The QA Tester’s role within the project delivery lifecycle is not solely testing. There are many other ‘hats’ that a Tester may need to wear at various times that requires a far more broader skillset than just testing. Here are just a few of the other important skills that a QA Tester should aim to have.
- Great Communications Skills
- Knowledge of Testing Techniques
- Ability to work and stay calm under pressure
- Ability to prioritise work
Great Communication Skills
The QA Tester is the gatekeeper of testing on a project and needs to be able to push back when defects are identified. This could be explaining to Developers why their code is not working or meeting the Acceptance Criteria. It may also involve providing demos to Customers or assisting with any of their queries during UAT.Knowledge of Testing Techniques
Knowledge of Testing Techniques
Sounds obvious doesn’t it! But a QA Tester needs to know different testing techniques and be able to quickly suggest and / or adapt to use these techniques. It is also beneficial for a QA Tester to understand different software development methodologies such as Agile and Waterfall.Ability to work and stay calm under pressure
Ability to work and stay calm under pressure
Deadline! Deadline! Deadlines! Any impact to delivery timelines can always increase the pressure on the QA Testers. How many times does the Development window overrun into the QA phase but that time is not then added to the end of your QA time. A calm head can help you re-prioritise your workload and focus on achievable goals. Remember always keep your Project Manager/Stakeholders advised of any impact to completing your testing in the expected time.
Ability to prioritise work
The ability to priorities testing almost certainly plays a part in the QA Tester’s role in every project, whether its trying to meet deadlines or conducting Risk Based Testing, an understanding of what is required, the impact of development within this area and being able to communicate how long it will take to test a piece of functionality is an important skill that a QA Tester must possess.
There are so many stages of a project that could involve (or should involve!) a Salesforce Tester and a Testers job can be so varied and differ from project to project so be sure to continually look to develop your technical and personal skillset.
A Certified Salesforce Administrator, Salesforce Einstein Analytics and Discovery Consultant, ISTQB® Certified Tester Advanced Level, Jitterbit Foundations and Jitterbit Core Certified QA Test Automation Manager who is also an experienced creative all-rounder with enthusiasm and the proven ability to understand client needs and deliver satisfying solutions. A thirst for new technology and modern Quality Assurance and Testing techniques keeps me aspiring to learn at every opportunity. My current role is at Publicis Sapient who are an official Salesforce Platinum Partner. Publicis Sapient provide Salesforce expertise and strategic thinking that enables organisations to transform their business to Cloud-based technology.