Things to Unlearn as a Tester

Now, this is a million-dollar question. Because this unlearning depends on every individual. Why is it so? Because we all have different habits or routines.

“Intelligence is what we learn. Wisdom is what we unlearn.” ― J.R. Rim.

Software testers go through some common challenges, and let’s discuss what they can unlearn to have betterment in their life and career.

1.Being a people pleaser:

Every day we meet multiple stakeholders and communicate with diverse people. Still, we carry the extra baggage because we are hesitant to say NO. Saying NO is treated as offensive nature. We hurt ourselves and our team just because we couldn't speak up. So please understand that you can’t satisfy everyone around you. Fair play is appreciated, so forget about pleasing everyone and speak up for yourself and your team. Being rude is different from speaking up, learn the difference before unlearning this habit.

2.Holding onto the past:

Lessons from the past are vital. But that doesn’t mean we should dwell on the past. Resume your journey with the take-aways. Based on the retrospection, document what went wrong, what was good, and what can be improved. For instance, if a mishap in the project (maybe a serious production leakage) happens, then try to fix, test, and push it back to production. Now, do your root cause analysis (RCA), and act based on it. If it's due to insufficient test coverage, make sure to add those scenarios to your regression suite. Being guilty or regretting over doesn’t help much. Be Pragmatic.

3.Automation is the only efficient way of testing:

Automation is into existence to aid testers in the overall testing process and not to replace them. As a tester, your inner feeling is stronger than the automation scripts. So learn automation, and keep your brain busy. Remember that doesn’t replace your analytical and critical thinking.

4.Coding is an essential skill for software testers:

As testers, it's good to have coding skills (any programming language). But that doesn’t define you as a tester. Aren’t you witnessing the low-code and no-code revolution these years? Why are they innovating and evolving? There are many tools capable of GUI Automation, API Automation, Mobile, and SAP as well. They are designed to motivate and help the functional testers to drift toward automation and learn more about the automation concepts.

5.Lack of planning:

Proper planning can save hours of burning. Starting your Automation/Functional Test Plan, do your research. Make sure to estimate wisely, considering the timelines and the existing workforce. Consider having some buffer time, also a few hours for dry-runs, defect retesting, etc. Foreseeing everything is impossible, but you can master it through experience.

6.Procrastination and being lethargical:

This is a very common habit, but in some cases, this procrastination could cause irreversible effects. So when you foresee/see a risk, then flag it immediately. Also, when it comes to your learning process, don’t keep procrastinating. Devise a plan and try to stick to it.

7.Project knowledge decides your future:

Of course, learning about the project and client systems is necessary, and they play a vital role in your testing process. Along with that, you should have tabs on your learning curve. What did you learn new today? What tool did you recently add to your testing hat? This is a win-win so that you will stay close to the technology.

8.One-stop solution for all problems:

You can’t find a quick fix for everything. Few things take time to brew. Don’t just rely on the standard approach. Following the process and standards is a good discipline. But sometimes you need to tweak them. Build an adaptive meta-process. It leads to slow and continuous improvements.

9.Pessimistic thinking and insecurities:

Even after all the hardships, we strive to be the best version of ourselves. Sometimes, these negative thoughts and insecure feelings will pull us downwards. Nothing but this causes bleakness. So don’t try to avoid challenging situations instead of handling them. Accept that these thoughts are normal and face them.

10.Thinking you are alone:

You are not a lone tester. There are a lot of testing communities and testing enthusiasts selflessly helping people. If you need assistance, reach them and try to get it solved. Sharing is caring.