🌱 Things I Would Do Differently at the Beginning of My QA Career
When I look back at my early days in Quality Assurance, I realize how much I’ve learned — not just about testing techniques, but about mindset, communication, and understanding the big picture.
If I could go back in time and mentor my younger self, here are the things I’d do differently at the very start of my QA journey.
1️⃣ Learn to Code Earlier
At first, I thought testing meant only manual testing. But knowing even basic scripting in Python or JavaScript would have opened doors to automation, better debugging, and smoother communication with developers.
2️⃣ Focus on Business Impact, Not Just Bugs
In the beginning, I was obsessed with finding as many bugs as possible. Over time, I learned that impactful QA is about helping teams deliver customer value safely and quickly — which sometimes means prioritizing the most critical tests, not every possible scenario.
3️⃣ Explore More Tools Early
I used to rely only on the tools assigned by my team. Looking back, exploring tools like Postman for API testing, Jenkins for CI/CD, and various test management platforms would have helped me become a stronger and more versatile tester.
4️⃣ Ask “Why,” Not Just “How”
It took me years to realize the importance of understanding product vision and user goals. Asking “Why are we building this feature?” leads to better risk analysis and smarter test planning.
5️⃣ Document with Purpose
In the early days, I saw documentation as a checkbox task. Now I know well-structured test plans, defect analyses, and release notes build trust with stakeholders and make the QA role visible and respected.
6️⃣ Network with the QA Community
Connecting with other QA professionals, joining forums, and attending meetups could have accelerated my growth, exposed me to new ideas, and helped me feel less isolated.
7️⃣ Invest in Soft Skills
Being technically strong isn’t enough. Communication, storytelling, and negotiation skills are essential in explaining quality risks and aligning teams.
8️⃣ Speak Up and Embrace Failure
I wish I had challenged requirements sooner, asked more questions, and shared my perspective — even if it risked being wrong. Some of my biggest learnings came from mistakes and discussions.
9️⃣ Build a Personal Brand
Starting a blog, sharing lessons on LinkedIn, or speaking at a meetup can feel intimidating. But it helps reinforce your own learning and connects you with peers and mentors.
🔟 Learn Automation Strategically
Early on, I chased automation for everything. Over time, I learned to identify where automation really adds value — such as regression and performance testing — and when exploratory/manual testing remains critical.
✨ Final Thoughts
Your QA career isn’t just about tools and test cases — it’s about understanding people, business goals, and how software fits into users’ lives.
If you’re starting out, I hope these lessons help you shape a more intentional, impactful path from the very beginning.
Test Smart with Condi 