What is a tester’s mindset?
Monday during the webinar, Angie mentioned that a “test automation engineer is a hybrid role comprised of a developer’s skillset and a tester’s mindset”.
I decided to take a moment and write down some of the characteristics I see in people that have a tester’s mindset. They…
Are creative
Want to know the rules
Try to understand when the rules do and do not apply and to whom
Must suspend the rules when appropriate
Are willing to think differently
Are exceptional communicators
Want to help
Bring people together
Love exposing problems
See differences
See similarities
Are detail-oriented
Question everything internally and question loudly when appropriate
Have a constitution
Are brave
Give bad news when no one else is willing
Keep trying and do not give up
Understand their limits
Ask for help
Know testing never starts and never stops
Learn constantly
Recognize assumptions and challenge them when appropriate or necessary
Are thorough
See gaps between facts…
…between people
…between evidence
…in arguments
…between requirements
Care
Work to be objective
Allow themselves to be subjective
Know the difference between the objective and subjective
Question
Define
Redefine
Iterate
Reiterate
Describe
Are tenacious
Work hard
Are confident in the face of ________
Are adamant
Make strong arguments
Love evidence
Use tools
Think
Envision
Dream
Ask
Listen
Collaborate
Let me know in the comments what I missed.
[…] The Tester’s Mindset is a thought-provoking post that lists characteristics which the author see in the people who have the tester’s mindset. In other words, if you are wondering what it means to be a tester, you should take a look at this blog post. […]
What I missed on that list is
a.) Explore and
b.) embrace the unknown
I love these! I think it’s difficult for almost anyone to “embrace the unknown”. Do you see testers having that ability innately? or good testers tending to have that more often? Or is it more of a “stretch goal” for most folks? Great stuff Michael!