Understand Your Interviewer

It is very important to understand the interviewer before an interview. Once you are able to comprehend that person’s outlook, you will be in a better position to prepare yourself for the interview. Also, this will be help you pose your questions. Here are some of them to help you prepare well:

• Value the feelings of the interviewee:
  The interviewer cannot disrespect you verbally or otherwise during the interview. Neither can he/she hurt your self esteem. Therefore, do not feel scared to express yourself fully in front of them.
• Ask for the interviewee’s opinion:
  Every interviewer is keen on gauging how you think and feel. It is also important for them to know whether your thought process is constructive or not. Show your positivity in every answer to be an ideal candidate.
• Listen attentively:
  Be careful while answering the questions. If you goof up, then stop and start all over again. Don’t live with the false hope that the interviewer will forget your lousy answer and judge you without keeping it in mind.
• Communicate respectfully:
  You will be addressed respectfully by the interviewer; so, make sure you do the same. Your behavior reflects your personality and shows your conduct towards others.
• Give the interviewee enough time:
  An interview should ideally take place in leisure. The interview is not just a formality which can be rushed. It also cannot be terminated mid way. You have that time to present yourself in the best way possible. Try to be crisp and to the point - it will help.
• Check for past records:
  This is done in the form of reference checks to know about your history in your previous companies. This also helps in understanding your character.
• Avoid emitting potentially negative effects:
  The interviewer should not derive derogation conclusions about you. They are not supposed to share with you any form of negative feedback, creating adverse effects on you.

It is important for an interviewer to behave ethically. Now that you know about their course of action, prepare for that great interview you had been waiting for!

Learn from your first job

Fresh out of college or school, you are enthusiastic about the next big thing in your life, a job that is the first and probably the most important step towards your dream career. With that offer letter in your hand, you feel that you’ve won a battle and now life is going to be a smooth ride. Well, maybe not! The battle has just begun.

Read on to find out the most commonly made mistakes by freshers on their first job and how to avoid these blunders that could very well sabotage their career:

• Work just enough: Overestimating yourself is one of the biggest career mistakes you can make, especially in your first job. In the fervor to prove your metal, you might take more responsibilities than you can successfully fulfill. But if you have promised, you must deliver.On the contrary, not volunteering at all to do some extra work can also work against your image, categorizing you as lazy or incapable. So only accept as much as you can accomplish efficiently and let your work speak for you. Not only will it add to your knowledge bank but also add brownie points to your work credibility. Always remember that quality precedes quantity. 
• ‘I know it all’: No one appreciates if you start your job with ‘I know it all’ attitude. You are in a new environment with new people and no one, not even your boss, will expect you to jump in and start solving all the problems. Give yourself time (atleast a month) to understand the job that you are hired for and your target goals in the next 6 months- 1 year. You will not be judged if you seek help from your seniors or colleagues. So ask as many questions as you like but judiciously utilize the first month or two to learn the tricks of the trade. 
• The First Impression: More often than not, ‘first impression is the last the last impression.’ Your workplace attire, body language and general code of conduct are the factors that make or break your first impression. You might not realize but everything that you do is observed by your boss and team. So it would be a nice idea to keep a check on your lunch break duration, punctuality and anything that might reflect negatively on you. 
• Accept Criticism: Gracefully accepting criticism is the golden rule to being successful in your career and life. Welcome feedback and constructive criticism and use it to improve the quality of your work. Never talk back to your boss in a tone or manner than might be offensive. If you have to make a point, be polite. Also remember to be open to suggestions or new ideas and it express willingness to learn. 
• Social Networking: No, we are not about Facebook and Twitter here! Make it a point to personally connect with the workforce at your organization. Mingle with new people and understand their nature of work. Remember their names whenever you meet them the next time and show interest in what they have to tell you about their job experiences. Listen, observe and analyze whatever is happening around you and it will only be easier for you to blend in with everyone else. 
• ‘Too err is human, to forgive divine…: It is your first job and as vigilant as you might be, you are sure to make some mistake. But remember if you have made an error, don’t obsess over it. Take onus of your actions, apologize and move on to fixing it in the best way you can. Don’t be a quitter and face the challenge that lies ahead of you. You will come out of it as a better refined and polished worker. 

