How to become a tester and which direction to choose

Before any application or program ends up on a device, it undergoes strict quality control. Test engineers play a crucial role in this process, ensuring the stability and reliability of the software. If you want to learn how to become a tester and build a career in this important field, this article is for you.

### **Choosing a Testing Direction: What Suits You Best?**

A specialist’s work is, above all, research. A tester immerses themselves in the program, identifying bugs, interface flaws, and other errors. Attention to detail plays a crucial role here. Starting with manual testing, you will not only gain practical experience but also develop critically important analytical thinking skills.

### **Automated Testing – for Those Who Want to Program**

Automated testing is a more advanced stage that requires the tester to have programming skills. Creating automated tests using scripts allows software to be checked for correctness without direct human involvement. This approach is ideal for those looking to develop programming skills and delve into the technical aspects of testing.

How to become a tester and perform automated testing? It is important to master tools such as Selenium and JUnit. Specialists are always in demand as they significantly speed up the development process and ensure the repeatability and predictability of checks.

### **Module Testing – for Those Who Love Details**

Checking individual modules of software. It is suitable for those who want to ensure that each part of the code works flawlessly. Module testing helps “assemble” all elements like a constructor and ensure that every “brick” is in place.

Tools such as Mockito for Java or PyTest for Python are used in this direction. Each module undergoes thorough testing, minimizing the risk of errors in subsequent stages of development. How to become a tester specializing in modules? It is advisable to start by learning the basic principles of writing unit tests and working with frameworks.

### **Smoke Testing – Quick Problem Identification**

A superficial check of the system’s functionality to ensure that it is working at all. It is like testing the engine before a trip. It is important to ensure that the main functions do not fail and that the system is ready for further in-depth testing.

It is used in conditions of tight deadlines when it is necessary to quickly understand if the product is ready for further analysis. Smoke testing is often applied in the Continuous Integration (CI) environment, for example, using Jenkins. This allows for automated runs and quickly identifying critical issues.

### **Education and Development: How to Become a Tester from Scratch**

You can start learning software testing with courses – both paid and free. They offer structure, mentor support, and the opportunity to ask questions to experienced professionals. Platforms like Netology and GeekBrains provide educational programs that include both theory and practical exercises.

An alternative is self-education, for which you will need books on software testing or free courses on YouTube and Stepik. This path is ideal for those who enjoy learning at their own pace and are ready to independently seek solutions to complex tasks.

### **Self-Preparation – the Path for the Determined**

Self-education is a challenging but exciting path. Books like the “QA Engineer Handbook” and courses on basic programming, such as Codecademy, will help develop the necessary skills to start. To work as a QA engineer, it is important to master both theory and practical knowledge of tools.

Many start their careers with open-source projects on GitHub, which not only helps gain experience but also build useful connections in the developer community. How to become a tester independently? Just start – read, watch, and do!

### **Tester Career: First Steps and Perspectives**

You can start your career as an intern or junior tester. It is important to have basic skills, which can be obtained through courses or self-education. Internships offered by companies allow you to understand all processes from the inside, and participation in open-source projects adds practical experience.

How to find a tester job? It is important not to be afraid to apply even without extensive experience. Many companies are willing to take on interns if they see a desire for development and a thirst for knowledge. How to become a tester to fit into the team? Develop, practice, and don’t give up!

### **Perspectives and Tester Salary**

Testers are in demand in Russia, and the labor market shows stable growth in offers. Salaries start at 40,000 rubles for entry-level specialists but can reach 150,000 rubles and higher for experienced automation specialists.

1. **Manual Testing**: Entry-level specialists can expect a salary ranging from 40,000 to 70,000 rubles in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and from 30,000 to 50,000 rubles in regions. Experienced professionals can earn up to 90,000 rubles in major cities.

2. **Automated Checks**: The salary for automation specialists starts at 80,000 rubles in Moscow and can reach 150,000 rubles and higher depending on experience and task complexity. In regions, these amounts range from 60,000 to 100,000 rubles.

3. **Module Testing**: Salaries start at 70,000 rubles and reach 120,000 rubles for experienced specialists in major cities.

4. **Smoke Testing**: Specialists who often work at high speed can earn from 50,000 to 80,000 rubles in Moscow and from 40,000 to 60,000 rubles in regions.

These figures depend on skill level, region, and company specifics. Tester career prospects include the opportunity to transition to automation, test management, and even business analysis roles. As practice shows, quality control engineer skills help better understand the product, its weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.

### **Conclusion**

Becoming a bug hunter is a decision that opens doors to the IT world. You can start small – with courses, self-education, or project participation. With each step, new experience, knowledge, and most importantly, new opportunities emerge. The key is to start and not be afraid to make mistakes because they lead to progress.