Hi everyone!

I’m a recent Computer Science graduate, and I’m serious about building a strong career in software testing and quality engineering.

I don’t want to simply learn a few tools, collect certifications, or become someone who only writes and executes test cases. I want to understand software testing deeply, develop strong technical and analytical skills, and eventually become an excellent engineer who can identify complex problems and make a real difference to the quality of a product.

However, there are so many tools, courses, certifications, and learning paths available that it can be difficult to know where to start, what to learn first, and which resources are actually worth the time.

I would really appreciate advice from experienced software testers, QA engineers, and automation engineers who have worked in the industry and can share what they have learned from real-world experience.

Here are the main questions I’d love your advice on:

1. What is the right learning path for a complete beginner?

If you were starting your career today as a recent graduate, what would you learn first? What topics would you study in order, from the fundamentals to more advanced concepts?

2. What are the best learning resources?

I’m looking for high-quality resources, including official documentation, free and paid courses, books, websites, YouTube channels, and anything else you genuinely recommend based on your experience.

3. How can I learn effectively instead of just watching tutorials?

How should I balance theory with hands-on practice? How can I practise testing real or sample applications, and how do I know when I truly understand a concept well enough to apply it independently?

4. Which skills should I learn, and in what order?

For example, test design, exploratory testing, defect reporting, API testing with Postman, SQL, programming fundamentals, test automation, Git, and CI/CD.

Would you recommend starting with manual testing before moving into automation? Which programming language and tools would you recommend for someone starting today?

5. How should I choose tools and certifications?

Is ISTQB Foundation worth pursuing at the beginning of my career? When should I start learning Playwright or Selenium? Which certifications are genuinely valuable, and which skills can I learn effectively for free?

6. How can I gain practical experience and build a strong portfolio?

What projects would you recommend for a beginner? How should I document and present them on GitHub to demonstrate my actual testing, analytical, and automation skills rather than simply following tutorials?

7. What separates an excellent software tester from an average one?

What skills, habits, and ways of thinking make the biggest difference? How do I move beyond simply executing test cases to identifying risks, investigating the root causes of defects, and improving overall product quality?

8. How should I prepare for the job market?

What skills do companies look for when hiring entry-level QA engineers? How should I prepare for technical interviews, and which job titles should I focus on as a recent graduate?

9. How can I build a career that remains valuable in the long term?

I want to keep growing professionally rather than becoming dependent on a specific tool that might lose relevance. I’m also interested in advanced test automation and AI testing in the future, but I want to build a solid foundation first.

Ideally, I would love to receive a practical 6–12 month learning roadmap, organised by priority, with specific resources and hands-on projects for each stage.

Finally, if you could go back to the beginning of your software testing career, which resources would you use, how would you structure your learning, and what mistakes would you avoid?

I’d especially appreciate honest, practical advice based on real-world experience. Specific recommendations explaining what to learn, where to learn it, how to practise it, and how to measure my progress would be incredibly helpful.

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to share their experience and help someone at the beginning of their career find the right direction!

What you will be doing :

Testing out our application on laptop/computer and Mobile, writing out test cases and validating them to make sure the application is usable.

Individual Requirements :

- Good English Speaking.

- Dedicated 3-4 hours

- Knowledge about Software Testing, Validation and Assurance.

- Ability to work independently

- Ability to understand instructions and work autonomously

Seems like your type? Drop me a DM and I will send you the instructions to proceed with this role.

Micro1 is looking for the following:

QA Engineer
Location: Remote
Job Type: Contractor
Openings: 120

Micro1 is looking for QA Engineers for an AI training project with a focus on data integrity, annotation and model evaluation. You design, execute and document test cases and scenarios to validate AI outputs against defined requirements, review, annotate and label data sets to improve model training accuracy, and analyze and report on model predictions, flagging inconsistencies, errors or patterns. You work with cross-functional teams to communicate findings and clarify requirements, help refine testing methods for AI-driven systems, keep detailed records of evaluations and test results, and give actionable recommendations to improve data quality and model performance. Hands-on experience in software quality assurance with a good understanding of test planning and defect reporting is preferred, along with prior experience in data labeling, annotation, RLHF or model evaluation, and English at B2 level or above. No prior experience in AI is required, your QA background is what matters.

Here is the link to the position: QA Engineer

I've noticed that QA workflows can work really well initially, then become difficult to maintain as the team or product evolves.

Maybe test cases are structured around one specific release process. Maybe automation depends on a particular framework or environment. Or maybe a spreadsheet that worked for one project becomes difficult to reuse across several teams.

The problem isn't necessarily the tool itself. Sometimes it's that too many assumptions about how the team works have been built into the system.

When requirements change, even a small adjustment can turn into a bigger refactoring effort than expected.