Article curtsy: shine.com

Get Noticed (Resume Cover Letter)

 

 

A cover letter is a letter of introduction that highlights key accomplishments in one’s career. It briefs the employer about the type of position that one is seeking and the reasons why they would be the right person for the job. Most employers seriously consider only those resumes that are accompanied by a cover letter as this adds focus to the candidate’s resume. It is a vital part of the job application process since it initially unveils you as a serious candidate just by the way it has been written.

 

Crux of the cover letter :

In the competitive job market, the Get noticed! While a great resume may not always get you hired, supplementing it with a stellar cover letter is a sure-shot way to bag that job absence of a cover letter could land you in jobless hell. Since there are multiple applicants for a single job opening, the candidate who submits his or her application with a wellwritten cover letter will be the one to get noticed immediately and is most likely to be called in for an interview. A good cover letter also explains the job candidates’ organisation and communication skills, two qualities of paramount importance in any organisation. Further, your cover letter can explain things that your resume can’t. For instance, if you have a gap in your employment history or if you happen to be changing your career focus, a cover letter can explain these things in the most positive way possible.

 

Customise it :

It is important that each cover letter must be tailored to suit different jobs and employers. Avoid sending a generic cover letter to multiple companies since HR managers can instantly spot a mass mail. An attention-grabbing cover letter always addresses the organization and its needs. Research the company before writing the letter; scan through the company’s recent news and then incorporate relevant points. It’s also important to personalize the letter as nobody likes to receive impersonal mail; some might even mark it as spam. Take some time to find out the correct addressee.

 

Keep it professional :

Write the cover letter with the employer’s needs in mind; capitalise on your qualifications without sounding boastful.

 

Get to the point:

Employers receive applications from dozens, if not hundreds of applicants, and thus, they don’t really have the time to read lengthy letters. Since the cover letter will be seen before the resume, it’s a great way to make your mark. Describe what you can do for the organisation in the clearest and most direct way possible. An ambiguous cover letter will fail to attract the attention of your prospective employer.

 

Edit with care :

Use a simple block format with left flush margins and ragged right margins. Restrict your cover letter to a single page. Lastly, go through the letter several times so as to avoid any kind of mistake, including typos, grammatical errors and wrong spellings. Just like any professional letter, the body of the cover letter also comprises three parts – the introduction, the main body and the closing. Armed with a ‘killer’ cover letter and resume, you can be sure of entering the job market place and making your mark!

Five ways to crack a phone interview

 

In a super-competitive market, the phone interview is increasingly being used by hiring managers for the first screening, and in the process, the firststage elimination as well. ET gives you the lowdown on how to ace a phone interview and swing the selection process in your favour. 

Get Serious 

Treat telephonic interviews the same way as you would a face-to-face interview. "This includes things like keeping your resume handy, making sure you get the name and designation of the interviewer right and avoiding multitasking," says Makarand Khatavkar, MD and head - HR, Deutsche Bank. He adds: "I actually advise people to dress formally for telephonic interviews - this will make a huge difference in the way you come across to interviewers." 

Tune out Distractions 

While taking the call, ensure you are in an area where you can speak without interruption. Use a landline if possible. If you're at home, turn off the TV or music system, and the call-waiting facility on your mobile. The regional operations head of a leading bank recalls he was once taking an interview where there was a constant background noise. At one point, he even heard the interviewee muffling the receiver and ordering for a coffee. "It shows a complete lack of respect," he says. 

Be Positive 

Ahello and even a broad smile when on a call often compensates for a physical handshake. "Research has shown that smiling on the phone creates a positive image. Smiling will make you sound professional and confident. Talking on the phone isn't as easy as it seems; speak slowly and enunciate clearly," says Khatavkar. 

