If you are a software testing professional Jaccob Slavin Hurricanes Jersey , or any type of professional for that matter, you need to constantly hone your skills. Software testing can be more of an art than a science, and as such the more practice and experience you have, the more effective your performance will be. Plus, the nature of the software on which software testing is performed is in a constant state of flux Brock McGinn Hurricanes Jersey , and as such the simple art of practice can help ensure that your mind remains sharp enough to keep up.
Of course, this begs the question: how exactly can the art of software testing be practiced? While not exhaustive, the list that follows is a good starting point.
PARTICIPATE IN OPEN SOURCE PROJECTS: the beauty of this method is that you gain real world experience with no risk.
DOWNLOAD AND PLAY WITH OPEN SOURCE TOOLS: Download a few open source tools from a website like and play around with them.
LOOK FOR BETA TESTING OPPORTUNITIES: If you are really ambitious, locate some beta testing opportunities with companies that have a presence in your area.
FORM A SOFTWARE TESTING CLUB: Form a software testing club and meet regularly to work on complex problems. This is a teriific way to put your knowledge into practice.
TRAIN YOUR BRAIN TO VIEW PROBLEMS FROM MULTIPLE ANGLES: Take a complex problem home from the office and try to think about it from various angles and perspectives - the business owner, customer Gustav Forsling Jersey , developer, etc. This exercise can help give you a more holistic view of problems, which leads to more effective solutions.
WRITE ABOUT SOFTWARE TESTING: Start a blog and write about your experiences in software testing. One specific thing you could do is try and locate bugs in real software programs that you use every day, and write about them when you find them. Writing about the bugs you find forces you to better process what you learned.
PRACTICE SYSTEMS THINKING: You could practice something known as "systems thinking," which is simply looking at the various things you interact with on a daily basis and connecting the dots to view their interactions as an overarching system. Honing this type of thought process will lead to more effective testing.
BECOME A TEACHER: You can identify teaching opportunities at work or elsewhere. For example Ryan Dzingel Jersey , conducting training at work, executing a distance learning scheme, or becoming an adjunct-professor at your local university.
ATTEND A CONFERENCE: Attend a conference or workshop about software testing.
PARTICIPATE IN ONLINE FORUMS: Join a couple software testing forums online, and maybe even subscribe to a magazine or two. Constantly be on the lookout for new and improved testing techniques that you could possibly incorporate into your work environment. Just the simple act of keeping yourself informed and open to new ideas can help reduce your brain's propensity to get complacent.
In the final analysis, practice may not make perfect Brian Gibbons Jersey , but it certainly helps. This is especially true in software testing, which is more of an art than a science. Importantly, make sure you practice the right things. Do an honest self-evaluation and identify your weaker areas, and focus your efforts on those areas until you see some improvement. Is your advertising copy getting the results you want? If not, look at your current marketing to see if you're making one of the major copywriting mistakes:
Selling features instead of benefits. Telling your customer that your "fabulous new ALF-400 comes complete with AeroScan and BandControl technologies!" doesn't actually tell them anything. Will your services save your customers money or help them sleep better at night? If so James Reimer Jersey , tell them. People buy solutions to problems and means to ends. Sell the benefits and watch your profits climb.
Not educating the reader. Most people are reasonably intelligent and sincerely want to learn about the world around them. Does your copy contain solid information, or is it mostly emotional appeal and little substance? Ease back the fireworks and give the reader something real to chew on.
Being boring. Easing back the fireworks doesn't mean getting rid of them completely. Use just enough drama and emotional appeal to keep your reader interested. This is where a solid understanding of your customers fits in - what are their hopes and fears? Where do your services fit between them?
Exaggerating. Most people expect advertising to be overblown and inflated, so surprise your readers and be honest. Put your best foot forward and shamelessly emphasize your strengths, but don't do more than that. Keep it real and get real attention.
Saying too much. Excessive wordiness puts a burden on the reader that can be lethal for marketing. Read through your copy again: could you say the same thing with fewer words? Try rewriting with a 25% cut in word count to inject new life into your pitch.
Not getting the reader moving. The entire point of advertising is to motivate your customer to do something, so are you telling them what that is? End your pitch with a direct appeal. Tell your customers to call Teuvo Teravainen Jersey , visit or look at your website. If you're not giving them orders, you can't expect them to start marching.
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