Moving from Test Management to Project Management!!!

[Darren_Test]

2 months is nothing for looking for a role. Seems a bit drastic to move into PM world. Do you have any PM experience?

May be, but after 2010 I never had more than 2 months on bench.

[The Spartan]

You're not wrong. I'm getting called at least 2-3 times a week and it has been this way for the last couple of months. Don't know why but Testing seems to be quite buoyant at present.

Definitely agree with this ^^ I'm in Test Automation and I receive calls daily about roles

[original PM]

More and more I am finding people who say they do testing are just ticking boxes.

The main problem is that because the people actually doing the testing have no knowledge of what the system is supposed to actually be doing they seem to test all functionality in isolation.

This also seems to be removing any form of UAT with an actual user....

It is fine doing it this way if

a) You can developed and release quickly so any prod bugs can be removed
b) It is acceptable for the users to be able to 'work around' a bug until it can be fixed.

Interestingly if you do turn to PM you will get to see the fun end of what happens when you do release tulip into your prod environment - but good luck!

[MrMarkyMark]

More and more I am finding people who say they do testing are just ticking boxes.

The main problem is that because the people actually doing the testing have no knowledge of what the system is supposed to actually be doing they seem to test all functionality in isolation.

This also seems to be removing any form of UAT with an actual user....

It is fine doing it this way if

a) You can developed and release quickly so any prod bugs can be removed
b) It is acceptable for the users to be able to 'work around' a bug until it can be fixed.

Interestingly if you do turn to PM you will get to see the fun end of what happens when you do release tulip into your prod environment - but good luck!

Agile is the issue here then

[Darren_Test]

Testing seems to be a bit of a dying art
I spent 4 years training and 13 years as an Avionics test engineer in a highly regulated and controlled environment, after all we don't want aircraft falling out of the skies all over the place do we.
When I moved in to IT and later into Project Manglement I was gobsmacked at how variable the approach to testing was.

On being sold to the lowest bidder ( I mean outsourced to EDS) and later HP I was even more amazed how rare on the ground any kind of test personnel were within those organisations.
Getting anything tested normally relied on a client doing it, formal test management let alone planning was unusual and very badly resourced internally

Often during peer reviews I would say to various PMs who is doing the testing and where is it in your schedule............

So I am not surprised you are thinking of jumping ship but it is such a shame as your role is imho a valuable one.

Thanks

[Darren_Test]

That's nice. You have a certification. Do you think that is going to land you gigs?

I have seen agencies value certifications in the screening process, so may not harm my chances. Since I never worked as PM certification can only helpful.

[Cirrus]

Never again

On being sold to the lowest bidder ( I mean outsourced to EDS) and later HP I was even more amazed how rare on the ground any kind of test personnel were within those organisations.
Getting anything tested normally relied on a client doing it, formal test management let alone planning was unusual and very badly resourced internally

Well I have to confess, some time back -for accidental reasons - I did a spell as a Test Manager for EDS. I had a team of about 10 testers. They were all good and the whole thing was run like clockwork (well I would say that). I worked hand-in-glove with the project manager. At that time there was no shortage of EDS testers. In fact there were tons. However EDS itself was sinking quicker than the Titanic so I guess it all quickly went to pot.

I know it's not the subject of this thread but if anybody thought testing was a good thing to get into, perhaps in your sunset years, let me tell you it's even worse than project management.

For that project my team quickly identified all the faults. We provided unit tests, system tests, test data, everything you can think of to help the external supplier build something that worked properly. We even brought in one of their developers (they were based in Dublin) so we could cut down the turnaround.

But as testers, what we couldn't do was write code that worked. That's the essential problem with testing: you ultimately can't solve problems. All you can do is talk about them but after that you are powerless.

[Darren_Test]

That's nice. You have a certification. Do you think that is going to land you gigs?

worth a try..

[Darren_Test]

Cant wait to see how this pans out!!!

! ! ! ! !

let's see..

[Darren_Test]

Jobserve shows 22 odd test manager roles posted in the last 7 day. Even more if you are willing to take a test analyst role. Doesn't seem to be that dry? What am I missing?

I just did a quick count of jobs I applied in June (Apply.online@apps email), I have to say it comes ~500. So I am not sitting idle.