Listen Keenly 

Ajob interview is a way to sell yourself. Listening is therefore very important. "Focus on what is being asked and respond clearly. Avoid the temptation to fill pauses, and take time to articulate your response. Remember, first impressions count on phone lines as well," says Khatavkar. 

Take Follow-Up Action 

At the end of the call, thank the interviewer for his or her time, reiterate your interest in the job and request a face-to-face interview. Get a contact number as well. Being hands-on in following up can help your chances of landing the job.

Role of Soft Skills in your Engineering Career

In India, engineering as a career has always attracted the student community in a big way. Testimony to this fact is an ever-increasing number of aspirants taking various entrance exams to qualify and enroll for their choice of engineering branch. Throughout the course, one learns and specialises in a particular branch of engineering theoretically and practically. However, just technical skills are not enough as the most common HR question is: Beyond technical skills, experience and knowledge, what added value do you bring to the organisation? Therefore soft skills are critical to make you employable.

What exactly are soft skills?

Naresh Narasimhan, country marketing manager, Tektronix, says, “In the 21st century and going forward, three things are important—ability to communicate an idea visually, ability to have a balanced point-of-view on key issues and ability to convert ideas to results.”

The concept of soft skills is not limited to just plain communication skills but it also includes aspects such as people skills.

Dr Pallab Bandyopadhyay, director-HR, Citrix India, explains: “In the broader context, soft skills would also include negotiation, decision making, reasoning and problem solving, and conflict-resolution skills required in today’s work environment.”

“While technical professionals are often selected and trained based on measurable talents and skills such as knowledge of OS or software programming skills—which are prerequisites to starting a career in engineering and technology—intangible skills such as language proficiency, ability to work with global teams and positive attitude often count in making their career a rewarding one. These intangible skills are classified as soft-skills,” adds Sudhanshu Pandit, director-HR, Symantec India.

When evaluating a candidate on soft skills, HR professionals look at not only his ability to communicate his thoughts clearly and concisely but also his personality and problem-solving skills.

Defining soft skills, John Prohod-sky, founder and principal consultant, Future Envisioned, says, “Soft skills are non-technical, interpersonal and communication skills required by an engineer to successfully solve problems and apply his technical skills.”

Throwing light on how soft skills are directly proportional to one’s personality, Rajesh Choudhary, HR head, Xilinx India, says, “Personality traits such as common sense, optimism, responsibility, integrity, attitude and behavioural competencies that include analytical thinking, result orientation and achievement, communication, teamwork, conflict management, customer orientation and attention to details come under soft skills.”

As soft skills cover all the aspects related to human behaviour, Zubin Rashid, managing partner and head of training, ZRINDIA, believes that “Just as hard skills teach us about domain-specific skills like technology, products and processes, soft skills are about interacting with people with whom you work.”

Every company looks for a different mix of skills and experience and it is not enough just to be a subject matter expert. Communication is an integral part of soft skills.

Surinder Bhagat, country HR head, Freescale Semiconductor, India, says, “Soft skills can also refer to a set of skills that determine how one interacts with others in a way that the company as such gets represented well. These skills are applicable to all internal as well as external forums where employees are making key interactions.”

Tina Vas, vice president-global HR, Collabera, says “Simply put, soft skills have more to do with who we are than what we know.”

Soft skills critically impact the way an individual translates his expertise across to his team and further to the whole organisation.

Ramana Vemuri, VP-process and operations, Cigniti Technologies, believes that soft skills enhance an individual’s interactions, job performance and career prospects. According to him, emotional intelligence is the critical element that defines the core of soft skills a person is equipped with.

Soft skills in today’s India

According to a recent report by employability assessment company Aspiring Minds, 56 per cent engineering graduates in India lack soft skills and cognitive skills. Non-technical aspects of engineering such as communications, relationships, temperament, emotional intelligence and risk management make a difference between success and failure. Understanding and adapting to the working environment is just as crucial as getting the job itself.

