Stop being a one-trick pony! Stop focusing only on manual testing!

Manual testing will not go away. 

But it will not be anymore what it used to be. 

Like all things, testing changes and at a rapid pace. 

Companies still need manual testers but less than before. 

Normal testing is something that not only testers can do. 
A business analyst, business user or developer can do it as well. 

With so "many testers" available, companies hire outside testers if they are exceptional. 

Or multi-talented, with diverse skills. 


So do you want to continue to have a career in testing? 

Stop being a "one-trick pony" and stop focusing only on manual testing. 

Manual testing used to be sufficient for a successful career. 

You had a good "trick" and used it over and over. 

While you focused on your trick, everything around you changed and you did not notice. 

One day, you discover that the one-trick does not keep you employed. 

You rush then to learn more tricks and hope that you can do it fast.

Sadly it is too late because learning does not happen over night. 



This is something that applies to many other domains. 

Like sports. 
Take mixed martial arts, for example. 

One of the MMA women divisions had a champion for 3 years in Ronda Rousey who beat soundly (and in many cases under 1 minute) all her opponents. 

She did this with great judo skills. 

Ronda was a true "one-trick pony" since all her skills were only about judo. 

One day came when she fought a true boxer. 

Even with a lot of boxing training, she lost in a dramatic fashion. 

After her first loss, she took a year off and trained more in boxing hoping for a revenge. 

Next time she fought, she lost again but this time under 1 minute. 

What happened then?

While she was enjoying her "one pony trick", the world changed and she did not notice. 

When she realized that serious improvement was needed, it was a bit too late.

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Alex Siminiuc