Welcome to the world of software testing. This area of Vettanna is dedicated to those of you investigating a career in software testing. On the following pages you will find resources to help you judge for yourself if software testing is a career for you.

What is Software Testing?
After the programmers or engineers create a piece of software, testers are responsible for making sure that it works and also trying to break it before the product is shipped or released to customers. How do testers do that? Sometimes it's easy and there is a written specification for how the new product is supposed to work and how it responds if there is an error. Unfortunately, there is not always a "spec" and testers must rely on their knowledge of how computers work, how software works and their intuition.

What's a regular day like for a software tester?
We've put together a short scenario for you called, A Day In The Life Of A Tester, that walks you through a typical day and includes two different styles of test cases for you to try.

Is Software Testing for you?
Software testing is a career that is well suited to bright, organized, inquisitive people. If you are a quick learner, self-motivated, interested in how software works and how people use software, and you have excellent verbal and written communication skills then software testing may be a field for you.

What are a tester's most important skills?
1. Knowing how and where to look for bugs (errors)
2. Knowing how to report the bug effectively so that an engineer can reproduce it quickly without being insulted by the way that the failure was communicated.

How do I begin testing and gain these skills?
We're going to ask you to jump right in and try it. Take a deep breath; you've used computers for awhile. You've seen "bugs" and seen software that didn't work like you thought it would. Relax; we've got instructions and tips for you. So, just dive in and see if you like it. Nothing ventured…nothing gained, right?!. The buttons to the left will guide you through the rest of your investigation of this fun, challenging and rewarding career. Have fun!

Still have questions?
Check out the New Tester FAQ, it has many frequently-asked questions and their answers. We've also asked testers and engineers if they had any advice and tips for you. Finally, you can email us with your questions, and one of our testers or trainers will be happy to answer your questions.

So, give testing and bug writing a try. Have some fun and, if you like it, start your career with Vettanna's online Testing Essentials I for Beginning Testers or the even more in-depth public class in Practical Software Testing.