Prohodsky says, “Engineering is the application of hard sciences to solve real problems but what they rarely teach in colleges is that engineering, in addition to being a technical activity, is an economic activity and, most importantly, a human activity.”

According to him, the ability to understand company and work team culture is the most under-appreciated soft skill.

Bhagat says, “As companies become more global, soft skills are highly desirable and required in more positions now than ten or even five years ago. You may have an excellent knowledge base in engineering or technology, perhaps even a PhD, and maybe bilingual but if you have not developed good skills in communicating, interacting and people resource management, you have already limited your opportunities and chance of success.”

Vas adds, “Networking is also important; engineers need to keep in touch with alumni as well as industry experts via various interactive forums to understand the ground realities better.”

Why you should continuously improve your soft skills

“Soft skills are applied emotional intelligence and as such, they are very important. As engineers, we are taught to think and apply the logic of math and science. However, we are being ruled by emotions,” says Prohodsky.

Soft skills are very essential for personal and professional development of individuals. “In today’s economy, it is even more important considering a significant portion of Indian GDP comes from services sector. To support this growth in services sector, organisations require talents who possess greater soft skills along with hard skills,” notes Rajesh Choudhary.

“Technical skills may take you to the doorstep but it is your soft skills that will open up the door for you,” believes Dr Pallab.

Adding on the growing importance of soft skills in today’s world, Vemuri says, “They (soft skills) are in demand than ever. Increasing possibility of interactions with global peers, customers, virtual teams and cross-cultural discussions mandate employers to look out for fine-tuned, polished workforce.”

“Soft skills facilitate efficiency and effectiveness at work,” says Sunil Pathak, HR director, Cadence Design Systems. While flawless technical expertise is the primary necessity, soft skills are imperative to ensure high-quality contribution and delivery.

Pandit explains, “An engineer might be excellent at writing code to solve a particular problem but unless he possesses soft skills, he would neither be able to understand the problem faced by a customer nor explain how his suggested method makes the best fitted solution for the customer’s problem.”

Dr Pallab believes that soft skills are as important as technical skills due to two main factors: “One is that employees are being sent on projects to international locations, where they need to articulate their thoughts and actions to become productive. Second, with enhanced globalisation, virtual communication has taken a front seat in today’s organisations.”

An engineer is rewarded for his ability to make decisions, manage risks and creativity. Therefore soft skills are vital for an individual to get employed and grow in an organisation.

Myth Buster

Myth 1: It is the hard skills (technical skills) that get you a job, not soft skills.Truth: You need to balance both. Myth 2: Being strong in analytical aptitude, quantitative expertise and information-gathering ability is enough to fetch a job. Truth: In addition to the above, you need strategic thinking, written and oral communication skills, leadership skills, and adaptability.

A ‘soft skills’ survey

Recently, EFY conducted an opinion survey of engineering students, fresh professionals and industry analysts through various social media platforms to understand the importance of soft skills, apart from tech knowhow, for a successful career. 62.63 per cent respondents believed that soft skills were important but not the deciding factor. 25.29 per cent believed that soft skills were extremely important. Remaining 12.08 per cent believed that these were important as complementary skills. EFY Survey results on soft skills across various social media platforms

Hard skills vs soft skills— what you should focus on

Let’s take the example of software engineers. They need to be skilled in software development and testing to be able to build, test and provide support for the applications developed by them. However, to do that successfully, they need to work in a team and interact with team members to provide the best products and services. Any misunderstanding or strife between team members would result in products and services that would not be of the highest standards. Computer programming in many languages is a hard skill, whereas problem solving and communication are soft skills.

“There are key differences between hard skills and soft skills but both are important and ideally complement each other,” says Choudhary. “It’s like IQ vs EQ. Soft skills use the emotional centre (EQ), i.e., the right brain, whereas hard skills use the logical center (IQ), i.e., the left brain.”

