In the current software environment, consumers expect fast-paced deliveries of new software updates which should be functional on a multitude of devices and platforms, and manual testing is simply not feasible enough to meet the rising demands of the consumer market.

As a result, software development organizations are adopting test automation exceedingly, and as a manual tester, you need to keep up with the evolving test methods to remain relevant in your field.

The agile method of developing software has also changed the job description of a software tester, where he is now required to learn to code since the software development, and QA phases are no longer separate entities. Instead, testers have to practice agile testing which is integrated into the developing stage to produce high-quality software within a short delivery span.

Moreover, with the advent of continuous integration, it became even more imperative for the QA department to learn how to code to embrace the evolutionary testing methodologies and to expand their skill set.

It is almost obligatory to switch from merely being a manual tester to an automation testing engineer, to continue to work and thrive in your current line of the field:

Commit to learning to code:

As a skilled manual tester, you may feel reluctant to become a novice again and start from scratch to survive even though you are well-versed in your field. However, as mentioned before, the job requirements of software testers are evolving according to the needs of the organizations that want to develop high-quality software in the shortest amounts of time.

To secure a job in the software testing industry, it is extremely crucial to learn to code because agile software testing and integrated quality assurance require testers to be present in the developing stage, to expedite the development process.If you fail to make the switch from manual testing to test automation, you may lose out on invaluable job opportunities.

You also need to invest considerable efforts and time to adopt automation testing. Therefore, you should commit to the task at hand and tackle it with utmost devotion.

Recognize the importance of continual learning:

Software development and automation are advancing at a break-neck speed.Each passing day, week, or month witnesses the dawn of a new technological advancement and the rest of the world is forced to catch-up and implement the latest innovation in their development techniques to stay relevant in a competitive market.

Since you acquired your degree, there must have been numerous improvements in the test automation field because the past decade has seen a complete shift from the waterfall model to the current continuous testing procedure. Even though Java and HTML remain the backbone of the IT industry, yet the programming languages have seen some new advents such as Google Go and iOS Swift.

To keep abreast with all the modern technology and to facilitate your transition from manual to automated testing, you can enroll in online classes, read coding books and attend webinars. These courses and lectures are most helpful if you are working a full-time job and are short on time.

Practice relentlessly:

Continuing from the previous point; watching, listening and reading about coding is not enough, you need to practice it to grow as a software tester and learn.

You can begin by writing the most basic codes using Java or Python, experiment with it and make amendments to improve it. Once you have mastered the basics, you can move on to more advanced methods like code refactoring, object-oriented programming, and design patterns.

You can also try to automate the application you are manually testing at work. Examine the best possible candidates and outline the test cases that can be implemented in your current model.

Ideally, you should spend a couple of hours every day to practice the art of coding and only then can you improve and eventually switch to automation testing.

Network:

Networking on digital platforms can help you in a number of ways.

You can use the social websites to discover informative lectures on automation testing, upcoming training sessions, and technological networking events in your area.

You can connect with your friends from your degree school to discover the projects they are working on and pick their brains on it.

You can gain instant excess to healthy discussions and resources which can help you hone your skills and keep up-to-date with the latest information.

You can connect with mentors and experts in your field who are willing to share their expertise and may even let you intern for them to gain first-hand experience.

The fundamental reason for networking is to expand your visibility and increase your knowledge and skill set by tapping into the vast resources readily available on social media.

Explore and stay updated:

Finally, it is imperative to stay up to date with the emerging technological advancements. You can explore the online QA domain about the newest and upcoming automation trends, what functionalities are most suitable for automation, etc. to better prepare yourself for the latest technological shift.

Automation testing tools are an integral part of test automation. You can familiarize yourself with the leading automation testing tools to help you gain knowledge about their architecture and environment which can help you make an informed decision about when to employ these tools.

You can also refer to the most famous and widely followed blogs pertinent to automation testing to gain firsthand knowledge from experts.

Automation is taking over the software testing world. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that you learn to automate the testing procedure and enhance your skill set through persistence, continual efforts to implement your knowledge.

Author Bio:

Alycia Gordan is a freelance writer who loves to read and write articles on healthcare technology, fitness, and lifestyle. She is a tech junkie and divides her time between travel and writing. You can find her on Twitter: @meetalycia