There are a few qualities that companies look for when seeking a good QA. They want someone analytical and detail-oriented, as this person will be responsible for catching any errors or potential issues.
They also want someone who can effectively communicate both verbally and in writing, as this will be crucial in relaying information to different teams. Additionally, companies often look for someone with a strong understanding of both the software development process and various testing methodologies.
1. Communication Skills
Companies look for QA specialists who have strong communication skills. This is because they need to be able to communicate clearly and effectively with developers, managers, and other stakeholders. They also need to be able to understand and interpret requirements. Strong communication skills are essential for success in this role.
2. Listening Skills
Companies look at a few key qualities when hiring a QA specialist. One of the most important qualities is the ability to listen. A QA specialist needs to be able to understand the requirements of a project and then listen to the developers to see if they are meeting those requirements. They also need to be able to listen to feedback from users and then use that feedback to improve the quality of the product.
Other important qualities for a QA specialist include attention to detail, the ability to work well under pressure, and good communication skills. They need to be able to pay attention to the small details in a project and report any issues they find. They also need to be able to work well under pressure to meet deadlines and since they will be communicating directly with developers, their communication skills need to be top-notch.
3. Written Communication
When looking for a good quality assurance specialist, companies often seek someone with strong written communication skills. This is because QA specialists need to be able to document their findings clearly and concisely to help developers identify and fix issues. Good QA specialists also need to be able to communicate effectively with team members from other departments, such as customer support or management, to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
4. Understanding of Development
Since the QA specialist is essentially the quality control officer, they need an in-depth understanding of the development process. Having a solid background in programming and software development is essential for quality assurance. They need to be able to read and understand code, use their programming skills to debug issues, and perform automated and manual tests.
5. Agility and Adaptability
The world of software development is a constantly changing one, and QA specialists need to be able to keep up with those changes. While they start a project with an understanding of what the software should do, circumstances can change as the project.
- Changes in the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)
Changes are inevitable, and the development process needs to be able to adapt to those changes to finish a project on time. If a developer runs into a problem while developing a feature and needs to rework part of the code, that’s a problem for the QA specialist. Those changes could create new bugs or alter existing ones, which means more work for the QA specialist. They must be able to respond to those changes in a constructive way and avoid escalating tensions.
- Changes in technologies and platforms
Developments in technology are also constantly bringing about changes. Platforms and hardware evolve, as does the latest software development toolchain. New tools appear while others become increasingly obsolete. Having a QA specialist who can adapt to these changes is essential to keeping projects on track.
- Changes in the business case
Conditions sometimes change outside the software project, such as when a new law goes into effect or the company merges with another one. Those external factors could mean that the original software project needs to change in some way. The QA specialist needs to be able to accommodate those changes if the project is going to come out with a deliverable product on time.
6. Technical Skills
Companies look for a few key qualities when hiring QA specialists. Firstly, they want someone with strong technical skills who can understand and test complex systems. Secondly, they want someone detail-oriented and able to spot even the smallest of bugs. Finally, they want someone who can work well under pressure and meet deadlines. QA specialists with those qualities are highly sought after and usually have no trouble finding work.
7. Industry Knowledge
When looking for a good QA specialist, companies typically seek someone with extensive industry knowledge. This enables the specialist to understand the company’s processes and objectives and identify potential areas of improvement. Additionally, a good QA specialist should be able to effectively communicate with both technical and non-technical staff. This ensures that any issues or concerns are properly identified and addressed promptly.
8. Quality assurance tools
A good QA specialist is someone who can identify potential problems and errors in a product or system and then create tests to find those errors. They should also be able to develop plans to prevent or fix those errors. QA specialists need to have strong communication skills to be able to explain their findings to others and work with developers to resolve issues. They also need to be detail-oriented and able to think creatively to come up with new ways to test products. Good QA specialists are an important part of any company that creates products or systems.
9. Technical Writing
When looking for a good QA specialist, companies often look for someone with strong technical writing skills. This is because a large part of a QA specialist’s job is to create detailed reports of any bugs or issues they find. Strong writing skills are essential to creating clear and concise reports that can be easily understood by developers. In addition to writing skills, companies also look for QA specialists with strong problem-solving skills. This is because QA specialists need to be able to quickly identify any issues and then come up with effective solutions. Strong problem-solving skills are essential to keep projects on track and prevent any delays.
10. Interpersonal Skills
When it comes to QA specialists, companies are looking for candidates with strong interpersonal skills. This includes the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and written, as well as the ability to collaborate with others. Strong interpersonal skills are essential in this role as QA specialists need to be able to work closely with developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to ensure the quality of the final product.
11. Curiosity
One of the most important qualities that any QA specialist needs is curiosity. This comes as no surprise given the nature of the role. As a QA specialist, you need to be able to understand how users are supposed to use a product, as well as how it’s supposed to work To ensure that the final product is of high quality and meets the expectations of the stakeholders, you need to be willing to undertake some testing exploratory exercises. These can be tricky since you will be the one creating them, but a QA specialist with a strong sense of curiosity will be able to overcome this and come up with effective tests.
12. Statistical Mindset
Apart from the technical skills and personality traits, companies are also looking for QA specialists who have a statistical mindset.
A good QA specialist needs to be able to perform testing activities in a measured way to reach reliable conclusions. This includes using statistical tools such as A/B testing, combinatorial testing, monitoring, and cross-referencing to reach valid conclusions about the quality of the product.
13. Teamwork
Good QA specialists need to be great at working in teams. Not only do they need to be able to communicate well with others, but they also need to be able to lead a team of testers if needed. A QA specialist with great leadership skills can take the stress off the development team by taking charge of the testers and coming up with creative experiments to test the product. This not only allows the developers to focus on developing the product, but it can also improve the overall time to market for the product since the quality of the testing is improved.
The qualities companies look for in a good QA can seem daunting. But they don’t have to be. By honing in on the most important skills and training for your specific needs, you’ll be much more confident in your upcoming interview.
Read about “QA tester tasks – 8 essential tasks for every QA tester” too
