Our MD, Nick Tooley is famous for many things. In particular, he’s famous for liking to rant extensively about a variety of things that get on his nerves. More privately though, he just loves finding the world’s best Software Testers.
Sometimes, his two passions conflict with each other, as his latest…ahem…rant shows:
So I’m looking to recruit a number of Software Testers / Software Test Engineers for some of my high-profile clients at the moment. I’ve been in the game some time now (some might say too long) so I feel confident that I know what to look for and what to expect to see in the CV of a Software Tester.
So I put together my advert and start to search some of the online job boards for top-notch candidates to fill these roles. 2 days into my search I am not only starting to doubt my understanding of Software Testing but I’m beginning to feel that the art of Software Testing has left this planet for good.
I decided to refer to Wikipedia for a definition of “Software Testing”. I was relieved to find out that I actually did understand software testing and quite frankly seemed to know more about it than 95% of the CVs that I had found or had been sent to me by alleged Software Testers.
This quote from wiki stood out immediately:
“The process of executing a program or application with the intent of finding errors”.
I would like to highlight “FINDING ERRORS”.
So why oh why do so many “Testers” send me their CV with blatant errors? If you have used WinRunner then at least spell it or write it correctly. And - hey - if you decide to mention WinRunner in your CV more then once then try to keep it consistent, not WinRunner deteriorating into Winrunner then winRunner onto Win Runner and finally wind runner. Now this is just the tip of the iceberg. I see so many CVs with horrific spelling mistakes, sentences that are cut off mid-flow, sentences that quite frankly make absolutely no sense.
So, I ask only one thing from my Test Engineer / Software Tester applicants. Live up to your core funtion “FINDING ERRORS” and please let this be reflected in your own CV.
In my world a Test Engineer with a CV littered or even with one single error is about as welcome as a fart in a spacesuit…..
4 responses so far ↓
1 Rosie Sherry // Feb 28, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Am in no way defending anyone who sends in a cr*p CV, however I’m sure many of us can also rant on how recruitment agencies keep getting it wrong
Finding the best quality candidates and organisations in any industry is never a quick process.
If you’re looking for testers check out the ‘Software Testing Club’ - http://club.drivenqa.com
2 Tannice Pendegrass // Mar 4, 2008 at 7:05 pm
“Live up to your core funtion “FINDING ERRORS” and please let this be reflected in your own CV.”
I found an error… ‘function’ has a ‘c’.
3 idealpeople // Mar 4, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Yay! Someone found our deliberate mistake! Hey Tannice, do you want a job?
4 Tannice Pendegrass // May 21, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Sure would!
Got any for a proofreader?!
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