Software testing is an integral part of software development that provides better-quality products and user experiences and helps build the reputation of software companies. Though software testers perform a role that requires specific tasks and skills, in-depth studies of software testers lag behind research studies of other roles within software development teams. In this paper, we aim to create a profile of testers by presenting an empirical analysis of the skills the industry currently needs. We analysed data from 400 job adverts in 33 countries. We mapped the skills on a taxonomy comprising test-related, technical, and domain-specific skills. In addition, we looked at the demand for educational attainment, relevant certifications, and previous experience requirements. Our findings show that employers are mostly interested in skills related to test planning and design, test automation, functional testing, performance testing, and progress reporting. One third of the job advertisers were interested in people with the skills to operate test execution tools. Selenium was the testing tool most in demand. The testers must have strong technical abilities, including programming skills in Java, C#, and SQL. Also, they must handle project management tasks such as estimation, risk management, and quality assurance. Employers do not emphasise domain-specific knowledge, which indicates that they consider testing skills portable across industries. One in seven job adverts asks for a software testing certification. Our study helps clarify the complexity of the testing job and outlines the capabilities one needs to fulfil a software tester’s responsibilities.

中文翻译：

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雇主在软件测试人员中寻找的技能

软件测试是软件开发不可或缺的一部分，可提供更优质的产品和用户体验，并有助于建立软件公司的声誉。尽管软件测试人员执行的角色需要特定的任务和技能，但对软件测试人员的深入研究落后于对软件开发团队中其他角色的研究。在本文中，我们旨在通过对行业当前所需技能的实证分析来创建测试人员的概况。我们分析了来自 33 个国家/地区的 400 个招聘广告的数据。我们将技能映射到一个分类法上，该分类法包括与测试相关的、技术的和特定领域的技能。此外，我们还研究了对教育程度、相关认证和以往经验要求的需求。我们的调查结果表明，雇主最感兴趣的是与测试规划和设计、测试自动化、功能测试、性能测试和进度报告相关的技能。三分之一的招聘广告客户对具有操作测试执行工具技能的人感兴趣。Selenium 是最需要的测试工具。测试人员必须具备较强的技术能力，包括Java、C#和SQL的编程能力。此外，他们还必须处理项目管理任务，例如估算、风险管理和质量保证。雇主不强调特定领域的知识，这表明他们考虑跨行业可移植的测试技能。七分之一的招聘广告要求获得软件测试认证。