Being a remote software tester offers a flexible yet structured workday, blending autonomy with collaboration. Let’s walk through a typical day to provide a clear understanding of what this role involves, especially if you’re new to software testing or considering a remote career path.
8:00 AM – Morning Setup and Planning
The day begins by setting up the home office, grabbing a cup of coffee, and checking emails. This time is used to review any updates from the team, including bug reports, testing schedules, or urgent requests. Typically, the tester logs into collaboration tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams to catch up on ongoing discussions. Next, they open their project management tool, such as Jira or Trello, to see which tasks are pending and prioritize the day’s workload.
Example: Let’s say a new feature was deployed to the test environment overnight. The tester checks the backlog for any existing test cases associated with this feature and begins planning the day accordingly.
9:00 AM – Daily Stand-Up Meeting
Even though it’s a remote role, staying connected with the team is essential. Every day starts with a stand-up meeting, often held over Zoom or Microsoft Teams. During this meeting, each team member shares what they accomplished yesterday, what they plan to work on today, and any blockers they are facing. This helps ensure that everyone is aligned and aware of each other’s tasks.
Example: If a tester has found a critical bug, this is the time to bring it up so that developers can start working on a fix while the testing continues.
10:00 AM – Test Case Design and Execution
After the stand-up, it’s time to dive into testing. The first step is often to design new test cases if there are any new features to cover. The tester writes test scenarios, ensuring that they are clear, detailed, and easy for anyone on the team to understand. For tasks related to regression testing, the tester will focus on running previously created test cases to ensure that existing functionalities haven’t been disrupted by new updates.
Example: If the project involves e-commerce software, the tester might run through scenarios like adding items to a shopping cart, checking out, and verifying payment processing. Automated scripts could also be set to run alongside these manual tests.
12:00 PM – Lunch Break and Refresh
A quick lunch break helps the tester recharge for the rest of the day. Working remotely provides the flexibility to step away from the screen and relax, which can be a great way to clear the mind and prepare for the more intensive testing tasks in the afternoon.
1:00 PM – Collaboration with Developers and Other Teams
In the afternoon, there might be collaboration sessions. If the tester has identified bugs or issues, this is the time to discuss them directly with the developers. They may join a call, share their screen, and walk through the problem, showing exactly how it can be replicated. Clear communication is key here to ensure that bugs are resolved efficiently.
Example: Suppose a tester finds that a button isn’t functioning correctly on mobile devices. They would demonstrate this to the developer, highlighting the steps taken to encounter the bug, any error messages, and suggestions for a fix.
3:00 PM – Integration and Regression Testing
Integration testing involves making sure that new features work seamlessly with the existing ones. Regression testing, on the other hand, ensures that recent changes haven’t negatively affected the previously tested functionalities. The tester runs a suite of test cases and automated scripts to validate the integrity of the application.
Example: Let’s say a new payment method was added to an app. The tester will check if integrating this payment option affected other payment options, ensuring that users can still pay smoothly without glitches.
5:00 PM – Logging Results and Preparing Reports
At the end of the day, it’s essential to document everything. This involves logging the test results, including any failed test cases or critical bugs that were found. The tester writes a detailed report summarizing what was tested, the outcomes, and the next steps. This report helps the team understand what still needs to be addressed and provides a clear picture of the project’s status.
Example: If all tests passed, the report would state that no issues were found and suggest moving forward. If there were problems, it would include the details, severity, and possible solutions.
6:00 PM – Wrapping Up and Preparing for Tomorrow
Finally, the tester wraps up for the day by updating any tasks, adding notes, and preparing for the next day. Remote testing offers the benefit of flexibility, so sometimes this final hour is spent learning new tools, improving skills, or automating repetitive tasks.
Example: If there’s a recurring issue that comes up, the tester might spend some time scripting an automated test to catch that issue faster in the future, making their workflow smoother.