I often get questions about how to transition from a manual tester to one who can also work with test automation. This is asked by both individuals and test team leaders who would like to see their team become more capable of test automation.
First, the answer depends much on existing capabilities, tools, and experience. Some people are better positioned than others, but I have seen people with little experience in testing become quite adept at test automation.
Also, the journey is usually not quick or easy, as it takes time, practice, training, and sometimes money to make the transition.
With that said, here are my tips for becoming an automated tester or test team.
Tip 1—Start with an easy tool such as Selenium IDE, Playwright, or Postman. Selenium IDE and Playwright are Open-Source with record/playback capabilities, and Postman is free for limited usage. You may outgrow Selenium IDE, but at least you will have experience automating something.
Tip 2—Learn the concepts of test automation to avoid developing bad habits early on. The conceptual view will help you understand why certain good practices are helpful. Concepts also help set reasonable expectations for test automation success and risks. I have a training course for this, “Practical Software Test Automation,” and AT*SQA also has a micro-credential module on test automation.
Tip 3—Find a mentor with test automation skills and experience. Test automation is often a problem-solving activity, so having someone to ask questions of is helpful.
Tip 4 – Build a portfolio of work that demonstrates your abilities with real-life applications. Keep growing that portfolio. It can also be helpful if you have worked with multiple tools, as it shows your capacity to learn and grow.
The list could go on, but these tips will help get you started. The more you learn, the more you will find new goals in test automation. Test automation is a journey, so be prepared to be stretched. However, the effort is worth the new skills you can add to your resume.
