The Software Tester’s Journey
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The Software Tester’s Journey

Exploring Career Opportunities and Adventures

About the Book

You now understand the strengths and weaknesses of scripted versus exploratory work. You can outline the benefits of using automation and tooling, all while developing the mindset needed to reveal those hard to find bugs in your product.

And yet... Something is off!

You feel like:

  • You're unsure which direction to take your career
  • Or if you are sure, you don't know what the first steps are
  • Life would be easier if fewer bugs got into the product in the first place...
  • ...but that means influencing folks, and you don't know how
  • Things would be easier if you were your The Boss™️

That's where The Sofware Tester's Journey comes in!

After reading the book, you'll:

  • Learn about the importance of networking with your peers
  • Pick up the ins and outs of job-hunting, including tips on using social media and GenAI like ChatGPT
  • Discover the 4 mistakes people make trying to earn a promotion and what to do about them
  • Understand the importance of managing up and how to do it
  • Know the 5 reasons we should all learn how to give feedback
  • Be able to choose a career direction using the The Three Perspectives
  • Gain insight into what it's like being your own boss

About the Authors

Nicola Lindgren
Nicola Lindgren

Nicola Lindgren is a Platform Manager, based in Malmö, Sweden. She is an international conference speaker, frequent blogger and avid learner of all things testing, agile and leadership.

She's worked in a variety of projects as a Test Coach, Test Analyst, Test Automation Engineer and Test Lead. She started two testing meetups (one in Auckland, New Zealand and one in Stockholm, Sweden), has taught software testing courses and run workshops, coached and mentored multiple testers and written for various testing publications. She has also been a co-instructor for the BBST Foundations course multiple times.

She blogs about testing, automation, personal development and agile at nicolalindgren.com.

Vernon Richards
Vernon Richards

Vernon Richards is a Quality Coach and Tester who helps teams build better products by fostering a deep understanding of the relationship between quality and software testing.

During the day, Vernon works as a Senior Expert Quality Engineer at a health tech company. He runs Abode of Quality in his spare time, a platform dedicated to exploring quality and testing.

In addition to that, Vernon presents at and hosts conferences, leads training workshops on coaching and testing, blogs regularly, and co-hosts The Vernon Richard Show podcast.

Reader Testimonials

Emna Ayadi
Emna Ayadi

This book is a great addition to your professional journey as a software tester, no matter where you are in your career. It covers everything from choosing your path to networking and job-hunting, with various ways to advance your career. Discover many inspiring stories and the wisdom of the authors, apply their tips, and watch your career thrive!

Parveen Khan
Parveen Khan

A great thought-provoking guide for Testers

The Software Tester's Journey: Exploring career opportunities and adventures " offers a unique perspective on career guidance. Rather than telling you exactly what to do, it encourages you to think, reflect, and question your own career direction, leadership style, and even your role within a team. Through a coaching-style guide, this book challenges readers to explore multiple perspectives, empowering them to ask the right questions for their growth. Vernon and Nicola provide a roadmap for self-discovery, making this book a must-read for anyone looking to gain clarity in their career.

Rahul Parval
Rahul Parval

Your software testing career is about much more than test cases, automation, or AI. It’s an evolving journey filled with diverse opportunities. After nearly a decade in the industry, I came to understand this truth through experience. Fortunately, Nicola and Vernon’s ebook makes that journey easier. In Software Tester’s Journey, they outline practical strategies, resources, and options to help you explore the broader landscape of software testing. It will also guide you on nuanced topics like networking, freelancing, and personal branding. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to elevate their career and unlock new possibilities in their testing journey.

Table of Contents

    • Introduction
    • Chapter 1: Career Choices For Testers
      • Chapter intro
      • Career Paths - The Three Perspectives
      • Who Do I Want to Help the Most?
      • Who Has Walked This Path Before?
      • Mentors, Sponsors, And Coaches
      • How Do I Acquire The Skills I Need?
    • Chapter 2: Advancing Your Career
      • Promotions
      • Overlooking the Company’s Goals
      • Having Unrealistic Expectations About the Market
      • Failing to Persuasively Communicate Their Impact
      • Going on Conferences
    • Chapter 3: Managing Up
      • Managing Expectations With Your Manager
      • Advocate for Yourself
      • Ask for Feedback
      • How Does Your Manager Perceive Their Role?
    • Chapter 4: Managing Expectations
      • Should We Automate All the Tests?
      • Managing Implicit Requirements
      • Are Testers Even Needed?
      • Job Titles Vary
    • Chapter 5: The Importance of Feedback
      • Why You Should Learn This Skill
      • Examples of When You May Need to Give Feedback at Work
      • How To Give Feedback
      • Why You Should Ask For Feedback
      • How To Ask For Feedback
    • Chapter 6: Networking Your Way to Success
      • Why Network?
      • Where Can You Network With People?
      • How to network?
      • Networking Tips
    • Chapter 7: Job-Hunting
      • Finding Job Vacancies
      • LinkedIn Profiles
      • Your CV
      • Common Mistakes in a CV
      • What Makes a CV Stand Out From the Rest?
      • CV Checklist
      • Cover Letter
      • The Interview with the Recruiter
      • The Interview With the Hiring Manager
    • Chapter 8: Going independent
      • Start with Delivering a Service
      • Who Is Your Customer?
      • What Problem Are You Solving for Them?
      • Focus on Building Social Proof
      • How to Charge
      • Networking
      • What They Don’t Tell You About Going Independent
      • Conclusion
    • Chapter 9: Leaving the Software Testing Field
      • Why Some People Leave Testing
      • Making the Transition
      • Skills From Testing People Took With Them
    • Useful Resources
      • Podcast Episodes
      • Links
      • Books
    • Acknowledgements

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