Roles and Responsibilities of Software Testers

Company owners might ask themselves whether hiring software testers is really necessary. Here’s a related question: would you prefer to fix bugs before releasing a new version of your app or after your users notice them? It’s easy to think developers should test their own code, but in reality, there’s so much more than just making sure it runs well. Development teams often won’t have the time to test all new software versions on every device and every possible browser a customer will use. Also, they won’t be able to focus as much on their user experience or notice if there are any typos. Not only will they do the job partially, but they’ll also waste valuable time that could be invested in developing software and shipping new versions faster.

Although it seems like a paradox, hiring a software tester will help you build software faster and cheaper. Finding bugs and app malfunctions immediately doesn’t let them evolve into more significant issues that are harder to solve. If a serious problem isn’t addressed right away, developers will keep working until they find themselves blocked, and the only way to move forward is to take many steps back. To avoid this scenario, companies hire software testers and QA engineers who will ensure no such mistakes are made.

Now that we’ve covered why you need testers in the first place let’s go over what you should be looking for in an employee. Searching for the right candidate has its challenges, but the tech industry is relatively straightforward, and technical skills often take the lead. Look for certificates and experience in the resume. If you’re not sure, ask around about the quality of the courses and certifications. You can also request recommendation letters from previous employers if there are any.

Personal skills are important for this role, too. The ideal candidate should be communicative and open to cooperation as they’ll need to work closely with the dev and design teams. Attention to detail is paramount for this job because if testers overlook any mistakes, the users will certainly find them.

Software companies aren’t the only ones that need testers. Marketing agencies that develop websites or apps should also hire someone who will test whether the site functions properly on all browsers and devices. This includes checking all the buttons, menus, and the overall user experience.