This is a real question from one of my interviewers…
Hi Dickson,
Currently, I have a team full of manual QA testers, how do you convert them and change them into Automation test Engineers?
What’s in my head…
- Fire all and re hire real automation QA engineers
- No, you can’t, but what you can do is have them work 16 more hours a day overtime unpaid to complete all the test scenarios.
- I automated everything myself, while all manual QA testers are enhancing their foos ball skills
That’s great, my potential hiring manger shakes my hand good bye. The recruiter blacklisted me everywhere, linkedin, glassdoor, ziprecruiter, monster …
Okay, without even get an offer, you are fired!
After more serious revising my draft (joking aside) Here are the steps on as a QA manager, how you can help turn a team into Automation engineers
- Provide them ALL the necessary trainings that to get them started. Meaning, you have to be their personal trainer. Every QA tester has technical background and level. You need to find a right training program for each of them. For example, some of them already have basic knowledge, like setup DB, git, some sort of coding/script skill. Some, might even don’t have those. You will have to make different trainings and mentoring programs for each of your team members.
- Show them you can port a example case. Simple fact, for the folks that have kids. If your kids see you wash your hand every time before a meal, eventually, they will do the same thing after a few meals/days/weeks. You as a leader, show that you can, and WANT to do it yourself. Then good things will follow.
- Provide a good starting automation framework. this has to be simple, easy to use and easy to pick up by anyone. Look at all the current BDD test frameworks and discuss with all your QAs as a group. Learning it together.
- Encourage and praise on their progress and results. Always measures each QA testers their automation progress and provide feedbacks on where they might need more refinement.
Trust me, all manual QAs doesn’t want to just be that manual QA. By doing this, you are providing them a grow path and something more exciting then just replaying same test steps over and over again.