How Can I Became a Quality Assurance Engineer on the Go

Every year, the mobile industry expands. Users are expected to spend $133 billion on mobile games and applications, according to study. Compared to the prior year, this represents an increase of over 20%. Social, service, messaging, and gaming applications dominate the App Store and Google Play ranks. 143.6 billion downloads were made throughout the course of the preceding year.

This indicates that we are more inclined to download programs and spend more money on them, even if the mobile sector has somewhat slowed down owing to a shortage of components.

The creation of new applications is a direct result of this. There is a rising need for IT workers, notably mobile QA engineers, as a result of investors realizing the potential of the mobile sector and being more eager to put money into it.

Sports app developers design platforms that bring real-time game updates, athlete tracking, and fan engagement to life, combining technology with the thrill of sports.

The market for mobile apps is booming, but where are the mobile quality assurance engineers?

Even if there are indications that the mobile business is becoming more and more popular, it is still challenging to locate a tester with expertise in this field. It’s easy to pinpoint the cause of this. Many testers, both novice and expert, are being misled by a number of misconceptions that are spread by different courses and publications these days (you can read more about them here, “Facts and Myths About the Quality Assurance Industry”).

Therefore, please read this post before deciding to spend a lot of money on other courses. It will undoubtedly assist you in organizing your growth and starting the process of becoming a mobile QA engineer.

What is the work of a Mobile QA Engineer?

You will work on mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches, in addition to making sure that the products are of high quality and working on procedures and documentation.

It is essential that you be familiar with them; you must be able to operate a particular equipment, often in a manner that is unfamiliar to you. What is at stake, exactly? For instance, it contains the developer settings for the device, which often simplify our job.

They let us use Xcode or Android Studio to install and debug applications, monitor motions, set internet speed limits, and a ton of additional parameters to make testing easier. Knowing how to use these settings on your smartphone is already a huge advantage in a job interview.

There will be quite a few gadgets on your desk, each running a separate system.
Android and iOS are the two primary operating systems for mobile devices, as you have undoubtedly heard. Furthermore, there are several variations of these systems. You must understand that you must test your application on both platforms and on several versions of both systems in order to cover as many test cases as feasible. A minor iOS or Android update may sometimes cause the app to malfunction, in which case your team will need to address the issues.

Because not everyone in the device market has the newest smartphone, it is uncommon for an app to be created for only one version of a system. In addition to ensuring that the program functions correctly on Android versions 9, 10, and 11, your team must also ensure that it is prepared for version 12.

You and the client agree on these crucial elements, and as a tester, you are among those who ensure that users of system version 9 may use the program in the same manner as users of system version 11.

It takes more than simply sitting in front of a computer to test mobile applications.

It’s likely that the term “mobile app” will become literal, requiring users to confirm that the program’s navigation functions correctly before getting in their vehicle, bike, or bus. Unless there is severe weather or heavy traffic, it’s a pleasant diversion from sitting at your work.

One of the most important tests we do while evaluating a mobile product is non-functional testing.

It’s essential to test how an application will respond in the event of an incoming call, internet outage, unintentional screen locking, app minimization, or memory use. It’s always a good idea to make sure the app doesn’t crash when someone contacts us since some of these occurrences (of course, this is not a comprehensive list) are beyond our control as users.

You may stay ahead of your application by staying current with technical advancements pertaining to new system and device versions. This provides you with a valuable information base and industry insights.

Advantages of rapid application development include faster delivery, improved flexibility for changes, and enhanced collaboration, making it ideal for evolving business needs.

Assembling the client’s device listings.

This is another of your next assignments. This is where everything I stated previously will come in extremely handy. Naturally, no one will ask you what gadgets are used in Finland, Canada, or Japan, but it’s still vital to know how to examine and apply the information you find.

Sales estimates for the next months, system version rankings, and gadget sales rankings for a certain area are all extremely helpful in this regard. You are aware that, because of the restriction, it is pointless to inspect Huawei smartphones for the U.S. market; nonetheless, devices with the bitten apple emblem need to be examined. This will enable you to compile a precise list of gadgets that will fit into a certain market.

