Switching from manual testing to automation can seem overwhelming, but with the right approach, dedication, and resources, you can make the transition in just a few months. I successfully moved from manual to automation testing in 3 months, and in this blog, I’ll break down the exact steps I followed. If you’re looking to advance your career, GainBadge’s expert training programs can help accelerate your journey.
Why I Decided to Switch to Automation Testing
Manual testing is crucial but comes with limitations, such as repetitive tasks and slower execution times. As software development moves toward continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD), automation testing has become a necessity. Seeing the industry trend and the demand for automation testers, I decided it was time to upskill.
My 3-Month Roadmap to Automation Testing Success
Month 1: Building a Strong Foundation
The first step in my journey was to understand the core concepts of automation testing and the tools available. Here’s what I did:
- Learned the Basics of Programming
- Chose Python and Java as my main languages.
- Focused on basic programming concepts: variables, loops, functions, and OOP (Object-Oriented Programming).
- Took online courses and watched YouTube tutorials.
- Understood the Fundamentals of Automation Testing
- Read about Selenium WebDriver, TestNG, JUnit, and Cypress.
- Understood how automation fits into software testing.
- Practiced Writing Simple Automation Scripts
- Installed Selenium WebDriver and wrote my first script to automate a simple login page.
- Experimented with XPath, CSS Selectors, and locators.
Month 2: Hands-on with Real Projects
After grasping the basics, I moved to practical, hands-on learning. This is where things started getting interesting.
- Built a Small Automation Framework
- Learned about the Page Object Model (POM) for structuring test scripts.
- Implemented data-driven testing using Excel and CSV.
- Integrated with CI/CD Tools
- Explored Jenkins and GitHub Actions to automate test execution.
- Understood version control using Git.
- Practiced API Automation
- Learned Postman and RestAssured to test APIs.
- Wrote automated scripts to validate API responses.
Month 3: Advanced Concepts & Real-World Experience
The final month was all about refining my skills and applying them in real-world scenarios.
- Worked on a Real Project
- Joined an open-source project to contribute to automation testing.
- Created test cases, ran test scripts, and reported defects.
- Explored Performance and Mobile Testing
- Tried JMeter for performance testing.
- Experimented with Appium for mobile automation.
- Prepared for Job Interviews
- Practiced coding challenges and automation testing interview questions.
- Created a portfolio showcasing my automation scripts on GitHub.
The Result: A Smooth Transition into Automation Testing
By the end of three months, I was confident in my automation skills and ready to apply for automation testing roles. I landed my first automation job shortly after, thanks to my structured approach and continuous learning.
How GainBadge Can Help You Make the Switch
If you’re looking to transition from manual testing to automation, GainBadge’s automation testing courses offer hands-on training, mentorship, and real-world projects to get you job-ready. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced manual tester, our step-by-step training can fast-track your career.
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