I am amazed at how much emphasis people put on technical and domain skills when asking for a tester. Back in the days when I was looking for Test Analyst or Test Lead jobs, I would often be discouraged from applying because it would state something like; “Must be proficient in Cobol programming” (yes, I’m that old!), or, “Extensive knowledge of the mortgage industry essential”. Now, two decades later, just the briefest glance at job listings today throws up; “Previous experience working with CRM systems” and “Experience of working in Telecommunications sector” as essential requirements for Test Analyst roles and similar statements can be seen in almost every listing. Even then, I used to think to myself, “Well, I’m a good tester. I can read requirements and derive tests from them. Why do I need an in depth knowledge of the system or business area?”.