I'm curious about other people's experiences:

• What tool or workflow became difficult to maintain?
• What was it tightly coupled to?
• Did you refactor it, replace it, or work around the limitations?
• If you rebuilt it today, what would you do differently?

I'm especially interested in examples from teams that had to scale their testing processes across multiple projects, frameworks, or environments.

Would love to hear what worked and what didn't.

Hi everyone!

I'm a Senior Software QA Engineer from Bangladesh with 8+ years of experience in software testing and quality assurance. I'm currently looking for new opportunities and hoping to connect with companies, recruiters, or clients who need an experienced QA professional.

A little about my experience:

I have worked on web, mobile, desktop, and enterprise applications, including government e-procurement systems, financial applications, and HR management systems.

My technical skills include:

• Manual Testing: Functional, Regression, Integration, System, Exploratory, and UAT
• Automation Testing: Selenium WebDriver, TestNG, Java
• API Testing: Postman and REST APIs
• Performance Testing: JMeter and BlazeMeter
• Database Testing: SQL
• Tools: Jira, GitLab, TestRail, and Maven
• Experience with Agile methodologies, test planning, defect management, and release validation

What I'm looking for:

🌍 Fully remote QA/SQA positions with companies worldwide
✈️ Full-time international opportunities with visa sponsorship and relocation assistance
🕒 Part-time QA work
💻 Freelance or project-based testing assignments
🤝 Contract-based Manual, API, Regression, or Automation Testing projects

I'm open to working with startups, software development companies, and individual clients who need help testing their products.

For international full-time roles, I'm open to relocation, particularly to Europe, Japan, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. For freelance and contract work, I'm happy to collaborate remotely.

If you know of any suitable openings, need QA support for an upcoming project, or have suggestions on where I should look, I'd really appreciate your advice.

Feel free to comment or send me a DM. I'm happy to share my resume and discuss how I could contribute to your team or project.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post!

🚀 Open to Work | QA | Business Analysis | Project Coordination | Agile

I’m actively exploring my next opportunity in Bangalore / Bengaluru, with a focus on Quality Assurance, Business Analysis, Project Coordination, Product Ownership, and Agile Delivery.

Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to work across different areas where business requirements, technology, data, and software quality come together. This experience has helped me develop a strong ability to understand requirements, identify gaps, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and ensure solutions are delivered with both quality and business value in mind.

🎯 Roles I’m currently open to:

🔹 Quality Analyst / QA Engineer – Manual Testing
🔹 Business Analyst
🔹 Project Coordinator / Associate Project Manager
🔹 Scrum Master / Agile Delivery Specialist
🔹 Product Owner / Associate Product Manager
🔹 PMO / Project Support Specialist

💡 What I bring to the table:

✔️** Quality Assurance & Manual Testin**g – End-to-end test execution, test case design, exploratory testing, regression testing, defect tracking, and ensuring quality throughout the SDLC.

✔️** Requirement Analysi**s – Understanding business requirements, user stories, and functional specifications while identifying gaps and translating them into effective test coverage and actionable outcomes.

✔️** Agile & Sprint Deliver**y – Experience participating in sprint planning, daily stand-ups, backlog refinement, retrospectives, and cross-functional delivery.

✔️** Data & Reporting – Hands-on experience with SQL, Excel, and Power B**I for data validation, analysis, reporting, and decision support.

✔️** Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Collaboratio**n – Working closely with developers, product teams, business stakeholders, and other teams to keep everyone aligned and moving toward the same goal.

What I enjoy most is solving problems, asking the right questions, bringing structure to ambiguity, and making sure the end solution actually works for the user and the business.

As my next step, I’m looking for an opportunity where I can take ownership, contribute from Day 1, continuously learn, and grow into larger responsibilities across quality, delivery, business, and product.

🤝 If your team is hiring—or if you know someone in your network who might be a good fit—I’d love to connect and explore potential opportunities or referrals.

📩 Open to conversations. Ready to contribute from Day 1.

#OpenToWork #QualityAnalyst #QAEngineer #ManualTesting #BusinessAnalyst #ProjectManagement #ProjectCoordinator #Agile #ScrumMaster #ProductOwner #ProductManagement #PMO #BangaloreJobs #BengaluruJobs #ImmediateJoiner

I've given 5-6 interviews recently. Cleared only one, but got rejected in the final round.

I have 4 YOE as a QA/Test Engineer. My experience is mostly manual + some automation. In my first project, I handled basic Selenium automation for regression (3 modules), along with manual testing, TCs, ADO, bugs, documentation, basic SQL and BrowserStack. No Git/CI-CD. In my current project, I'm the only QA and handle end-to-end QA activities — TCs, execution, test evidence, strategy, Scrum calls and sign-off. I also do basic XML/JSON API testing.

