Software tester
Spot bugs and issues in software so they get fixed before it's released for use.
Also known as: quality analyst, quality assurance engineer, software testing engineer, software quality engineer
About the job
What it's like
Before software is ready for users to get their hands on, it must be thoroughly tested. As a software tester, it’d be your job to look for any bugs or issues that stop it from performing how it should. This is what’s known as quality assurance, and it’s a vital part of digital development.Â
Recording any issues you find you’d pass these on to developers, so they know what needs to be resolved. Attention to detail and problem solving are important parts of this role. Â
You’d create a plan and use different methods such as performance testing, scalability testing, regression testing or stress testing to identify any problems. The next step would be writing up reports to document the tests and their outcome, and communicate these back to the team you’re working with. Â
What you might do
Meet with developers and project managers to understand the requirements of each project.Â
Work alongside software developers to understand software functionality.
Walkthrough programmes to find bugs or defects.Â
Create a testing plan and identify resource needs.
Carry out automated testing with specialist software.
Test on different devices such as mobile, tablet or laptop, as well as different browsers.
Provide solutions that correct the issues you’ve discovered.
Write up issue reports to keep for future reference.
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
Your skills are important
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Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Maths (Mathematics)
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Information and Communications Technology - ICT
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Physics
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Statistics
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Hardware and Systems Support
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Software Development
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
Employers often prioritise relevant digital skills and experience when recruiting. There are a number of ways to get experience and qualifications, either through college, university or through work-based qualifications, such as apprenticeships.
Many Software testers will have studied at HND or degree level in the following subjects:
Information technology
Software engineering
Computer science
Maths/statistics related subject
Others will have built a portfolio of digital qualifications and experience in the workplace.
Not all employers list specific qualification requirements but they might ask for relevant experience, usually work based, that demonstrates transferable skills.
You might want to consider creating a GitHub account, testing some opensource software and creating logs of defects you have raised.
It’s also helpful to have the ability to use coding language such as JavaScript as well as to understand the processes and techniques of software testing.
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