Dr Bandyopadhyay says, “In today’s corporate world it is no more an ‘either or’ proposition. Striking the right balance between technical and behavioural skills is the key to one’s personal and career success. Weighing the importance of the two may largely depend on the role in question.”

Finding soft skills ‘hard’? Here is how to enhance them

According to Rashid, there are three ways to enhance one’s soft skills. The first step is to gain knowledge on the subject.

“Communication process and its importance, ways to improve relationships with people and qualities of a good team member or leader can be studied through various books available in the market,” suggests Rashid. Books written by seasoned professionals and businessmen are recommended.

The second step is to practice the knowledge gained in work scenarios.

“Knowledge gained but not practised would result in forgetting the learnt points. Picking up what one has learnt, and applying it and practicing it and then moving to the second point would be more effective,” feels Rashid.

It is ‘one at a time’ approach to learning new skills. The other way would be to attend learning programmes conducted by professional trainers who have been in the industry for quite some time. Training programmes have a hands-on approach, which results in faster learning and more retention.

“Mentorship programmes, group discussions, mock presentations, role play and understanding of the organisation’s work ethics are some ways to enhance soft skills,” says Bhagat.

In India, nowadays, engineering colleges have started introducing soft skills as part of their curriculum, which greatly helps students to hone their soft skills.

Must-have soft skills that employers want

Companies look out for a mix of skills depending on the nature of work they do. Here is a list of the most desirable soft skills that HR heads of various companies look for: 1. Interpersonal skills such as communication (both verbal and written, including e-mail etiquette), persuasion, presentation, and active listening and learning 2. Good attitude with respect for the job at hand 3. Desire/passion to learn, share and be trained consistently 4. Able to confront reality. If possible, be a specialist in one field and generalist in others 5. Application of knowledge and concise understanding of “how things work” 6. Problem solving/analytical thinking and decision making 7. Honesty, integrity and impeccable ethics 8. Good time management and stress management skills when the pressure to perform is quite high 9. Flexibility to work with people from diverse backgrounds (team player) 10. Positive approach and a “can do” attitude

Practice makes perfect

“Self-practice is another way to improve soft skills,” says Choudhary.

Developing proficiency in soft skills is a lifelong process. “However, soft skills enhancement can and will only take place if there is appropriate level of self-awareness,” believes Dr Bandyopadhyay. “And, of course, practice is essential to sustain and continuously improve once a skill is acquired,” he adds.

Companies today invest a lot of time and money in building up their employees’ soft skills. “A general consensus is that these skills are built up over time and not just through classroom sessions. It is imperative to implement and practice the learning on your own,” adds Pathak.

How to Make a Good First Impression at Interview

One should bear in mind always that whether we like it or not, either consciously or unconsciously, we all make quick judgements of people when we meet them for the very first time. Every human being is guilty of creating very quick first impressions. The first impression by interviewers about the candidate results in the interviewers coming to conclusions as to whether they think the candidate fits in with their company’s culture in the first few seconds itself and hence first impressions are clearly most critical for any candidate. These first impressions set up immediate feelings of warmth or antipathy in people. You can damage your interview performance within the first sixty seconds, if you unintentionally set up poor first impressions.

The saying – ‘you never get a second chance to make a first impression’ – is certainly worth remembering and acted upon.

It is important to be aware of how easily one can help generate an incorrect & mistaken image of oneself. First impressions are caused by us & the previous experiences imprinted upon the mind of others. They come from how people communicate themselves to the world.

In general, people communicate in four ways. People communicate:

• through the words chosen (Verbal)
• through the volume, pitch and speed of voices (Tone)
• non-verbally, through facial expressions, gestures and body posture (Body language)
• non-verbally through clothes and grooming (Appearance)

Quite interestingly, a wide range of researchers studying human communication have come to the conclusion that up to 90% of the impressions made on other people are made non-verbally. The non-verbal signals give clear clues, amongst many other things, as to the levels of aggression, guilt, warmth, interest, confidence and trustworthiness.

