Being a tester V/s Working as a tester

Hi Reader,

I think I spent enough time, to give you something that can really make you think a lot on who you are.

Well, I joined a couple of software testing and testing related communities in orkut with an attempt to discuss on topics of testing and learn something from more wise minds.

All communities I joined are flocked with Indian testers and I am now wondering whether I should thank myself for having a learning there?

I learnt that there are two types of testers in India:

a) One who is a tester.
b) One who works as a tester.

Now, I do not want you to believe me. If you believe me before you read further, I would have to assume you belong to category (b). However...

_ Being a tester v/s Working as a tester_

It is very interesting to share my research on Indian testers in this post. I am not sure how testers are in the western or eastern world since I have never traveled outside, so let me not talk about them without seeing them.

Now, you might have a question to me...
"Who is better, the one who is a tester or the one who is working as a tester?"

I do not want to bias you but judge it yourself based on the following.

Features of people "working as a tester" -

• One who works as a tester, would have started to learn testing for the purpose of job and is eager to collect material, interview questions and answers.
• One who works as a tester, is eager to get a certification for augmenting themselves in their career.
• One who works as a tester, is a toolsmith. They believe if you do not know any tools that are available in the market and the ones mentioned in job openings, you are not a tester.
• One who works as a tester, seldom thinks of jumping into development, assuming that is a better job.
• One who works as a tester, stops learning and starts confusing others by replying to queries in many discussions/communities/forums, both online and offline.
• One who works as a tester, value money more than testing and they feel they are better testers if they are paid more.
• One who works as a tester, post queries in all forums with improper subject line and without using simple search.
• One who works as a tester, keeps asking others opinion about the job and the tool they are using.
• One who works as a tester, wants to be spoon fed and is not willing to spend time and energy in researching or finding the data by themselves.
• One who works as a tester, is the one who expects others to reply to their basic queries.
• One who works as a tester, is the one who is irritated with testers who are being testers.
• One who works as a tester, gets to management job as soon as possible, paving way for more people to work as a tester.
• One who works as a tester, never tolerates ones who are being testers.
• One who works as a tester, are more attracted to testing jokes than testing concepts.
• One who works as a tester, never accepts others view of testing, be it from a person who is also working as a tester.
• One who works as a tester, never know who coined the terminologies they have been mis using and never want to learn about their work too.
• One who works as a tester, ... "Oh my God! this list is getting too big".
• One who works as a tester, is a person who will never accept this post of mine.

"That's a sweet way to end it Pradeep" , I said to myself.

On a contradiction, I am happy that there are people who are being testers in India -

• These people learn and experiment the concepts so well that, you ask them to write test cases for a software or a tubelight or anything, they will be able to do it without others help. Atleast they will make an effort.
• These people value money and testing equally. ( I would never say they value testing more than money, I want to be realistic and no hype)
• These people do enough search/research on their doubt before they post it on to a group. Such a tester is visible by the way he asks doubt - For example he/she asks - Subject - Query on XYZ concept - Body - Hi Testers, I was wondering about this concept after looking at ..... link .... I did some basic analysis but I seem to be not convinced, could anyone who has a belief that you can explain for me to understand can offer an explanation and I thank each of you for that.
• These people get irritated when they are with people who work as a tester.
• These people never stop learning, even if they become a Director or have their own start up.
• These people are not as fortunate as the most of so called testers, who work as a testers.
• These people remain... these people.

Its Judgment Day !

I still do respect those people who are working as a tester and trying to become a tester !

_ End of _ Being a tester v/s Working as a tester _

"I now have no doubts why the term "monkey, testing" came into the domain"

Thanks and Regards,

Pradeep Soundararajan

pradeep.srajan@gmail.com

Note: Sorry for being so frank and bold.