Software Testing is More Than a Job, it's a Community

This interview is part of a series of articles where we shine the spotlight on our wonderful community of teachers, trainers, instructors, and mentors. We work with a number of talented tech professionals from all walks of life, and we're taking this opportunity to thank them for all their hard work by telling their unique stories.

Ady Stokes is an experienced Test Engineer and Accessibility Specialist based in West Yorkshire. He is currently working with us to provide digital skills training to a group of talented learners from the local area by helping us teach our software testing bootcamps.

We caught up with Ady to ask him a few questions about his experiences working in software testing, and how he draws on that to inform his approach to teaching.

1. Why do you think people interested in working in tech would benefit from taking a software testing course today?

You mean other than to meet me and all the other wonderful trainers working with The Coders Guild? Well, software testing is a brilliant way to get into the technology industry and, as everyone has seen over the last year, it’s an industry that can only keep growing.

Testing is such a rewarding craft, as it means you get to contribute to the way people experience software, mobile apps, and the Internet. Ever been frustrated trying to do something online? By learning to become a tester you can be the person to solve those problems!

I have to also mention the tremendous community that has built up around software testing as well. It’s not just a job; I have friends I’ve made, both in real life and online, from all round the world through my time in software testing, and that has been so helpful during the difficulties of lockdown.

2. What key things have people been learning on your course with us here at The Coders Guild?

Firstly, they're answering the question, "what is software testing?" It’s easy to think that anyone can test. To an extent that is true, but to do this professionally you need knowledge, discipline, an open mind, and the ability to think from many different perspectives. This course is the beginning of all that, and I’ve been delighted to see our excellent participants so eager to learn.

These trainees are also getting an understanding of the size of the testing universe, as well as all the different ways software can be tested and the different areas and specialisms that can be learnt. And, of course, how fantastically awesome the craft is!

3. What do you wish you'd known before starting a job in software testing, or what advice have you got for people wanting to get into this area of work?

For a long time, I had no idea this job existed or was an option. And when I was first made aware, I would have put it in the category of requiring a university education or similar, but that’s not the case. It is very accessible to people from all backgrounds and experience.

I came from an impoverished background, and in education there was little guidance as my place was to get a manual labour position, which I did. After many different types of jobs, when I finally came to testing it didn’t take long to see I’d found a rewarding career and I can’t see myself doing anything else now.

I think it’s also important to point out that you don’t need to know how to write code or create software to be able to test it. If you want to learn software testing, you don’t necessarily have to be very technical to bring value to these roles. Although I should say it is useful to understand code and how software architecture works, but it’s not vital and that too can always be learned.

4. Finally, can you share a bit more about your background, and where our readers can hear more from you?

Absolutely. I’m passionate about accessibility, exploring, and testing as part of the creation and development of software. I strongly believe in collaborative methods and using different thought techniques and people perspectives to look at things from many angles.

I now have my own blog at The Big Test Theory where I share my thoughts, occasional poetry, and my Periodic Table of Testing, which is a visual heuristic showing the breadth of the testing universe.

You can follow Ady on Twitter here @CricketRulz and you can also connect with him on LinkedIn as well.

To be the first to know about the latest opportunities to take advantage of free digital skills training, like the bootcamps Ady is currently teaching, as well as apprenticeship and employment opportunities all across the UK, don't hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team today.