When you’re sitting down, remember that folded arms, hands in front of the face, head propped up on a hand [or any gesture or habit that covers the eyes or mouth], all give inappropriate messages. Watch your hand gestures: no pointed fingers or chopped hands. Avoid exaggerated open palm gestures which can portray insincerity. The best advice is to minimise gestures at interview. But at the same time, do ensure that you appear normal & not too stiff which would send out wrong messages that you are too tense.

Eye contact is critical. Try to maintain eye contact for about two-thirds of any interaction with someone. We all know how difficult it is to assess someone who rarely looks at us. We share the same discomfort at being eyeballed almost constantly by someone who is talking with us.

Where you are being interviewed by a panel of multiple interviewers, remember to make eye contact with everyone. Keep your body posture square to the whole panel and scan the whole panel with your eyes. The person who is saying nothing on the end might be the critical decision maker.

Practice Makes Perfect

Our body language, the way we communicate, the way we shake hands & greet people, the way we generally appear to others is the result of knowing the appropriate way of doing things and then by internalising them by practicing them to perfection. Such practice ensures that these become a part of us and we behave, communicate etc quite naturally. Hence you should start your preparations for creating that all important first impression well ahead of your interview. Last minute preparations would only make it that much more difficult for candidates.

What makes for a Negative First Impression?

Negative first impressions can be created by:

• Poor handshake (limp or crushing, the way you hold your palm etc)
• Failure to greet interviewer and introduce self
• Hesitant speech
• Arriving late or very early
• Inappropriate dress
• Dirty or unkempt clothing, hair, etc.
• Too much make-up
• Body odor, too much fragrance (male or female)
• Dirty hands or nails, chipped nail polish, brilliant nail polish
• Unshaven face or untrimmed beard
• Negative body language, e.g. crossed arms, exaggerated winkle, head down, poor posture, etc.
• Unpleasant facial expression, e.g. frown, etc.
• Lack of eye contact
• Fidgeting with hands
• Chewing gum
• Bad breath (could be due to smoking)
• Speaking very loudly, very softly or too fast
• Being overly familiar with employer, e.g. using first name
• Talking too much, rambling
• Asking about salaries, vacations and promotions too early in the interview
• Appearing too anxious or too casual

There are many things that you should be aware of for both creating a good first impression as well as to avoid creating a bad impression. Start your preparations quite early (at least a year ahead) so that by the time you are required to face the interview you are very well prepared, comfortable & confident.

Software Testing As a Career - Complete Guide

This guide will take you through the In's and outs of software testing. If you plan to make a career in software testing , this is a MUST READ!

 

what is Software Testing?

Software testing is a process of rating properties of a computer system /program to decide whether it meets the specified requirements and produces the desired results. In process, you identify bugs in software product/project.

Software Testing is indispensable to provide a quality product without any bug or issue.

 

  

Skills required to become a Software Tester

 

Following skills are indispensable to become a good software tester. Compare your skill set against the following checklist to determine whether Software Testing is a really for you-

• A good software tester should have sharp analytical skills. Analytical skills will help break up a complex software system into smaller units to gain a better understanding and created corresponding test cases. Not sure that you have good analytical skills - Refer this link -  if, if you can solve atleast ONE problem you have good analytical skills.  
  
• A good software tester must have strong technical skills . This would include high level of proficiency in tools like MS Office , OpenOffice etc , Testing tools like QTP , Loadrunner , etc.. and ofcourse deep understand of the application under test. These skills can be acquired through relevant training and practice. Also it's an added advantage that you have some programming skills but its NOT a must.  
  
• A good software tester must have a good verbal and written communication skill. Testing artifacts (like test cases/plans, test strategies, bug reports etc) created by the software tester should be easy to read and comprehend. Dealing with developers (in case of bugs or any other issue) will require a shade of discreetness and diplomacy.  
  
