I have been thinking about the best way to table this issue without appearing needy or hopeless but the urge to create this thread keeps increasing.
Posting this isn’t just about me but it’s a question that almost all testers that are abroad or with limited opportunities or intent to work in a global environment also have on their lips but for some reasons can’t really express due to obvious reasons.
So here it is-
I see posts about people wanting to try a new job or relocate based on their professional experience in testing but the jobs that are posted mostly are particular about the location of where they want their prospective employees to be despite been fully remote.
For the sake of those that are coming behind, for those that are here that does not know how to ask, I’m asking now for clarification, a guide from those of you that knows better probably because you were in my shoes, you are in a higher capacity to help, you are a part of the recruitment process in your organization, you are a quality assurance consultant or a business owner, your input on the above subject matter is needed and will be well appreciated.
What is the path to follow to gain employment as a software tester?
Thanks all in advance for your input
Ps: Let me know if you need more clarification.
Thank you for posting this, @bade_ebony. It was lovely to chat on a call with you earlier this week about this important topic. I’m hoping you find answers and connections in the replies. This community is awesome so I have a good feeling that people will want to help you.
I reflect on our call and it’s clear your passion and desire to make a successful career in testing is high. Let’s all help you out and others too (who read this post who are in a similar situation).
If not on your radar, perhaps it’s worth having a look at this site: Remote Companies and then Remote Jobs in Programming, Support, Design and more. Maybe a cold email would work for some if they are not explicit about hiring for a software testing junior role. And also see if anyone in your LinkedIn network (or mine) works for any of those companies to then ask for an introduction.
The thing is - if they want a long-term role, it’s because, like many projects, the time it takes to get someone on board (until they are making more money to the company than they take in salary) is rather long.
And when you need to invest 6 months to train someone, especially junior, up to the job, then you want that person to sit next to you and be subject to constant pestering by the training team/person
There are also administrative problems with hiring someone full time in a country the company does not operate in. I am not a payroll specialist but they pretty much have to open a company locally in your country to hire you.
Technically, they don’t have to. But practically, I think it’s more messy to hire freelancers abroad… AND they are supposed to be on a 6-month training period with close supervision…
What I am trying to say is that you may not be able to find what you want.
You may have to join up a local company and build your reputation and then freelance as someone who hits the ground running and they know it’s worth the extra fuss and risk to hire you.
To be honest, personally I don’t know why managers are like this. Especially with covid now, we get this situation where your new colleague will work remotely for months until you actually see them.
But I guess it’s not so easy from a management point of view.
I am not native to the country where I work now. I immigrated twice in my life so far for career reasons and probably not my last time.
Technology enables us to work from anywhere but I guess people (if managers can be called people ) just want to work with people locally and that’s going to stay that way for a while…
Surely, you shouldn’t wait for people’s attitude to remote workers to change. You need to put your foot through the door. Accept a job you don’t like in a local company but maybe they have a remote office or even remote HQ that you can relocate to, when they see you are a successful employee who is ready for a step up.
I see @deament is soon to publish a book and it’s available for pre-sale. Good stuff!
A guide to finding your first role as a Software Tester, up-skilling so you are relevant in the job market and succeeding as a Software Tester once you have landed a role.
Starting work after a long break is not very easy. But I did get to showcase something the first time and picking up the pace now.
As a fresher, this would be really helpful too.
I started as a being a part of online testing communities. Utest.com, Testbirds.com, 99tests.com are a few.
These are free to join and could add to basic understanding of the testing.
You need to update your details first which is more about the devices you have access to and their models and based on that, you will be invited for testing needs. Most of the needs are for the real companies. You can choose to decide if you are able to or if you want to participate.
You do get paid for some tests.
Can’t give any suggestions to you, as I am in the same boat . Please ,don’t mind ,If I hijack any advices given. for me work experience of only 2 yrs and with long career break, it seems like a disaster cv, highly impossible for even getting shortlisted.
I’ve got a chapter dedicated to different paths I’ve seen testers take to starting their careers and also interviewed some testers on how they started their career
Thank you @simon_tomes, for your contributions and mentoring. Its indeed a privilege and am not taking this for granted.
Thank you @lutuvarka for your contribution on. I really appreciate you sharing your ideas with me. As it is, I am not idle, I am with a local company in my country working remotely and also improving on my lapses as a tester. In fact, I am catching up already on some automation skills already such as katalon, cypress, selenium, postman, newman, jmeter already but still a bit fuzzy around frameworks. I’ll be applying for more freelance jobs to broaden my horizon as suggested. As it is, I’ve created an account on Utest and trying to build a profile for Upwork.
I would as well love to relocate if I get a genuine job offer.
Thank you for your contribution @canislupus, In addition to Utest, I’ve signed up on testbird and learning Java and JavaScript basics.
@mumseye, this is a public forum, feel free to pick up any information you find vital for your growth. That’s the reason for the club existence.
Lastly, all advise rendered will be worked on and I will definitely keep everyone posted on my journey. Many thanks to all that have contributed and those that are yet to. Thumbs up to you all.
Confusing to me why nobody talks about starting from the bottom up. I’m not someone who went to university as a way of being able to “drop” into a job, so my view of how things work is obviously very different. Maybe I am just old fashioned, but I don’t care if people view me that way, it’s my experience and it does work.
Basically my advice for someone without “connections” and without relevant qualifications… because even doing a short 4 month intensive course for example or a online free course is a very real expense at the end of the day, and not really a route that works for everyone. Is, to get work as a support tech. It’s one of many ways to get a foot in the door. It’s not for everyone because you do have to learn other non-tester skills to be a good support tech. Support tech work comes with it’s own mental health issues as a career path, maybe that’s a door we can open too. But if you focus, it might be a way to get in on the ground floor so to speak. A lot of the support tech’s I have worked with in all my years in the SW game did learn how to code “on the job” for example.
Thank you for your input @conrad.braam, I really appreciate your contribution on this subject.
Firstly, I am not starting from the top or plan on doing so. I know there are jobs out there. I know there’s a place for talent but most jobs are based on referrals I don’t mind starting from the lowest position provided that I am learning, growing on the job and adding value.
If only we can connect personally outside of here and see how far I’ve learnt and able to apply within my limited time in on this career path, maybe then you’ll understand how high my drive is for a quality assurance in a global setting.
) just want to work with people locally and that’s going to stay that way for a while…
. Please ,don’t mind ,If I hijack any advices given. 
for me work experience of only 2 yrs and with long career break, it seems like a disaster cv, highly impossible for even getting shortlisted.