Q: What are the future prospects of software QA/test?
A: In many IT-related occupations, employers want to see an increasingly broader range of skills, including non-technical skills. In Software QA/Test, for example, employers want us to have a combination of technical, business and personal skills.
Technical skills mean skills in IT, quantitative analysis, data modeling and technical writing. Business skills mean skills in strategy and business writing. Personal skills mean personal communication, leadership, teamwork and problem-solving skills.
We, employees, on the other hand, want increasingly more autonomy, better life style, employee oriented company culture, and better geographic locations. We continue to enjoy relatively good job security and, depending on the state of the economy, many job opportunities as well.
We realize our skills are important, have strong incentives to upgrade our skills, although often lack the information on how to do so. Educational institutions are increasingly more likely to ensure that we're exposed to real-life situations and problems, but a high turnover rate and a rapid pace of change in the IT industry often act as strong disincentives for employers to invest in our skills, especially non-company specific skills. Employers continue to establish closer links with educational institutions, through in-house education programs and human resources.
The share of IT workers with IT degrees will keep increasing. Certification will continue to help employers to quickly identify us with the latest skills. During boom times, smaller and younger companies continue to be the most attractive to us, especially the companies that offer stock options and performance bonuses in order to retain and attract some of us who are the most skilled.
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