• Testing at times could be a demanding job especially during the release of code. A software tester must efficiently manage workload, have high productivity ,exhibit optimal time management and organization skills  
  
• To be a good software tester you must a GREAT attitude. An attitude to ‘test to break' , detail orientation , willingness to learn and suggest process improvements. In software industry, technologies evolved with an overwhelming speed and a good software tester should upgrade his/her technical skills with the changing technologies. Your attitude must reflect a certain degree of independence where you take ownership of the task allocated and complete it without much direct supervision.  
  
• To excel in any profession or job, one must have a great degree of the passion for it. A software tester must have passion for his / her field. BUT how do you determine whether you have a passion for software testing if you have never tested before? Simple TRY it out and if software testing does not excite you switch to something else that holds your interest.  
  

 

          

                        

Academic Background:

Academic background of a software tester should be in Computer Science. A BTech/ B.E. , MCA , BCA , BSc- Computers will land you a job easily.

If you do not hold any of these degrees than you must complete a software testing certification like ISTQB and CSTE which help you learn Software Development/ Test Life Cycle and other testing methodologies.

 

Remuneration

Compensation of a software tester varies from company to company. Average salary range of a software tester in US is $45,993 - $74,935. Average salary range of a software tester in India is Rs 247,315 - Rs 449,111.

Also, a software tester is also give health insurance, bonuses, gratuity and other perks.

 

Typical Workday:

On any typical work day you will be busy understanding requirement  documents , creating test cases , executing test cases , reporting and re-testing bugs , attending review meetings and other team building activities.

 

Career Progression:

Your career progression as a software tester (QA Analyst) in typical CMMI level 5 company will look like following but will vary from company to company

QA Analyst (Fresher) => Sr. QA Analyst (2-3 year experience)=> QA Team Coordinator (5-6 year experience> =>Test Manager (8-11 experience) => Senior Test Manager (14+ experience)

 

Alternate Career Tracks as a Software Tester

Once you have got yours hand dirty in manual testing , you can pursue following specializations

• Automation Testing : As an automation Test Engineer , you will be responsible for automating manual test case execution which otherwise could be time consuming. Tools used IBM Rational Robot , Silk performer and QTP  
  
• Performance Testing: As a performance test engineer , you will be responsible for checking application responsiveness (time taken to load , maximum load application can handle) etc. Tools used WEBLoad , Loadrunner.  
  
• Business Analyst: A major advantages Testers have over Developers is that they have end to end business knowledge. An obvious career progression for testers is to become a Business Analyst. As a Business Analyst you will be responsible to analyze and assess your company's business model and work flows ,and especially how they integration with technology . Based on your observation you will suggest and drive process improvements.

 

Common Myths 

"Software Testing as a Career pays Less.Developers are more respected as compared to Testers"

Contrary to popular belief , Software Testers (better known as QA professionals) are paid and treated at par with Software Developers in all "aspiring" companies. A career in Software Testing should never be considered as "second rated".

"Software Testing is Boring"

Software Testing could actually "test" your nerves since you need to make sense of Business Requirements and draft test cases based on your understanding. Software testing is not boring. What is boring is doing the same set of tasks repeatedly. The key is to try new things. For that matter , have you ever spoken  to a software developer with more than 3 years experience ?He will tell you how boring his job has become off-lately.

 

Okay I am interested ,where to  begin ?

For a complete newbie, here is our suggested approach to learn Software Testing

 

You start with learning Basic principles of software testing. Once done you apply for freelancing jobs. This will help you gain practical knowledge and will fortify the testing concepts you have learned.

Next you proceed to QTP - Automation tool , then Loadrunner - Performance Testing tool and finally Quality Center - Test Management Tool. All the while you are learning ,we suggest you apply for freelancing jobs (apart from other benefits you will make some moolah too!).

Once you are through with all the tools , you may consider taking a certification. We recommend ISTQB. But this is optional.

After this , when you apply for permanent jobs in big corporations you will have many skills to offer as well some practical freelancing experience which may be of value and will definitely increase your chances of being selected.

