Top Skills for Successful Automation Testers in 2019

As software development has become more complex and the demand for high-quality software has increased, the role of the automation tester has evolved. In 2019, successful automation testers were equipped with a blend of technical and soft skills. This article delves into the key competencies that distinguished the best testers in the field that year.

Technical Skills

Programming Proficiency: A solid understanding of programming languages is fundamental for automation testers. Proficiency in languages such as Java, Python, C, or JavaScript was essential for writing effective automated tests. Knowledge of frameworks and libraries specific to these languages, such as Selenium, TestNG, JUnit, Cucumber, or Appium, provided a deep dive into the tools needed for scripting and execution.

Test Automation Tools: Familiarity with popular test automation tools was crucial. These tools, such as Selenium, TestNG, JUnit, Cucumber, and Appium, allowed testers to create, execute, and manage automated test scripts efficiently.

Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): Understanding and implementing CI/CD pipelines using tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, or CircleCI helped integrate automated tests seamlessly into the development workflow. This integration was vital for ensuring that tests are run automatically and frequently without manual intervention, maintaining code quality and identifying issues early in the development cycle.

API Testing: With the growing importance of backend services and microservices, having skills in testing APIs using tools like Postman, SOAP UI, or RestAssured was essential for ensuring that software components communicate properly and function as expected.

Version Control Systems: Proficiency in using version control systems like Git helped testers manage code changes effectively, allowing for collaboration, tracking, and easy rollback of changes.

Test Management Tools: Experience with test management software such as JIRA, TestRail, or ALM facilitated the tracking of test cases and their execution, providing a clear and organized view of the testing process.

Soft Skills

Analytical Thinking: The ability to analyze requirements and design effective test cases was crucial for identifying potential issues early in the development process. Analytical skills allowed testers to provide valuable insights and proactively address potential bugs or defects before they reached the production environment.

Attention to Detail: Successful testers needed a keen eye for detail to catch subtle bugs and ensure that software was of high quality. Attention to detail ensured that even the most minor issues were not overlooked, contributing to the overall success of the project.

Collaboration: Strong communication and teamwork skills were essential for working closely with developers, product managers, and other stakeholders. Effective collaboration ensured that all team members were aligned and that communication was clear and efficient.

Adaptability: The ability to adapt to new tools, technologies, and methodologies was crucial given the fast-evolving field of software testing. Adaptability allowed testers to stay current with industry trends and best practices, ensuring that they could effectively contribute to the development of high-quality software.

Problem-Solving: Effective problem-solving skills were key for diagnosing issues and developing solutions during the testing process. Testers who could effectively troubleshoot and resolve issues were able to significantly reduce the time and cost associated with debugging and fixing defects.

Additional Skills

Understanding of Agile Methodologies: Familiarity with Agile practices helped testers work effectively in collaborative environments. Agile methodologies provided a structured framework for continuous improvement and customer feedback, which in turn helped testers deliver better quality software.

Performance Testing: Knowledge of performance testing tools like JMeter or LoadRunner was beneficial for ensuring that applications could handle high volumes of users and data. This skill set was particularly important for applications that needed to perform well under load and provide a seamless user experience.

These skills collectively contributed to the effectiveness of automation testers in delivering high-quality software products in 2019.