QA/Tester career growth at NML.
Defining QA/Tester. Positions
Junior tester
Basic knowledge of IT, software, and hardware devices, even though you know the basics of software testing and its tools.
Should have at least 1-year experience in software testing. Requires guidance and mentorship.
Role highlights
- Ability to work in an agile environment
- High attention to detail
- Ability to create manual test cases with senior guidance
- Ability to perform analysis on requirements with senior guidance
- Ability to log / defect management & tracking
- Learning to be a critical thinker, in terms of user stories / requirements
- Ability to learn about applications being tested
- Ability to test / think from a user's perspective
- Ability to prioritize
- Attend daily ceremonies
- Gaining the knowledge of the software testing life cycle
- Can handle one project at a time under supervision
- Would ask for help more frequently
- There is an emphasis on learning and development
- Can contribute to scrum ceremonies
- Learning to follow the NML testing standards / processes links available on NML Doc site
- Learning to create a Test planning senior guidance
- Learning to design test cases with senior guidance
- Learning to set up test environment with senior guidance
- Learning to perform test execution with senior guidance
- Learning to close the test cycle closure & reporting with senior guidance
Key Characteristics and Qualities
Helping
- Always willing to assist others
Detail oriented
- Picking up on the details that Developer and PM's might miss, being thorough and meticulous at all times in your work
Inquisitive
- Having a curious mindset, open-minded
- Open to feedback / constructive criticism and willingness to internalise and do the work to improve
Communication
- Regular communication and knowledge sharing within testing department and project teams
Active Listening
- Listening to what someone says without already preparing a response. Being present during a conversation
Team player
- Being able to operate as both part of the testing team as well as part of a single or multiple project teams
Eagerness to learn
- Keen to always expand their knowledge base and improve skills. Learning from team members and seniors, Taking the intiative to familiarise yourself with an application before a demo or introduction to the system
Self-motivated
- Not needing a line manager or project manager to micro manage you
Confidence
- Knowing when you can be certain of your ability and your work and when you can defend it (being able to respectfully push back when working with developers)
Independence
- Being able to perform your work without needing a senior to motivate or check up on you
Intermediate tester
Has worked on several projects with 3+ years experience
Must have the ISTQB foundation certification. Has the ability to create and execute test cases independently Requires minimal guidance and mentorship
Role highlights
- Has a high level of expertise in frontend programming languages and NML’s default frontend frameworks
- Can initiate front-end projects and set up builds
- Assists in finding initial risks in working on large projects
- Ability to work in an agile environment
- High attention to detail
- Ability to create manual test cases with senior guidance
- Ability to perform analysis on requirements with senior guidance
- Learning to be a critical thinker, in terms of user stories / requirements
- Ability to learn about applications being tested
- Able to follow the software testing life cycle
- Can handle one project at a time under supervision
- Would ask for help more frequently
- There is an emphasis on learning and development
- Can contribute to scrum ceremonies
- Ability to create a Test planning senior guidance
- Ability to design test cases with senior guidance
- Ability to set up test environment with senior guidance
- Ability to perform test execution with senior guidance
- Ability to close the test cycle closure & reporting with senior guidance
- Ability to identify and communicate risks with team members
- Technical skills / tools / Sql /automation scripting languages
- Knowledge & hands-on experience with automation testing tools and performance testing tools
- Ability to mentor junior team members
- Ability to learn and share knowledge with team members
- Ability to follow the NML testing standards / processes links available on NML Doc site
Key Characteristics and Qualities
Helping
- Always willing to assist others
Detail oriented
- Picking up on the details that Developer and PM's might miss, being thorough and meticulous at all times in your work
Analytical skills
- Ability to anaylse requirements and understand it correctly (asking the necessary questions)
Communication
- Regular communication and knowledge sharing within testing department and project teams
Active Listening
- Listening to what someone says without already preparing a response. Being present during a conversation
Team player
- Being able to operate as both part of the testing team as well as part of a single or multiple project teams
Eagerness to learn
- Keen to always expand their knowledge base and improve skills. Learning from team members and seniors, Taking the intiative to familiarise yourself with an application before a demo or introduction to the system
Self-motivated
- Not needing a line manager or project manager to micro manage you
Confidence
- Knowing when you can be certain of your ability and your work and when you can defend it (being able to respectfully push back when working with developers)
Independence
- Being able to perform your work without needing a senior to motivate or check up on you
Conflict management
- Respectfully resolving differences and trying to see a matter from the other person's perspective
Debating / reasoning
- The ability to justify/substantiate your feedback. Expressing yourself clearly and thoroughly
