Hello, I’m Harry! This is the second part of my blog on my experiences and lessons I have learnt on how to feel more settled when working on a new project. In the previous blog, I covered the steps I take to ensure that I’m on a good footing when I start on any new project. In this blog, I will be going over some things that I have done not only at the start of my time with the client but later as well. It’s my hope that with these two blogs I’ll share with you how I grew more confident and lessons that applied to create better tests more efficiently!

Introduction: Harry Williams 

Hi! I’m Harry, I’m a first-class degree graduate in computer science and have been working as a junior SDET consultant at nFocus for just over 2 years! Throughout those years, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time from the SDET Academy to working with various clients in different sectors of industry. I’ve truly been able to build and improve on the skills that I learnt during university, as well as learn how IT works in the real business world. Software Development Engineer in Test Remote

Introduction: Peter Deng - SDET Consultant 

My colleague Peter, a CompSci graduate recruited through the successful SDET Academy scheme, and I, a long-serving test consultant, wanted to compare and share our experiences with building client relationships. As test consultants, we work closely with clients across many different sectors for weeks, months, or years, adapting to new systems and delivering quality assurance services. We have both learned that delays in connecting with clients can be as impactful to a project's delivery as scope and code changes. 

From Down Under to New Heights: Stu Hadley’s Duathlon Adventure

Welcome to Part Two of our Q&A interview duel. Our Test Manager, Stu Hadley, shares his feelings about competing at such a high level, the invaluable support he received from his coach and team, and the unforgettable experiences he had while travelling to Australia. He also gives special shout-outs to those who helped him along the way and offers insights into his future goals and upcoming races.

Creating Effective and Maintainable Test Scripts

In my career as a tester to test manager, mastering the art of writing maintainable test scripts has been crucial for ensuring long-term project success. When developing a test plan, it’s essential to consider various types of tests, including functional testing, integration testing, and performance testing, to ensure comprehensive test coverage.

Part One - From Start to Finish: Stu’s World Final Journey

We continue the story that began with Stu’s rigorous training before and after the race in Germany in May, Stu took on the challenge of the World Final in Australia. The World Final wasn’t just a race for Stu; it was the culmination of months of hard work and preparation. We’ll follow his journey through the heat, the competition, and the ultimate test of his abilities.

Overcoming Real-World Testing Scenarios, Inspired by the Popular Award-Winning Movie The Maze Runner

Did you know that the storytelling technique is known to be one of the most effective teaching strategies?

According to an experiment conducted by Stanford University, a story is 13 times more memorable than a statistic. 

This blog explores the automation tool Playwright through the eyes of The Maze Runner, taking you on a journey within its dystopian world. It will examine the characters' challenges within the maze, drawing a parallel to Playwright and how it benefits test automation. By doing so, the blog will highlight Playwright's resourcefulness, which mirrors the narrative within The Maze Runner.

How to Be an Advanced Test Analyst in One Day: Peter Deng 

My name is Peter Deng, and I am a SDET consultant at nFocus, where I have been working for just over two and a half years. For the first two years of my work, I was a graduate student going into nFocus’ SDET academy, trained under an instructor in software testing, agile, and automation.

In that time, I undertook two tests with ISTQB, the board for certified testers, and achieved an average of 90% across both, passing with flying colours. After working for a client for two years, it was time for more training. Therefore, it made sense that the next step for me was to take the Advanced Test Analyst course. Read on as I explain my experiences and tips for future test takers, either for ATA or for any other ISTQB exam.

Exploring Software Testing Tools: A Test Analyst's Professional Journey

I am a professional software test analyst with over 7 years of experience in the software development lifecycle and extensive progressive experience in functional, integration, and UAT testing, including data analysis.

I started my role as a test analyst with nFocus in 2021 with one of our clients who was decommissioning their legacy system and implementing a new Health Roster system. I then moved on to join another role on a Microsoft Dynamics 365 project.

Reflections on 20 Years of Testing: Adapting and Optimising Practices

In my testing career, I’ve witnessed significant changes over the past 20 years. However, certain constants remain: the pursuit of working smarter, managing risks efficiently, and optimising testing efforts. We strive to test faster while minimising costs to stay competitive in the market. Flexible testing tasks allow us to adapt to changing schedules.

Additionally, creating knowledge documents, conducting peer reviews, and asking critical questions contribute to effective testing. This blog will explore insights from my testing journey, emphasising three key areas: what, when, and why. The “what,” "when,” and “why” drive out what goes into the category of doing the right thing, but the three are inextricably linked, and I expand on these below.