The Evil Tester Show - Software Testing and Development with Attitude

Latest Episodes:

How to Get a Job In Software Testing Jun 26, 2020

Show notes

What can someone in Software Testing do to improve their chances of getting a job? That's what we consider in Episode 013 of The Evil Tester Show covers "How To Get a Job in Software Testing".

- Getting a Job is different from Doing the Job

- Persistence is key to getting a job

- Build an online portfolio on LinkedIn

- Apply for jobs slightly out of reach

- Amend your CV for each job that you really want

- You do not need to code to Test Software

- You might need coding skills on your CV to pass the interview filter

- Demonstrate that you can test software, even if you are looking for your first job in software testing.

Shownotes are available from https://eviltester.com/show

This is an audio/video episode and the video version is available on youtube:

https://youtu.be/QB8n5RXTV10

Direct Show Notes Link:

https://www.eviltester.com/show/013-how-to-get-a-job-in-testing/

Tips for Talking at Online Conferences Apr 22, 2020

Show notes

Ever wanted to talk at a Software Testing conference? Or even just be effective when you present over Zoom. This episode is for you.

More and more conferences are going online. Speakers will have to adapt. In this post I outline some recommendations based on years of online video, webinar and course creation.

If you only want the summary then...

- Presenting online over video is different.

- Practice will help.

- Practice with the kit you are going to use, and perform complete practice run throughs.

- Use an external microphone.

- Record your practice sessions and listen back to them to make sure your audio is good enough.

For show notes, visit https://eviltester.com/show

What Should I Be? Programmer or Tester? Mar 31, 2020

Show notes

Software Testing often doesn't get the respect it deserves so people wonder if a career in Software Testing is worth it. I do receive a lot of emails asking which way should people focus their career - Testing? Programming? Automating?

And that's what I cover in this podcast.

Points:

- we should not have to think like this

- But - we need to get a job

- Getting a job is different from "What should I be..."

A full transcript of the show has been upload for Patreon supporters. https://www.patreon.com/posts/35209341

You can support this Podcast, and receive almost daily blog posts by signing up to https://Patreon.com/EvilTester for as little as $1 a month.

Show notes are available at https://eviltester.com/show

The Automate or Die Special - do you have to automate to survive in testing? Jun 15, 2019

Show notes

Software Testing is not the same as Test Automation. But so many people seem to think so.

I receive a lot of concerned emails and messages from testers. People concerned that their testing skills will not be enough to keep them in work and that the future revolves around automation which they don't know how to do. No programming experience. And should they learn API or UI? What programming language should they learn? People do feel that their career is at risk.

And that's what I cover in this podcast to hopefully give you some tips if you do want to learn to program or code and start working on test automation, and some tips on what to do if you don't and think that software testers should not have to learn to code.

There are many paths to success in testing.

Show notes available at:

https://eviltester.com/show

The Why Special - do you ask why? How else can you ask questions that get results? Mar 22, 2019

Show notes

Software Testing can be seen as the art of asking questions to Software. So we have to learn how to ask effective and targeted questions. That's the focus of this episode.

"Why?" is an incredibly popular question. I think it has problems. I try to avoid it when I'm consulting. In this show we will examine "Why?" and under what circumstances I do use it. "Why?" is almost a default question because it can take the place of every other question. It is easy to ask. We don't even need to know what answer we want. It's also a very ambiguous question, and when we ask why there is a risk that people try to read into our motivation, and that people might take offence. Show notes will be available at https://eviltester.com/show

What is Software Testing? A look at definitions, my definitions, models and why you should create your own. Mar 01, 2019

Show notes

What is Software Testing? A Hard Question. But many people want easy answers. In this episode we look at: - popular definitions for interview answers - how definitions can help - definitions are models - your definition will change, and should change over time - my working definition, how it changes and how it helps me Show notes:
https://eviltester.com/show/008-what-is-testing/

The Finding Tools Special - tactics and strategies for choosing testing tools Feb 20, 2019

Show notes

When I'm Software Testing I use tools. We all do, even if it is just a keyboard and mouse. But we need specialised Software Testing tools to help us interact with systems fully. In this episode we look at how to choose the best test tool for the job.

Have you ever built a tool list?

Yes? Me too. I don't any more. And in this show I explain why, and what I do instead.

Show notes are over on:

http://eviltester.com/show/007-finding-tools-2019/

---

You can support me on Patreon https://patreon.com/eviltester (and receive extra content)

Hire me for consultancy and buy my online books and training at:

- https://compendiumdev.co.uk

- https://eviltester.com

The Workarounds Special - how to bend the rules rather than break them Sep 07, 2018

Show notes

Software Testing is the art of not folowing the rules. No-one else treats the software the way we do. This has a knock on effect on manyt workplace processes.

Have you ever used a workaround to get something done? You betcha. In this show I describe some examples and how important they have been in my testing and my career. And some of the risks you face when you use them. Show notes are over on: http://eviltester.com/show/006-workarounds-2018/ --- You can support me on Patreon https://patreon.com/eviltester (and receive extra content) Hire me for consultancy and buy my online books and training at: - https://compendiumdev.co.uk - http://eviltester.com - http://seleniumsimplified.com - http://javafortesters.com

The Rejection Special - strategies and tactics for when you get pushback May 01, 2018

Show notes

Software Testing isn't easy. We say hard things. And we get push back. In this podcast we talk about Rejection.

You will receive rejection in many parts of your life. Happens to everyone. Everyone. The important thing is how you react to it. It is possible to allow a rejection to knock you flat and suck the motivation out of you so you give up. You have to understand that that reaction is a choice. And giving up, is probably the wrong choice.

In this podcast we will cover other choices you can make and strategies you can adopt to deal with and handle rejection.

* How to develop resilience

* How to handle rejection

* Sales is “get the right offer, in front of the right person, at the right time”.

* Rejection is built in to the sales process.

* Nature abhors a vacuum how to avoid doubts filling a confidence vacuum

---

You can support me on Patreon https://patreon.com/eviltester (and receive extra content)

New Year Special 2018 - setting goals and following through rather than resolutions Jan 04, 2018

Show notes

Software Testing skills have a wider reach than we think. In this episode we look at how to use your Testing Skills to define goals and plans - The Evil Tester Show - New Year Special 2018

In this show you will learn:

- What is a resolution?

- why do you want it?

- how your beliefs help you

- how your testing skills help you define goals and create action plans

- Big goals or small goals?

- how to explore progress on goals as value add chunks

- Prioritise and learn to say NO

- Books for Questioning - The Structure of Magic - vols 1 and 2

- see also "NLP for Testers" https://www.compendiumdev.co.uk/page/nlp

Show Notes at EvilTester.com.show