This data also highlights the primary distinctions between, say, the widely used online product testing and mobile product testing. This is something that should be remembered since it will undoubtedly be useful in the future.

Tools you should be familiar with

Jira is the foundation of your job as a project manager. Every day, you will communicate with it, reporting any bugs, enhancements, acceptance standards, work descriptions, and more. Jira or a similar tool is required for all of this.
Charles and Proxyman are excellent tools for monitoring application network traffic. They enable us to verify that the frontend and backend are communicating correctly. Additionally, it enables you to alter questions and answers to get the desired outcome.

Postman is mostly used for backend testing. A comprehensive tool that requires knowledge of an application’s backend. Learning the fundamentals of Postman is worthwhile; it will help you in interviews, particularly for entry-level roles.

One useful tool for debugging Android devices is Android Debug Bridge (adb). It lets you easily install apps “over the wire” and use certain instructions to verify the device ID, among other things. There aren’t many of these instructions, therefore it’s important understanding them.

A mobile application design agency craftsmanship intuitive and engaging user experiences, ensuring apps are visually appealing and functionally efficient for diverse audiences.

The most widely used environments for creating mobile apps for both platforms are Android Studio and Xcode. Understanding their fundamentals is worthwhile.

The version control system is called GIT. You should be aware of the fundamentals.

Informally, we may refer to Github as the home of our application. All of the code is stored there, and GIT (version control system) facilitates the transfer of code from the environment to Github. It is good to familiarize yourself with the basics.
Are you still interested in becoming a mobile quality assurance engineer? Here are some pointers to assist you reach that objective.
Get acquainted with the equipment from the last chapter.

Find out how to use your device’s developer mode. Starting on an Android smartphone is simple, and there are a ton of online tutorials available. However, Xcode is required in order to run development mode on iOS devices. Unfortunately, only computers with a bitten apple symbol may be used to install this environment. Just keep this information in mind if you don’t have this choice.
Discover the fundamentals of ISTQB, including test types, test strategies, and fundamental ideas. Understanding all of this will make your future job simpler, so think about how you can utilize it in practice. A mobile application testing-specific ISTQB has been produced, and it contains a wealth of fascinating material. I advise making the most of this chance and studying a mobile-friendly material.

Make an effort to be informed on the most recent developments in mobile technology. Find out about new system versions and the changes that come with them.

Refresh your knowledge of English. It’s quite likely that your first employment will need you to communicate with customers, produce paperwork, and use tools in English.

Get to work writing test documentation. You will get an interview if you create test cases and submit fictitious bugs.
Discover the definitions of backend, requests, and replies as well as the fundamentals of response codes.
Using the information that is accessible from a certain part of the globe, try to compile a list of devices.

Think about the distinctions between testing web apps and testing mobile apps.
Try to get over your discomfort level while speaking on different kinds of video calls. Unfortunately, full teams now often operate remotely, holding daily meetings virtually.

Turn each of the ten criteria into a project after you’ve mastered them.
Install an app that isn’t widely used on your smartphone. Select one with a limited number of screens and functions; initially, stay away from the most complex and well-liked ones.
To learn about the application, begin with exploratory testing.

Start writing documentation in English and report any mistakes you find (if there aren’t any, simply make them up or get a different software).
Reporting an issue to the developer increases the likelihood that it will be addressed and that you will be able to conduct retests. Don’t forget to fill your report with as much information as you can.

Arrange regression, non-functional, and functional tests.
Keep a record of everything; you can use simple programs like Word or Excel, but you may also search for more sophisticated ones, which are often not free.

During the interview, present this project. You will significantly contribute to achieving a favorable outcome by doing this.

In summary, adhere to the ten measures I outlined above before shelling out a lot of cash for various course types. Jot down the most crucial details for your resume and give it a go yourself. I firmly believe that many employers will value a well-prepared project above the few credentials that the majority of applicants possess.

The purpose of this post is to assist those who want to begin their career as a junior mobile QA engineer. At Linkitsoft, It serves as a kind of introduction to the field of mobile application testing.