Organised / structured
- Also applying this principle to projects and teams. Being structured both in your own work as well as when operating within a team
Professional comunication
- Communication on all platforms are in line with NML standards
Self motivated
- Not needing a line manager or project manager to micro manage you
Active Listening
- Listening to what someone says without already preparing a response. Being present during a conversation
Multi-tasking / prioritsing
- Being able to juggle multiple projects and still knowing when to prioritise more important items
Skepticism
- Healthy level of skepticism - Not only taking the devs word for it, also doing your checks and balances (links to Quality value)
Progress Reporting
- Ensuring that you submit accurate and thorough reports to the relevant parties
Adaptability / flexibilty
- The ability to move between teams and remain effective
Reliable
- Doing what you say you are going to do, turning up when you're expected to, offering help when it's needed
Interpersonal skills
- Knowing how to relate to team members and clients, adjusting your own behaviour and approach in order to work with a variety of personalities
Outspoken
- Voice concerns / Identify & voice risks within your project
Mentoring / coaching
- Leading knowledge sharing sessions
Taking ownership
- Being proactive - identifying an opportunity where you can take action
Senior tester
Has worked on several projects with 6+ years experience
A Senior tester has learned a lot from their mistakes and knows exactly what they can and can't do, which areas of the system to focus more testing on and which areas require less rigorous testing Has the ability to create and execute test cases independently and define testing process Provides guidance and mentorship
Role highlights
- Ability to work in an agile environment
- High attention to detail
- Ability to create manual test cases without guidance
- Ability to perform analysis on requirements without guidance
- Is a critical thinker, in terms of user stories / requirements
- Has an in-depth understanding about complex applications being tested
- Able to follow the software testing life cycle
- Handles multiple projects with no supervision
- Contributes to scrum ceremonies
- Ability to create a Test planning without guidance
- Ability to design test cases without guidance
- Ability to set up test environment without guidance
- Ability to perform test execution(s) without guidance
- Ability to close the testing cycle & reporting without guidance
- Identifies and communicates risks with team members
- Verbal and written communication
- Knowledge & hands-on experience with automation testing tools and performance testing tools
- Ability to mentor intermediate and junior team members
- Ability to learn and share knowledge with team members
- Ability to follow the NML testing standards / processes links available on NML Doc site
Key Characteristics and Qualities
Helping
- Always willing to assist others
Detail oriented
- Picking up on the details that Developer and PM's might miss, being thorough and meticulous at all times in your work
Analytical skills
- Ability to anaylse requirements and understand it correctly (asking the necessary questions)
Communication
- Regular communication and knowledge sharing within testing department and project teams
Active Listening
- Listening to what someone says without already preparing a response. Being present during a conversation
Team player
- Being able to operate as both part of the testing team as well as part of a single or multiple project teams
Eagerness to learn
- Keen to always expand their knowledge base and improve skills. Learning from team members and seniors, Taking the intiative to familiarise yourself with an application before a demo or introduction to the system
Self-motivated
- Not needing a line manager or project manager to micro manage you
Confidence
- Knowing when you can be certain of your ability and your work and when you can defend it (being able to respectfully push back when working with developers)
Independence
- Being able to perform your work without needing a senior to motivate or check up on you
Conflict management
- Respectfully resolving differences and trying to see a matter from the other person's perspective
Debating / reasoning
- The ability to justify/substantiate your feedback. Expressing yourself clearly and thoroughly
Organised / structured
- Also applying this principle to projects and teams. Being structured both in your own work as well as when operating within a team
Professional comunication
- Communication on all platforms are in line with NML standards
Self motivated
- Not needing a line manager or project manager to micro manage you
Active Listening
- Listening to what someone says without already preparing a response. Being present during a conversation
Multi-tasking / prioritsing
- Being able to juggle multiple projects and still knowing when to prioritise more important items
Skepticism
- Healthy level of skepticism - Not only taking the devs word for it, also doing your checks and balances (links to Quality value)
Progress Reporting
- Ensuring that you submit accurate and thorough reports to the relevant parties
Adaptability / flexibilty
- The ability to move between teams and remain effective
Reliable
- Doing what you say you are going to do, turning up when you're expected to, offering help when it's needed
Interpersonal skills
- Knowing how to relate to team members and clients, adjusting your own behaviour and approach in order to work with a variety of personalities
Outspoken
- Voice concerns / Identify & voice risks within your project
Mentoring / coaching
- Leading knowledge sharing sessions
Taking ownership
- Being proactive - identifying an opportunity where you can take action