Monday 19 May 2008 - Testers reviewing/reading code.

So I'm abit confused, apparently there are discussions in the Testing World as to whether or not it's a good idea for testers to review code.

It's something touched briefly on a few blogs I read recently: http://blogs.msdn.com/imtesty/archive/2008/03/11/do-testers-do-code-reviews.aspx#comments

and http://www.goldb.org/goldblog/

I'm sure the discussion is on a load of forums and blogs everywhere but those are the two I read most recently.

What I don't understand is why anybody would question whether or not it is a good idea for testers to review code.  Fixing an error before it makes it to a build seems like a wicked idea! Imagine that! Fixing a problem before it's a problem! You could be known as a psychic software tester. I! Tony Bruce am the worlds first Psychic Software Tester! Call 1800 Magic Testing now!

Well, the first apart from the all the men and women testers who already have the ability or skillset to read and review code.

And I guess that's what and where it comes down to, testers with the skillset to be able to review, not just read code.

I aim to be able to review code but how useful is it going to be if I just learn to read code?  I maybe able to spot one or two things but for it to be a useful practice will I first need to have experience with development?

Anybody been there? Done that? Can you shed some light? How have your experiences been?

Friday 16 May 2008 - So now I have a third interview

Thursday 8 May 2008 - I have a second interview.

So, I have a second interview for a role which will include a technical test.  I have a family, a home, pets, financial and personal responsibilities, I'm not an Einstein or a Hawking but I like to think I'm reasonably intelligent, I don't eat dirt or drink washing up liquid, in other words, I'm a functioning adult, yet mention the words test or exam and my sphincter just tightens up with an almost audible whooshing sound. 

Not good for somebody that's a tester! I'm whooshing 10-50times a day!

OK so obviously I mean test in relation to me having to take a test.

I don't really understand the point of a test at an interview, well I do and I don't, I mean they want to get an idea of your skill set, fine, but on the other hand in my day to day job I will have colleagues around me, old colleagues a phone call or e-mail away, I will have books, and I'll have net access, if I don't know something I will have the resources to find out about it.  IMHO putting me in a room with a list of questions to answer is not really going to give anybody an idea of how I'd perform in a role.  To me it makes more sense to go through some scenarios from actual projects and throw in a few things, like.... I don't now, writing an SQL query or something but using a PC rather then pen and paper.

Anyway, I'll have to wait and see how I get on.

Wednesday 7 May 2008 - The job hunt

So as I sit here listening Anthony Kiedis telling me to suck his kiss I'm pondering the wonderment of looking for a new job. Trying to decipher job descriptions, talking to recruiters who just talked to you 10mins ago but can't remember anything about you, phone interviews which take just as much time as an initial face to face so...... what's the point? Just have a face to face?

Thanks to a couple of great people on sqaforums my CV is in much better condition, previously it was still directed towards support roles, extremely long winded and more directed to just getting past recruiters looking for the buzz words.  It now actually has some useful content and is down to 3 pages compared to the 5 I had before.

I've become a little bit more savvy, or at least I think so, in looking for a job, thinking about long term plans rather then short term gains, reading between the lines, noticing that a recruitment agency has about 200 jobs posted, all with just slightly different descriptions, that kind of thing.

As I'm in it for the long haul I'm taking notice of the good recruiters, adding them on linkedin, that kind of thing, I would rather have a short list of good recruiters who I can keep in touch with over the next 5-10-15-30years then have a bunch of random e-mail addresses.

I'm just seeing the same roles repeating themselves now, being constantly advertised, and so I'm going to take a break for a week or two, I'm in no rush, I'll see how things pan out with what's on the go at the moment.

And if there is anybody actually reading this and looking for a job, best of luck to you.

Wednesday 7 May 2008 - So this is my blog. Party time.

So this is my blog, my very own and my very first.  I'm all giddy with excitment.  I will primarily be writing about testing and QA and aspects relating to testing and QA, such as for instance, looking for work/interviewing, which I'm currently doing.  However as blogs are a chance for people to waffle on, aspects of general life will probably creep in as well.

While I was signing up I picked the 'simple' template, I've just previewed this entry, tell you what, they are not kidding.  I think I'll have a flip through the templates later on.