Join Simon Tomes for another round of what's happening in The Testing Planet.
In this session, Simon was joined by Elizabeth Zagroba, Alessandra Moreira and Jesse Berkeley, who explored the intricacies of hiring, interviewing and onboarding software testers, capturing insights from the testing community on essential qualities and challenges in this field.
One major focus was on the types of interview questions testers face, which range from theoretical and exploratory questions to practical test creation and automation exercises. Participants noted that interview success can be hindered when hiring managers lack an understanding of testing, leading to irrelevant or superficial assessments. Red flags like lacking enthusiasm or falsifying qualifications were contrasted with green flags like community participation, which shows a tester’s passion and engagement with their craft.
The onboarding discussion highlighted that while most testers are expected to be operational within one month, it often takes several months for them to feel fully integrated and independent. Effective onboarding practices include a mix of technical setup, cultural orientation, and gradual exposure to relevant teams and systems, with some organizations emphasizing a long-term ramp-up for complete autonomy. The overall takeaway emphasized the importance of hiring managers who understand the testing role, fostering community engagement, and implementing thorough onboarding processes to set testers up for success.
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