The IT Test Analyst can expect to assess products, check for quality and accuracy, and to create test scripts while working in a testing environment. The services these professionals provide to companies involve responsibilities relating to software development, processing, engineering, manufacturing, development, mechanical and airplane industries.
This role may take on sole responsibility, but often will occur within a test team environment. This means working with project managers, development teams, end users, as well as other groups to ensure the fulfilment of some or all the testing criteria.
A level of proficiency in the engineering aspects of software may be central to the nature of this work. The job of IT Test Analyst may involve feedback to the test process as well as the other teams, gathering of requirements, the generation of test plans and test scripts, as well as the integration with software components. A prized asset of candidates for this job is the ability to maintain rigorous compliance with industry standards and project deliverables.
Some of the tasks that are performed by an IT Test Analyst are:
- Preparing and maintaining test plans
- Scheduling projects
- Conducting risk assessments
- Providing feedback to the development teams
- Doing continuous testing and upgrades
- Liaising with suppliers, teams, and team leaders
- Providing budget forecasts
- Preparing test scripts
- Creating new test strategies.
Some of the skills employers look for in candidates are:
- Understanding structured test methods and processes
- Being analytical and effective
- Manual and automated testing
- Resolving problems in a timely manner
- Managing time and people
- Paying attention to details
- Teamwork
- Information technology
- Preparing concise documentation
- Being articulate and communicating effectively
- Planning and prioritising projects
- Stress management
The skills needed for this role can be obtained through certain basic and advanced training.
Training courses for IT test analyst jobs.
First there is the ISTQB-BCS Foundation in Software Testing Course that prepares candidates for the BCS Foundation Certificate in Software Testing based on the ISTQB syllabus.
Objectives of the course include:
- Improving understanding of software testing, its purpose and nature, as well as to raise awareness of testing issues and constraints
- Providing widely recognised professional qualification, introducing test techniques to delegates
- Providing practical experience of certain techniques
- Learning standard terminology
- Providing a complete portrayal of test activities and processes ranging from requirements review to system implementation.
This qualification will create candidates for employers who are certified testers, giving them a commercial advantage over competitors. Furthermore, this qualification will allow testers to move across country borders more easily, having common understandings of testing issues.
The ISTQB was founded in 2002 and is comprised of forty-seven national boards covering seventy-one countries. Certification by the ISTQB has become the worldwide de facto standard relating to software testing qualifications.
It is the mission of ISTQB to continually improve and advance the software testing profession by: “Defining and maintaining a Body of Knowledge which allows testers to be certified based on best practices, connecting the international software testing community, and encouraging research.” To date, the number of certification issues is 383,045.
Then there is the ISTQB Advanced Test Analyst course that extends knowledge of the broad understanding gained at the Foundation Level.
Further skills and knowledge may be acquired at the Expert Level once the platform of the Advanced Level is established. Expert Level qualifications include such things as Test Automation and Security Testing. The Advanced Level test is four days and tutor-led, involving lectures, exercise, practical work, and then preparation for exam.
Other Advanced Level qualifications that holders of the Certified Test Advanced Level Test Analyst qualification are that of Test Manager position and Technical Test Analyst role.
The prerequisite to attend this ISTQB Advanced Test Analyst course is the BCS/ISTQB Foundation Software Testing Certificate discussed above. Some other relevant technical background may relate to the operation of MIS environments and written for Oracle/SQLServer databases and Microsoft Operating Systems.
Having experience using Visual Studio load testing tools against client websites and applications and knowledge of Microsoft Test Manager may also be important.
London based positions have a salary range from £35,000 to £45,000, while regional positions may range from £20,000 to £30,000. There is also project based work that can pay a range of £150 to £400 per day; related contracts may run from a few months to a year.
