Before you can head out on the search for testing QA jobs, you must prepare yourself for what lies ahead. Do you find yourself interested in products and checking them for defects? Can you see yourself working for a company in close communication with the head management team? Some people have a passion for pleasing others. Testing QA work requires a passion for providing consumers with a quality product.
You should also have a very sincere need to perform well on the job. Quality assurance work is not a poor-paying career. Most individuals are paid at least 40K per year. The majority of QA jobs are full-time and provide benefits, which is a huge bonus. Every major manufacturer and distributor needs a team of quality assurance professionals. There are managers who work in quality assurance as well as regular team members. Duties are basically the same regardless of job title, although managers and coordinators have a bit more to do.
Preparing yourself for QA work also requires that you ask yourself if you are comfortable working around a relatively large group of people. You must be familiar with company standards and also comfortable working after regular work hours. There are a number of things that can go wrong with a product. Testing QA jobs often requires that you check out the product, test it for defects, and if there is a defect, you must report it, and then retest it once more after it has been fixed. During this entire process, you must take notes and keep a record of everything that was accomplished.
Someone applying for testing QA work must be well-trained. As with any other job, if you do not perform your job right, you will most likely be given a warning, put on probation, or fired. An individual who is employed in quality assurance work should have a very good eye for detail. More than anything else, you should be interested in what you do. This is not a job that you can do mindlessly. Attending staff meetings, continuously reporting new information to your supervisor, communicating with other employees, and testing products for defects requires that you be at your best at all times.
Resolving supplier performance issues is another big part of testing QA work. There is a set of procedures and steps that you must follow with each product you test. For new products, you will be required to create a new set of steps and procedures. Lots of concentration is needed to test the overall quality of a product. If you're not the quality manager, chances are that you'll play a huge part in assisting them. You may be provided with papers that consist of valuable information on a product. When provided with new information, it is crucial that you follow instructions to prevent on-the-job product complications.
Providing reports, data, and constant updates is an everyday occurrence. The entire product relies on the team member who is testing it. The majority of work places have at least a small team of testers. Manufacturing facilities are especially well-known for having a team of QA workers. Although the job may seem easy, it involves a lot of detail. The last thing you want to do is pass a bad product down the manufacturing line. One bad product can hold up the entire team. Most of the time, all individuals working in testing QA jobs will be called to the manager's office to identify who passed down the bad product. This could potentially result in some serious consequences or the loss of the employee's job.
Tips
Inevitably, you will find a job in quality assurance if it is what you really desire. You must remain positive and have confidence in your skills. If you have no prior experience, do not be discouraged. Everyone has to start somewhere and sometimes starting at the very bottom isn't as bad as it seems. In some cases, starting at the bottom is a good way to make it to the top without obtaining a formal education. It also gives you more on-the-job experience which is ultimately what employer's look for. To find testing QA work, check out your local city's manufacturing facilities. Temporary agencies are also well-known for providing testing QA jobs. Another resource is the internet. Check out QAQCCrossing.com for jobs specifically relating to quality assurance work.