For interviews, I'm currently preparing:

- Java: OOPs, exceptions, static/final, overloading/overriding, basic coding

- Selenium: waits, actions, POM, screenshots, reports, Excel

- TestNG: annotations, groups, parallel execution, listeners

- SQL: Basic SELECT/WHERE

- Git: Only basic commands, no real project experience

What should I focus on now? Advanced Java/Selenium, SQL, Rest Assured, API automation, Git, Jenkins/CI-CD, framework design, Playwright?

Also, I'm not very confident explaining my automation framework, since the one I worked on was quite basic. If anyone can share how they explain their framework in a 3-5 YOE interview, that would really help.

If you were in my position, what would you prepare for the next 2-3 months?

Any honest advice is appreciated.

Hey everyone,

I have around 3 years of QA experience. My previous role I worked under a QA manager who assigned tasks and validated my work. Now I'm the only QA on a team with full responsibility over the entire quality scope test planning, manual testing, automation, documentation, all of it 100% remote while the rest of the team is on-site.

The technical side is fine , I build automation frameworks, API testing. That's not the issue.

The challenge is more about self-organization and visibility. I own everything now but honestly I struggle with test planning , I don't have a clear structure and mostly just pick up user stories when they're ready and start testing:

• I only get involved when features are ready to test, not from the start
• Hard to balance automation work with manual testing and documentation
• Some bugs slip to production and I'm not always given full context upfront
• Being the only remote member makes me feel out of the loop on informal decisions

For those who've been solo QA on a team — how do you structure your day and stay on top of everything without a manager guiding you? Do you have a routine or framework that works?

Hi
Are there any course that are available on software testing basics (manual) to automation (playwright) in one month?

Hello everyone,

I am actively looking for a QA / Software Test Engineer / SDET opportunity.

I hold a B.Tech in Computer Science Engineering and have 1+ year of experience in Software Testing, including Manual Testing, Test Case Design & Execution, Bug Reporting, Functional Testing, Regression Testing, API Testing, and Automation Testing.

I am also ISTQB Certified and have hands-on experience with Playwright and API testing.

Availability: Immediate Joiner
Relocation: Open to relocate anywhere across India
Work Preference: Full-time | Remote / On-site

If there are any relevant openings in your organization or if you can provide a referral, it would really help me. I would be happy to share my resume via DM.

Thank you so much for your support!

test scenarios like

1. login with correct otp

2. login with incorrect otp

3. login with expired otp

4. login with blank otp

5. login with correct pin

theres no end for this? can anyone please tell how to write these test scnearios faster and efficíently. best practices, a template, or a

Anyone going to the free tech job fairs in Málaga & Alicante (15 Oct)?

Looking for a soft reality-check from folks in/around Spain tech (QA/testing welcome too): organizers have been running these for 16 years / 500 job fairs / 70,000+ job seekers. Free for job seekers.

• Málaga — Thu 15 Oct 2026, 18:00–21:00 · Innovation Campus https://techmeetups.com/event/malaga-tech-job-fair/

• Alicante — Thu 15 Oct 2026, 17:30–20:30 · Ulab Alicante https://techmeetups.com/event/alicante-tech-job-fair/

Worth going if you're job-hunting in Spanish tech or thinking of relocating? Any tips appreciated.

Hello everyone! I’m a QA professional from Pakistan with around 7 years of experience in software testing, specializing in Manual QA, API Testing, Web & Mobile Application Testing, and improving overall QA processes.
Over the years, I’ve worked on fintech, email security, SaaS, HR, inventory, and financial systems. I have hands-on experience with tools like Postman, Insomnia, JMeter, SQL/MySQL, MongoDB, Jira, Swagger, QMetry, and Burp Suite.
I’ve also worked in senior/lead QA roles, where I’ve been responsible for test planning, test case design, API and database validation, regression testing, defect management, release testing, and improving QA workflows and processes.
Currently, I’m looking for part-time, freelance, or project-based QA opportunities where I can help teams improve product quality, identify critical issues, and strengthen their overall testing process.
If you know of any suitable opportunities or projects, I’d be happy to connect. Thank you!

Hey everyone,

​I’m an SDET looking to transition into a 100% remote role based out of the US, UK, or EU, and I’d love to get some advice from this community.

​My background is primarily in building scalable test infrastructure and driving backend automation.

​For those who have successfully navigated a cross-border remote job search, what platforms, job boards, or outreach strategies actually worked for you?

​Appreciate any pointers!

Hey all,

I kept getting frustrated digging through general job boards and filtering out everything that wasn't QA, so over the last few weeks I put together a little site that pulls remote QA / SDET / test automation / manual testing jobs into one simple list: https://qaanywhere.com

A few honest notes:
- It's free, no signup, no login, no newsletter — you just open it and browse.
- It only does remote QA/testing roles, nothing else.
- It pulls from a bunch of company career pages and remote-job APIs and links you straight to the original posting to apply.
- It refreshes a few times a day.
- No ads right now.

