How do you learn and apply best practices from quality assurance experts and communities?

1 Follow QA blogs and podcasts

Gaining knowledge from QA experts and communities is a breeze if you follow their blogs and podcasts. These platforms provide useful information on topics like automation, tools, frameworks, methodologies, processes, and challenges. Additionally, you can engage with authors and guests, ask questions, and provide your opinion. Some of the well-known QA blogs and podcasts are Ministry of Testing, QA Intelligence, Test Talks, The Testing Show, and Test Guild.

2 Join QA forums and groups

Another way to learn from QA experts and communities is to join QA forums and groups. These are online spaces where you can interact with others, ask questions, get answers, share experiences, and access useful resources, such as articles, books, courses, webinars, and events. Some of the most popular QA forums and groups are Stack Overflow, Software Testing and Quality Assurance, Software Testing Community, Software Testing Club, and Software Quality Assurance & Testing.

3 Attend QA conferences and meetups

Attending QA conferences and meetups is a great way to learn from experts and communities. These events provide an opportunity to network with other QA professionals, learn from speakers and workshops, and discover new tools and techniques. Additionally, you can showcase your work, get feedback, and find opportunities. Notable QA conferences and meetups include EuroSTAR Software Testing Conference, STAR Conferences, Agile Testing Days, TestBash, and QA Meetup Groups.

4 Enroll in QA courses and certifications

Learning from QA experts and communities can be done through enrolling in QA courses and certifications. These structured and formal methods are great for improving QA skills and knowledge, as well as demonstrating competence and credibility. There are a variety of topics, levels, and formats to choose from, depending on your goals and preferences. Some of the most reputable QA courses and certifications include ISTQB Certified Tester, ASQ Certified Software Quality Engineer, Udemy Software Testing Courses, Coursera Software Testing Courses, and EdX Software Testing Courses.

5 Apply QA best practices in your projects

The fifth and final way to learn from QA experts and communities is to apply QA best practices in your projects. This is the most practical and effective way to improve your QA performance and results. To do this, you should define clear and realistic QA goals and metrics, plan and design your QA strategy and approach, choose and use appropriate QA tools and frameworks, implement and execute your QA tests and activities, review and report your QA findings and outcomes, and finally, learn from your QA feedback and lessons.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?