Hiring a test manager

When looking to recruit a test manager, what should you look for?

It can be a frustrating experience for everyone if the right person isn't in charge of a test process or team.  I speak from experience of having horrible test managers.

Non testing managerial experience

This is where someone with experience of managing a team or project is brought in to manage a test team or project.  To me this just does not work because:

• They do not have the knowledge of testing
• They do not have the experience of testing
• They do not have the passion for testing.

Knowledge, experience and passion of software testing is essential.  Having a background in managing or another area of IT is not good enough!

What is needed is someone who truly understands the day to day issues that testers face and have the ability to get their hands dirty or come up with solutions.  Good test managers are not scared of this.

Testers, lead testers or senior testers are promoted by default

The second frustration is the belief of testers that they should be promoted up the ladder by default.  Just because you are a good tester it doesn't mean that you will be the most suitable test manager.  Being able to manage projects and communicate with people are completely different skills to testing.  Getting to a managerial position should not be seen as a default target.

And I'm not saying being a test manager is a bad thing, but it can be for some people! 

Increasingly there are more options and opportunities for individuals to determine their career path.  We all need to keep an open mind to what the big world has to offer, encourage ourselves as individuals to learn and grow in our own direction - which may not be the direction your organisation is thinking of.

Comments

[vijay]

Hi Rosie,
I completely agree with you in this stand. A project manager is not a good person to handle the responsibilities of test manager. Many times I saw project managers handling both dev and test teams. This may be a good option for only say 5% times but there should be test manager having both team handling capabilities as well as having good understanding of testing.