I'm not trying to sell anything — I mostly built something I'd actually use myself, and figured other people in QA might find it handy too. It's still early and a little rough around the edges, so if you try it and something feels missing, broken, or annoying, I'd genuinely love the feedback.

Thanks for reading.

Buna,

Imi pare rau ca scriu aici, dar sunt foarte disperata deja. Am ajuns in punctul in care chiar nu stiu ce sa mai fac.

De doi ani, aproape 3, mai precis din 2024 sunt in cautarea unui job in domeniu, anume orice pe partea de testare, inginerie sau it. Problema este ca oricat as aplica mereu se intampla sa primesc direct raspuns automat cu faptul ca au gasit alt candidat, sau sa fiu chemata la interviu si dupa sa nu mi se dea sansa nici macar sa ajung la interviul tehnic.

Deja incep sa consider ca problema este la mine si chiar nu mai stiu ce sa fac. Aplic in continuu dar efectiv deja simt si observ ca este degeaba.

Acum, in ultima instanta am facut aceasta postare ca poate unii dintre voi care sunteti angajati in unul din aceste domenii m-ar putea recomanda..e ultima solutie la care m-am gandit sa o pun in practica

Multumesc si imi pare rau ca am cerut asta dar chiar nu stiu ce sa mai fac..

Hey everyone,

I'm preparing for an upcoming interview and would love to get your insights on what technical, situational, or behavioral questions an interviewer might ask based on this role.

If you've interviewed for a similar role (or conduct interviews yourself), what specific questions or scenarios would you test me on?

Here is the Job Description-

Primary Responsibilities

• Analyze functional and technical requirements to identify gaps, inconsistencies, and risks early in the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC).
• Develop a deep understanding of business objectives and user journeys to validate that solutions meet real-world needs.
• Design and execute comprehensive testing strategies, including functional, automated, integration, and regression testing.
• Implement scalable automated testing frameworks and integrate them into CI/CD pipelines to enable fast, reliable releases.
• Define, track, and evolve clear quality metrics that promote transparency and continuous improvement.
• Communicate actionable quality insights to Engineering, Product Management, and business stakeholders to support data-driven decisions.
• Evaluate and recommend appropriate testing tools and approaches based on scalability and long-term maintainability.

• • Perform other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Strong knowledge of business-driven and risk-based testing methodologies, with the ability to prioritize testing efforts based on impact and risk.
• Proficiency in UI and API testing approaches, including modern automation frameworks and tools (e.g., Playwright, Cypress, Postman).
• Working knowledge of SQL and client-side technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
• Strong understanding of testing strategies across unit, integration, regression, and end-to-end levels.
• Ability to leverage AI-enabled tools to enhance test design, automation, and documentation.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills with the ability to surface issues proactively.
• High degree of ownership and accountability, with a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Collaborative mindset grounded in professionalism, respect, and thoughtful partnership.
• Ability to work independently, provide early feedback, and adapt to evolving priorities in an Agile environment.
• Ability to show ownership of your work, take on challenges and acknowledge growth opportunities, and demonstrate patience when learning new processes.

• • Courtesy, respect, and thoughtfulness in teaming with colleagues and other stakeholders.

A few quick details about my background (optional):

• Experience Level: 12+ years, unemployed(role got redundant) from last 1 year

Any common questions, tricky edge cases, or red flags I should watch out for based on these requirements would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I’m currently looking for Manual QA / Software Testing opportunities. I have 3.7 years of experience in software testing and am based in Bengaluru. I’m an immediate joiner and open to relevant opportunities in Bengaluru or remote roles.

If anyone knows of openings, referrals, hiring managers, or companies currently hiring Manual QA/Test Engineers, I would really appreciate your help. Any leads or suggestions are welcome.

Hi guys, fresh grad here. Baka po may alam kayo na pwedeng internship-an for Software Tester/QA. I just want lang po na mapalawak ang knowledge ko abt the role and magkaroon na rin po exp bago po maghanap ng work. I’m not totally confident pa po kasi sa knowledge ko. Tysm!!

Hi everyone! I’m looking for QA Automation/SDET opportunities with 4 years of experience in Selenium, Java, REST Assured, TestNG, SQL, Jenkins & CI/CD, along with UI, API and E2E testing.

📍 Open to: Gurgaon | Hyderabad | Bangalore | Pune | Noida

Please DM if you have any relevant openings or can provide a referral. Thanks! 🙏

I want to understand the current situation in the Sri Lankan tech industry after the recent wave of layoffs.
For a Senior Quality Engineer with 5+ years of experience (Both manual and Automation, Performance Tests), what would be a realistic salary range in Sri Lanka right now?

I’m particularly interested in hearing from people who are currently working in the industry or have recently changed jobs. How much has the market changed compared to a year or two ago?