Software Tester - who is it, where to start, pros and cons of the profession.

Working as a software tester is quite interesting and varied. In this profession, one can grow and develop. Therefore, it is worth considering, especially in 2025, where to start as a software tester and in general who a software tester is. This is a very promising profession that will not lose its relevance in the coming years.

When discussing what a software tester is, it is important to understand who can master such a profession and how much Time it will take. It is also essential to consider the pros and cons of being a software tester: that is, to immediately account for all the advantages and certain disadvantages.

Who is a software tester?

You should start with what a software tester does: that is, what this professional can do. In today's world of information technology, a software tester (QA engineer, from the English Quality Assurance) is one of the most in-demand professions. The development of the IT sector in Ukraine is ongoing, and the demand for qualified specialists is increasing every year.

Given this, many people are interested in entering the testing field, as this profession offers a flexible schedule, relatively quick entry into the specialty, and competitive salaries.

However, in theory, a software tester (or QA engineer) is a specialist who checks the quality of software products. Their main task is to find errors (bugs) in a program or website before they reach the end user. A tester must have a deep understanding of how programs work, know various testing methods, and be able to analyze the results obtained. This work requires a lot of learning and constant additional training.

The profession of software tester (QA Engineer) emerged with the development of the IT industry, when companies realized the importance of quality control of software. Initially, developers were responsible for testing, but as the complexity of programs grew, a separate role of the tester was established. Over time, automated testing tools appeared, making the profession even more in demand.

For Ukrainians, testing opens up prospects for remote work, collaboration with international companies, and stable income in the IT sector. In 2025, the demand for specialists is growing due to the development of technologies, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. QA engineers can work in startups, outsourcing companies, or transition to automation and DevOps, providing opportunities for career growth and financial independence.

Testing is the process of checking software to find errors and assess its compliance with requirements. There are several main types of testing:

• Functional testing – aimed at verifying whether the program meets the specified requirements. It allows determining whether all functions provided by the developers work correctly.
• Non-functional testing – evaluates characteristics of software, such as performance, security, scalability, and usability.
• Automated testing – conducted with the help of special programs that allow fast verification of large amounts of data and repetitive processes.
• Manual testing – implies that the tester independently checks the program's operation by analyzing its functionality without using scripts or automated tools.

Combining these methods helps to create quality software. Overall, this profession continues to develop and does not stand still.

What does a tester do and what are their responsibilities?

A software tester (QA engineer) is a specialist responsible for monitoring the quality of software products. Their main task is to identify errors, ensure that the software meets requirements, and improve the overall stability of the system.

The responsibilities of a tester may vary depending on the company, type of project, and stage of product development, but the main tasks include:

• Requirement analysis. Before testing begins, the QA specialist studies the technical requirements for the software to understand how the product should work.
• Development of test cases. These are testing scenarios that help verify various aspects of the program's operation, its functionality, stability, and security.
• Executing tests. Includes functional, non-functional, regression, load, and automated testing.
• Bug documentation. If a bug is found, it must be documented in special systems (for example, Jira, Trello, Bugzilla).
• Communication with the team. The tester works closely with developers, managers, and designers to ensure that identified bugs are quickly fixed.
• Regression testing. After corrections are made, it needs to be verified whether the changes have caused new errors.
• Report creation. The QA specialist documents the testing results so that the team understands the overall state of the product.

In addition to the main tasks, experienced testers can be involved in improving testing processes, automating routine checks, setting up testing environments, and risk analysis. Testing is an essential part of development that helps create quality and stable software.

Where to study and where to start?

The next step is to find out how to learn at least the basics of this profession. Entry into the testing field does not require deep programming knowledge, which makes this profession accessible to newcomers. However, to become a good tester, one needs to learn the basics and gain practical experience.

Of course, a higher education can be a straightforward path. However, there are also options for training courses.

In Ukraine, there are many options for studying software testing:

• Online courses. Prometheus – free and paid courses on testing. Coursera and Udemy – courses from global experts. ITVDN, SkillUp, GoIT – specialized Ukrainian courses for QA.
• Universities. Some technical universities (KPI, LNU, KhPI) include testing courses in their curricula.
• Self-education. This is the cheapest but most challenging option. You can study this profession through books and free resources.

However, practical experience comes first. To gain the first experience, it is advisable to:

• Register on testing platforms (for example, uTest).
• Practice writing test cases.
• Learn SQL, the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for a better understanding of web applications.

All this training allows building a foundation for good earnings.

How much can one earn?

The salary of a tester depends on the level of experience, skills, type of company, and location.