horizontally!

Plan: Become a QA Engineer in 120 Days

Month	Activities
Month 1	Learning the Basics of Testing: – Understand what testing is and its role in software development. – Study types of testing (functional, non-functional, manual, automated, etc.). – Read key books: – L. Tamre: Introduction to Software Testing – S. Kaner, J. Falk, H.Q. Nguyen: Testing Computer Software – Subscribe to blogs and channels about testing to get familiar with terminology and the professional community. First Steps in Learning: – Take a free testing course to assess your interest in the profession. – Start reading articles and materials about typical interview questions.
Month 2	In-depth Learning: – Enroll in a paid course with feedback and practical assignments. – Study testing theory in more detail: – Requirement analysis. – Application of test design techniques. – Writing test cases and checklists. – Test prioritization. Learning Tools and Technologies: – Master basic tester tools: – Browser DevTools. – Postman for API testing. – Creating mind maps. – Basics of SQL and working with databases. – Task management systems: Confluence, Jira. – Test Management Systems (TMS). Understanding Development Methodologies: – Study popular development methodologies (Agile, Scrum). – Understand the role of testing in various development processes.
Month 3	Practical Application of Knowledge: – Practice UI testing and studying interface elements. – Master the basics of API testing and working with REST. – Write bug reports and learn to describe errors clearly and thoroughly. – Perform testing according to created test cases. Developing Soft Skills: – Improve skills in information search and problem-solving. – Learn to communicate effectively with colleagues and ask the right questions. – Practice articulating your point of view convincingly. Networking and Professional Community: – Be active in professional chats and groups. – Seek supportive and constructive communities for experience exchange.
Month 4	Gaining Practical Experience: – Apply knowledge in practice through internships or volunteer projects. – Test friends’ websites or create your own projects for your portfolio. – Develop a test plan for a selected website or application. Preparation for Employment: – Write a professional resume highlighting acquired skills and projects. – Study job requirements for beginner testers and adjust your learning accordingly. – Start actively searching for a job, sending resumes, and attending interviews. Participating in Interviews: – Prepare for typical questions and practical tasks. – Analyze interview results for further development.
Throughout All Months	Continuous Learning and Development: – Keep up with new trends and technologies in testing. – Attend webinars, conferences, and other educational events. Personal Growth: – Develop attentiveness, perseverance, and adaptability. – Strive to enhance analytical and critical thinking skills.
Final Goal	– Achieve the level of knowledge and skills sufficient for successful employment as a QA engineer. – Begin a career in a demanded field with prospects for professional and financial growth.