What is it that makes a quality assurance analyst special? QA analysis is a field that many people find that they either love or hate. Those who truly enjoy QA tend to embody some very specific traits, which make them successful at their work.
QA Analysts Need Solid and Diverse Technical Backgrounds
In order to break software, one must first understand how it works. QA analysts and testers have to be very knowledgeable technically: this is the only way they know what will break and how it would most likely break. Some QA specialists may not have the knowledge to develop solutions, but will instead have the knowledge necessary to test very large spectrums of products. This gives them key and unique insights. It also aids them in explaining problems with greater accuracy when they are discovered.
The Right State of Mind
Quality assurance analysts need to be single-minded and determined. They must be able to walk through often repetitive tasks and be able to take them step by step each time. Additionally, they have to be attentive enough to notice errors that may be subtle, such as issues with unexpected data.
This requires someone who is dedicated, devoted, and above all, patient. They should be meticulous and well organized. Often a QA tester might be required to work many hours. Most importantly, their work product at the beginning of their day will need to be just as thorough as at the end.
Active Listening and Solid Communication Skills
A good quality assurance analyst must be able to actively listen and communicate with others. QA testers are tasked with the very important role of reporting issues. But in addition to reporting issues, they also need to describe them in detail and often work directly with programmers and developers.
Often this can be a challenge because tensions can run high. When late in the production cycle or when there are recurring problems, a QA tester may need to repeatedly address issues during tight deadlines. They will also interface with many different people, ranging across the spectrum of high-level developers to entry-level developers.
The Ability to Solve Complex Problems
Finally, problem solving is one of the most important aspects of QA testing. As mentioned not only does the tester need to find problems but they should also have an idea of why the problem occurred. They must be creative and think out of the box while having the ability to be analytical. This is a very rare trait: many people are more equipped for one rather than both. The problems encountered during QA testing are very rarely straightforward and direct.
If all of these skills seem right to you, it may be time to check some of the QA jobs listed on the SSi Job Board.