All jobs have a learning curve, but software testing is a field that involves a lot of learning both in the early stages and as an ongoing process of professional development. The learning curve can be steep, but there are ways to flatten it out a bit and make the slope more manageable.

Here is a look at some of the most important points to consider in order to make your learning pathway as a software tester as smooth as possible.

The Right Company

One of the best things you can do is choose a company that will support your learning. This is true whether you are applying for junior positions and still learning to be the best tester you can be or applying for senior positions and only facing the (still considerable) task of remaining up-to-date with new ideas, trends, and best practices. A company where management will be supportive of the need to learn and that will provide you with ample opportunities can be invaluable, and this is true in just about any industry.

It can also be highly beneficial to choose a company that is up-to-date with the latest methods and techniques of software development. Companies that use techniques such as crowdsourcing and up-to-date automation methods, like http://www.mytesters.com/, are more likely to keep you up-to-date on the most cutting-edge techniques. Furthermore, they know that when a client comes to them and says, “I want you to software test my site,” they are probably expecting such cutting-edge techniques and it is therefore a priority to make sure their employees are always able to comply.

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In-Work and Outside-of-Work Learning

It is important to balance learning in-work whilst on the job and learning in a more formal and structured way outside the workplace, as both contribute significant value to individuals and businesses alike. Not all on-the-job learning has to be formal and pre-planned. If you get an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone or assist with some tasks outside your remit, this can be a valuable opportunity to learn.

Similarly, external learning isn’t all about formal courses. Staying on top of industry trends and keeping up with literature and online resources relating to software testing can be a valuable way to develop and continually stay current.