Learning Links :-

• Software Testing - link
• QTP - link
• Loadrunner - link
• Quality Center - link
• Freelancing Job - link
• Permanent Jobs - Any major job portal like monster.com or naukri.com

10 Things You Should Never Do While Applying for a Job

In this tough job market there are few things which is better to avoid while searching for a job because, many recruiters have become very much tougher during the hiring process. Most of the time, the hiring managers will be searching for reasons to rule out most of the applicants. So, you need to get cautious while applying for a job. Here are the top 10 things you need to avoid while applying for a job to avoid giving a chance for the recruiters to reject your application. These tips were compiled by Vivian Giang of Business Insider which was taken from the popular book of Peter S. Herzog’s "How To Prolong Your Job Search: A Humorous Guide to the Pitfalls of Resume Writing,"-

1. Introductory Paragraph should not be more than three paragraphs:

While giving your introduction on your CV, you just need you include why are you sending that CV, how did you get to know about the job opening and also include about something specific like what kind of job you are looking for right now.

Don’t discuss about the pay package you are expecting on the CV, as that could be discussed after or during the interview process.

 

2. Mention your name and contact always at the top:

You may sound this advice as simple, but Herzog says that it is a universal rule which has been twisted from the past. Many people commit this mistake. So, always mention your name in bold face or at least mention it in regular capital letters. It will be good if you include your address and the contact number for the reference, but do not make the mistake of bolding it.

 

3. Don’t think that everyone knows your company even though it’s not well-known:

If the company for which you were working earlier was not a big and a popular firm, do mention a brief note about that company above your previous designation and the job function. Don’t forget to mention about your previous company thinking that your potential recruiters would know about the company even if it’s not so popular. If you provide a brief description about yourself you can make your position more credible.

 

4. Don’t mention about your objectives when it's not needed:

It is better not to mention your objective especially if you are about to enter a totally different area of work. This is because; every area demands its own aim and objective. So, it will be good if you avoid mentioning that, when those objectives don’t match with your own objectives.

 

5. Don’t mention your educational qualifications above your work experience:

If you are having more than 5 years of experience, it is better not to mention your educational qualifications before your work experience. But if you have about five higher educational degrees, then you can mention your educational qualification above the work experience, if the work experience is just two to three years. And while mentioning your educational qualification, always make sure you mention your recently earned degree at first and then continue the rest according to the descending order.

 

6. Avoid being arrogant:

Being humble to someone can make your efforts turn positive. It can be of a good favor for you. So, avoid mentioning or saying something like, ‘after reviewing my resume the recruiter would surely want to know more about me’, as these kind of languages shows your arrogance level. So, be humble and pleasing while writing a covering letter to the hiring manager or while telling it to someone.

 

7. Don’t mention any time gaps without an explanation:

You might have taken a few years or months of break from your professional life for some reason. It can be because of some personal reasons as well. While mentioning it in the resume, give an explanation for your time gap about why you took a break from your professional life. Don’t mention about the time gap without any explanation.

 

8. Avoid mentioning skills which are not valid for your job description:

Mentioning the skills you have got is really a good thing, but mentioning when it’s not at all needed is something which you need to think upon. Instead of mentioning unnecessary skills which is not needed for that particular job, mention some of the common skills like computer skills, about your achievements and awards, licenses etc.

 

9. Limit your details on the resume for one page unless the experience is more than 5 to six years more:

Every company has a fast moving hiring processes and nobody has the time to read the entire detail of yours which you have explained in two to three pages. So, always windup the details which you need to give in one page and make sure you mention only the specific details which they need to know about you. And if you have more than five to six years of experience then you can make use of a second page, that too if you have essential details which are to be included.

 

10. Avoid Confusing your potential employers at any cost:

This can be a major mistake which you can commit knowingly or unknowingly. If you include statements like, ‘references will be provided for your comfort’ and other such confusing statements, definitely your chances of rejection will increase. So, mention whatever you need, but mention it specifically and clearly to avoid such situations.